1-2. Saul approved the stoning of Stephen. Some faithful followers of the Lord buried Stephen and mourned very much for him.At that time the church in Jerusalem suffered terribly. All the Lord's followers, except the apostles, were scattered everywhere in Judea and Samaria.
3. Saul started making a lot of trouble for the church. He went from house to house, arresting men and women and putting them in jail.
4. The Lord's followers who had been scattered went from place to place, telling the good news.
5. Philip went to the city of Samaria and told the people about Christ.
6. They crowded around Philip because they were eager to hear what he was saying and to see him perform miracles.
7. Many people with evil spirits were healed, and the spirits went out of them with a shout. A lot of crippled and lame people were also healed.
8. Everyone in that city was very glad because of what was happening.
9. For some time a man named Simon had lived in the city of Samaria and had amazed the people. He practised witchcraft and claimed to be somebody great.
10. Everyone, rich and poor, crowded around him. They said, “This man is the power of God called ‘The Great Power’.”
11. For a long time, Simon had used witchcraft to amaze the people, and they kept crowding around him.