2. Some pious men buried Stephen and deeply grieved over him.
3. Saul began to wreak havoc against the church. Entering one house after another, he would drag off both men and women and throw them into prison.
4. Those who had been scattered moved on, preaching the good news along the way.
5. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and began to preach Christ to them.
6. The crowds were united by what they heard Philip say and the signs they saw him perform, and they gave him their undivided attention.
7. With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many people, and many who were paralyzed or crippled were healed.
8. There was great rejoicing in that city.
9. Before Philip’s arrival, a certain man named Simon had practiced sorcery in that city and baffled the people of Samaria. He claimed to be a great person.
10. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, gave him their undivided attention and referred to him as "the power of God called Great."
11. He had their attention because he had baffled them with sorcery for a long time.
12. After they came to believe Philip, who preached the good news about God’s kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
13. Even Simon himself came to believe and was baptized. Afterward, he became one of Philip’s supporters. As he saw firsthand the signs and great miracles that were happening, he was astonished.
14. When word reached the apostles in Jerusalem that Samaria had accepted God’s word, they commissioned Peter and John to go to Samaria.