Acts 8:1-17 ▼

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.

12 But when they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Semon himself also believed and was baptized and attached himself to Philip, and as he saw the miracles and great signs performed by his hand, he marvelled greatly.

14 N ow when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritan people had accepted the word of God, they sent to them Simon Peter and John,

15 Who, when they went down, prayed over them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

16 For as yet it had not come upon them although they had been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus.

17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.