1-2. Saul approved the stoning of Stephen. Some faithful followers of the Lord buried Stephen and mourned very much for him.At that time the church in Jerusalem suffered terribly. All the Lord's followers, except the apostles, were scattered everywhere in Judea and Samaria.
3. Saul started making a lot of trouble for the church. He went from house to house, arresting men and women and putting them in jail.
4. The Lord's followers who had been scattered went from place to place, telling the good news.
5. Philip went to the city of Samaria and told the people about Christ.
6. They crowded around Philip because they were eager to hear what he was saying and to see him perform miracles.
7. Many people with evil spirits were healed, and the spirits went out of them with a shout. A lot of crippled and lame people were also healed.
8. Everyone in that city was very glad because of what was happening.
9. For some time a man named Simon had lived in the city of Samaria and had amazed the people. He practised witchcraft and claimed to be somebody great.
10. Everyone, rich and poor, crowded around him. They said, “This man is the power of God called ‘The Great Power’.”
11. For a long time, Simon had used witchcraft to amaze the people, and they kept crowding around him.
12. But when they believed what Philip was saying about God's kingdom and about the name of Jesus Christ, they were all baptized.
13. Even Simon believed and was baptized. He stayed close to Philip, because he marvelled at all the miracles and wonders.
14. The apostles in Jerusalem heard that some people in Samaria had accepted God's message, and they sent Peter and John.
15. When the two apostles arrived, they prayed that the people would be given the Holy Spirit.
16. Before this, the Holy Spirit had not been given to anyone in Samaria, though some of them had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17. Peter and John then placed their hands on everyone who had faith in the Lord, and they were given the Holy Spirit.
18. Simon noticed that the Spirit was given only when the apostles placed their hands on the people. So he brought money
19. and said to Peter and John, “Let me have this power too! Then anyone I place my hands on will also be given the Holy Spirit.”