Acts 8:1-8 ▼

1 Now Saul heartily approved of putting Stephen to death. That day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except for the apostles was scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.

2 Devout men buried Stephen as they mourned loudly for him.

3 But Saul kept trying to destroy the church. Going into one house after another, he began dragging off men and women and throwing them in prison.

4 Now those who were scattered went from place to place preaching the word.

5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began to preach the Messiah to the people.

6 The crowds, hearing his message and seeing the signs that he was doing, paid close attention to what was said by Philip.

7 Unclean spirits screamed with a loud voice as they came out of the many people they had possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed.

8 As a result, there was great rejoicing in that city.