Acts 8:1-8

Expanded Bible

8 Saul ·agreed that the killing of Stephen was good [^Lapproved of his execution/death].

Troubles for the Believers

On that day the church of Jerusalem began to be persecuted, and all the believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout [^Lthe countryside/regions of] Judea and Samaria [^Cthe southern and central regions of Israel].

² And some ·religious [devout; pious; godly] ·people [or men] buried Stephen and ·cried loudly [or mourned deeply] for him. ³ [^LBut] Saul ·was also trying to destroy [or began harassing/mistreating/doing harm to] the church, going from house to house, dragging ·out [or off] men and women and putting them in ·jail [prison]. ⁴ But wherever the believers were scattered, they told people the ·Good News [Gospel].

Philip Preaches in Samaria

⁵ Philip [^Cone of the seven leaders chosen to serve; 6:5; 21:8] went to ·the city^[a] [or a city; or the main city] of Samaria [^Cperhaps the city of Sebaste, known in ancient times as Samaria] and ·preached about [proclaimed] the ·Christ [Messiah]. ⁶ When the ·people [^Lcrowds] there heard Philip and saw the ·miracles [signs] he was doing, they all [^Lwith one accord/mind] listened carefully to what he said. ⁷ Many of these people had ·evil [^Lunclean; 5:16] spirits in them, but Philip made the evil spirits ·leave [come out]. The spirits made a loud ·noise [cry] when they came out. Philip also healed many ·weak [paralyzed] and ·crippled [lame] people there. ⁸ So the people in that city were ·very happy [joyful; greatly rejoicing].