Acts 8:1-11 ▼

1 And Saul (asked for) was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church {ekklēsian} in Jerusalem (city of peace), and all except the apostles (sent ones) were scattered throughout Judea (land of praise) and Samaria.

2 God-fearing men buried Stephen (that which surrounds) and mourned deeply over him.

3 But Saul (asked for) began to destroy the church {ekklēsian}. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

5 Philip (friend of horses) went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the Anointed One) to them.

6 The crowds all paid close attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.

7 With loud shrieks, unclean (impure) spirits {pneumata} came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.

8 So there was great joy in that city.

9 Prior to that time, a man named Simon (hearing) had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people {ethnos} of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,

10 and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power {dynamis} called the Great Power.

11 They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.