Now on that day a great 2 persecution began 3 against the church in Jerusalem, 4 and all 5 except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions 6 of Judea and Samaria. 8:2 Some 7 devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation 8 over him. 9 8:3 But Saul was trying to destroy 10 the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off 11 both men and women and put them in prison. 12
8:4 Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word. 8:5 Philip went down to the main city of Samaria 13 and began proclaiming 14 the Christ 15 to them. 8:6 The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what Philip said, 16 as they heard and saw the miraculous signs 17 he was performing. 8:7 For unclean spirits, 18 crying with loud shrieks, were coming out of many who were possessed, 19 and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. 8:8 So there was 20 great joy 21 in that city.
8:9 Now in that city was a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic 22 and amazing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. 8:10 All the people, 23 from the least to the greatest, paid close attention to him, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘Great.’” 24 8:11 And they paid close attention to him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God 25 and the name of Jesus Christ, 26 they began to be baptized, 27 both men and women. 8:13 Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized, he stayed close to 28 Philip constantly, and when he saw the signs and great miracles that were occurring, he was amazed. 29
8:14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem 30 heard that Samaria had accepted the word 31 of God, they sent 32 Peter and John to them. 8:15 These two 33 went down and prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. 8:16 (For the Spirit 34 had not yet come upon 35 any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 36 8:17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on the Samaritans, 37 and they received the Holy Spirit. 38
8:18 Now Simon, when he saw that the Spirit 39 was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, offered them money, 8:19 saying, “Give me this power 40 too, so that everyone I place my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”