007:051 "O stiff-necked men, uncircumcised in heart and ears,
you also are continually at strife with the Holy Spirit--
just as your forefathers were.
007:052 Which of the Prophets did not your forefathers persecute?
Yes, they killed those who announced beforehand the advent
of the righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you
have now become--
007:053 you who received the Law given through angels, and yet have
not obeyed it."
007:054 As they listened to these words, they became infuriated
and gnashed their teeth at him.
007:055 But, full of the Holy Spirit and looking up to Heaven, Stephen saw
the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand.
007:056 "I can see Heaven wide open," he said, "and the Son of Man
standing at God's right hand."
007:057 Upon this, with a loud outcry they stopped their ears,
rushed upon Stephen in a body,
007:058 dragged him out of the city, and stoned him, the witnesses
throwing off their outer garments and giving them into the care
of a young man called Saul.
007:059 So they stoned Stephen, while he prayed, "Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit."
007:060 Then, rising on his knees, he cried aloud, "Lord, do not reckon
this sin against them." And with these words he fell asleep.
008:001 And Saul fully approved of his murder. At this time a great
persecution broke out against the Church in Jerusalem,
and all except the Apostles were scattered throughout
Judaea and Samaria.
008:002 A party of devout men, however, buried Stephen, and made loud
lamentation over him.
008:003 But Saul cruelly harassed the Church. He went into house
after house, and, dragging off both men and women,
threw them into prison.
008:004 Those, however, who were scattered abroad went from place
to place spreading the Good News of God's Message;
008:005 while Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed
Christ there.
008:006 Crowds of people, with one accord, gave attention to what
they heard from him, listening, and witnessing the signs
which he did.
008:007 For, with a loud cry, foul spirits came out of many possessed by them,
and many paralytics and lame persons were restored to health.
008:008 And there was great joy in that city.
008:009 Now for some time past there had been a man named Simon living there,
who had been practising magic and astonishing the Samaritans,
pretending that he was more than human.
008:010 To him people of all classes paid attention, declaring, "This man
is the Power of God, known as the great Power."
008:011 His influence over them arose from their having been,
for a long time, bewildered by his sorceries.
008:012 But when Philip began to tell the Good News about the Kingdom
of God and about the Name of Jesus Christ, and they embraced
the faith, they were baptized, men and women alike.
008:013 Simon himself also believed, and after being baptized remained
in close attendance on Philip, and was full of amazement
at seeing such signs and such great miracles performed.
008:014 When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had
accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John to visit them.
008:015 They, when they came down, prayed for them that they might
receive the Holy Spirit:
008:016 for He had not as yet fallen upon any of them. They had only
been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
008:017 Then the Apostles placed their hands upon them, and they
received the Holy Spirit.
008:018 When, however, Simon saw that it was through the laying
on of the Apostles' hands that the Spirit was bestowed,
he offered them money.
008:019 "Give me too," he said, "that power, so that every one on whom
I place my hands will receive the Holy Spirit."
008:020 "Perish your money and yourself," replied Peter, "because you
have imagined that you can obtain God's free gift with money!
008:021 No part or lot have you in this matter, for your heart is not
right in God's sight.
008:022 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray
to the Lord, in the hope that the purpose which is in your
heart may perhaps be forgiven you.
008:023 For I perceive that you have fallen into the bitterest
bondage of unrighteousness."
008:024 "Pray, both of you, to the Lord for me," answered Simon,
"that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
008:025 So the Apostles, after giving a solemn charge and delivering
the Lord's Message, travelled back to Jerusalem, making known
the Good News also in many of the Samaritan villages.
008:026 And an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and proceed
south to the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza,
crossing the Desert."
008:027 Upon this he rose and went. Now, as it happened, an Ethiopian
eunuch who was in a position of high authority with Candace,
queen of the Ethiopians, as her treasurer, had visited
Jerusalem to worship there,
008:028 and was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot
he was reading the Prophet Isaiah.