They incited the people, the elders, and the experts in the law; then they approached Stephen, seized him, and brought him before the council.

All who were sitting in the council looked intently at Stephen and saw his face was like the face of an angel.

This was the one who exploited our people and was cruel to our ancestors, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.

But when he was about forty years old, it entered his mind to visit his fellow countrymen the Israelites.

‘I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look more closely.

But the Lord said to him, ‘Take the sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.

Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him aside and turned back to Egypt in their hearts,

“Look!” he said. “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

Then he fell to his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he died.

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

Now in that city was a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic and amazing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.

Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized, he stayed close to Philip constantly, and when he saw the signs and great miracles that were occurring, he was amazed.

saying, “Give me this power too, so that everyone I place my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

You have no share or part in this matter because your heart is not right before God!

But Simon replied, “You pray to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.”

So after Peter and John had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many Samaritan villages as they went.

So Philip ran up to it and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. He asked him, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

Then the eunuch said to Philip, “Please tell me, who is the prophet saying this about – himself or someone else?”

So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Philip, however, found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through the area, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.