Acts 8:1-20 ▼

1 And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

2 God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.

3 But Saul began to destroy the church. 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 went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ 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 spirits 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 had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,

10 and from the least to the greatest they heeded his words and said, “This man is the great power of God.”

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

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the miracles and signs he observed.

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

15 On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.

16 For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of Jesus Christ.

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

18 When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.

19 “Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!