Acts 8:1-11 ▼

1 SAUL was pleased to have had a part in the murder of Stephen. At that very time there was severe persecution against the church at Jerusalem; and they were all, with the exception of the apostles, dispersed throughout the towns of Judæ’a and Sama’ria.

2 And devout men picked up Stephen and buried him, and they mourned over him in great sorrow.

3 As for Saul, he continued to persecute the church of God, entering into houses and dragging out men and women and delivering them to prison,

4 So that they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word of God.

5 Then Philip went down to a Samaritan city and preached to them about Christ.

6 And when the people of that place heard his word, they gave heed and listened attentively to everything Philip said, because they saw the miracles which he did.

7 Many who were mentally afflicted, cried with loud voices and were restored; and others who were paralytic and lame, were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

9 Now there was there a man called Semon, who had lived in that city a long time, and who had deceived the Samaritan people by his magic, boasting of himself and saying, I am the greatest one.

10 And both the noblest and the least followed him, saying, He is the greatest power of God.

11 All of them listened to him, because for a long time he had bewitched them with his sorceries.