New American Standard Bible | ►► |
Saul Persecutes the Church 1Now Saul approved of putting [a]Stephen to death. And on that day a great persecution [b]began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.
2Some devout men buried Stephen, and mourned loudly for him.
3But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would drag away men and women and put them in prison.
Philip in Samaria 4Therefore, those who had been scattered went through places [c]preaching the word.
5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming the [d]Christ to them.
6The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what was being said by Philip, as they heard and saw the [e]signs which he was performing.
7For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed or limped on crutches were healed.
8So there was much rejoicing in that city.
9Now a man named Simon had previously been practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;
10and all the people, from small to great, were paying attention to him, saying, “This man is the Power of God that is called Great.”
11And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic arts.
12But when they believed Philip as he was preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being baptized.
13Now even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was repeatedly amazed.
14Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,
15who came down and prayed for them that they would receive the Holy Spirit.
16(For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized [f]in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
19saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire the gift of God with money!
21You have no part or share in this [g]matter, for your heart is not right before God.
22Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intention |
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