Study Desk

"Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, and you have now become betrayers and murderers of Him;

Now when they heard this, they were infuriated, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.

But they shouted with loud voices, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one mind.

When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.

They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"

Now Saul approved of putting Stephen to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what was being said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.

For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed or limped on crutches were healed.

And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic arts.

But when they believed Philip as he was preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being baptized.

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,

who came down and prayed for them that they would receive the Holy Spirit.

Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.

So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"

And he ordered that the chariot stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

but their plot became known to Saul. They were also closely watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death;

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried repeatedly to associate with the disciples; and yet they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was a disciple.