1 - And Saul (later Paul) approved of the murder of Stephen. That very day the church in Jerusalem began to suffer cruel persecution. All the believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout the provinces of Judea and Samaria. 2 Some God-fearing men came and buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3 Saul kept working to destroy the church, going from house to house, arresting men and women and putting them in jail. 4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.
9 For some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great. 10 Everyone, rich and poor, listened to him. They said, "This man is the power of God called 'The Great Power.'" 11 They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word/message [logos - reasoning expressed by words] of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For the Holy Spirit(/Presence of God) had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Peter and John then placed their hands on everyone who had faith in the Lord, and they were given the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 “Give me this power too!” he said. “So that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive this Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter replied, “Your silver is ruin to you! Because you think to obtain God's free gift with money. 21 You can have no part in this work, for your heart is not right with God. 22 Repent, therefore, and pray to God for forgiveness of this wickedness. 23 For I can see that you are bitter with jealousy and trapped in evil ways." 24 Simon said to Peter and John, "Please pray to the Lord for me, so that none of these things you spoke of will happen to me."
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Very Brief Outline of Acts:
Jesus returns to where he was with the Father before his advent/visit (his brief first one).
The Holy Spirit/Presence of God is poured out on the believers who were in Jerusalem on the late Spring holy day of Pentecost. Peter speaks, there are 3000 new believers that day.
The good news message spreads, Peter is invited and goes to a Roman’s house and all believe. The first record of non Hebrew believers (besides likely some on Pentecost).
Persecution breaks out.. jail. stoning. Pharisee Saul leads the persecution, but on his way to Damascus with papers for arrests, Jesus makes himself seen but is so bright Paul falls to the ground and is blinded. After two days he is healed and is a believer, and soon is called Paul. He wrote many (to most) of the New Testament letters, but spent a few years (it seems to me) exclusively listening to the Lord. He established many ‘churches’ in what’s called three missionary journeys, and met and worked with Mark and Luke, and quite a few others. (Luke wrote this Book of Acts.) His fourth journey is to Rome to trial as a prisoner. There’s a shipwreck on the way.. He wrote many of his letters while in prison and under ‘house’ arrest.
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