God helps disciples endure persecution

¹And Saul agreed completely with killing him. Now on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. ²Some devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. ³But Saul was trying to destroy the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

⁴Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word. ⁵Philip went down to the main city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. ⁶The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the miraculous signs he was performing. ⁷For unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, were coming out of many who were possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. ⁸So there was great joy in that city.

⁹Now in that city was a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic and amazing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. ¹⁰All the people, from the least to the greatest, paid close attention to him, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘Great.’” ¹¹And they paid close attention to him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. ¹²But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women. ¹³Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized, he stayed close to Philip constantly, and when he saw the signs and great miracles that were occurring, he was amazed.