*Acts 8:1-25
After the martyrdom of Stephen sparks a persecution that scatters the believers, Philip brings the gospel and miracles to Samaria.
- The Church Persecuted and Scattered:
- Following Stephen’s martyrdom, a great persecution breaks out against the church in Jerusalem, led by Saul, causing believers to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
- Devout men bury Stephen and mourn deeply for him.
- Saul begins to destroy the church, entering house after house to drag off both men and women and imprison them.
- Philip in Samaria:
- Philip, one of the seven deacons, goes down to a city in Samaria and proclaims the Messiah to the people there.
- Crowds pay attention to what Philip says, hearing and seeing the signs he performs.
- Unclean spirits, shouting loudly, come out of many, and many paralyzed and lame people are healed.
- There is great joy in the city as a result of these miracles and the preaching of the gospel.
- Simon the Sorcerer:
- A man named Simon, who had previously practiced sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria claiming to be someone great, believes Philip’s message and is baptized.
- Simon follows Philip closely, astonished by the great signs and miracles performed.
- When the apostles in Jerusalem hear that Samaria has accepted the word of God, they send Peter and John to them.
- Peter and John pray for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit, as they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
- They lay hands on them, and they receive the Holy Spirit.
- Simon’s Attempt to Buy Power:
- Simon offers money to Peter and John, asking to buy the power to give the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands.
- Peter rebukes Simon, telling him that his heart is not right before God and advising him to repent of his wickedness and pray for forgiveness for thinking he could buy God’s gift with money.
- Simon, realizing the gravity of his mistake, asks for their prayers that nothing he feared might happen to him.
8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8:8 And there was great joy in that city.
8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
8:25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.