Acts 8:1-11 ▼

1 Saul wholeheartedly approved of Stephen’s death. And on that day a great and relentless persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and mourned greatly over him [expressing a personal sense of loss].

3 But Saul began ravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison.

4 Now those [believers] who had been scattered went from place to place preaching the word [the good news of salvation through Christ].

5 Philip [the evangelist] went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) to them.

6 The crowds gathered and were paying close attention to everything Philip said, as they heard [the message] and saw the [miraculous] signs which he was doing [validating his message].

7 For unclean spirits (demons), shouting loudly, were coming out of many who were possessed; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

8 So there was great rejoicing in that city.

9 Now there was a man named Simon, who previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.

10 They all paid [a great deal of] attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God!”

11 They were paying attention to him because for a long time he had mystified and dazzled them with his magic.