I'm going to start here in Acts chapter 8.

Let me give you kind of the backdrop to what we are about to read.

We left off last time looking at chapter 7, which dealt with the first martyr of the early

church when Stephen was killed by unbelieving Jews who did not like the message that he was sharing about Jesus and about how they were all

sinners in need of Jesus as their Savior.

And so, unfortunately, they took out their wrath against Stephen and they stoned him to death.

That was Chapter 7.

And as a result of the martyr of Stephen, those who were believers in Jesus scattered. Persecution broke out against

the church. And they scattered into the regions within Israel of Judea and Samaria.

And so that's where we pick it up here.

And as believers are persecuted and as they spread out into Judea and Samaria, they are taking

the word of God with them and they are spreading the good news of Jesus where they go.

But this is the backdrop to what we're about to read here in Acts chapter 8 starting at verse 4. It says, therefore, those who were

scattered went everywhere preaching the word. And then Philip, he can circle his name, Philip

went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.

And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the

miracles which he did. For unclean spirits crying with a loud voice, these are demons,

came out of many who were possessed and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed and there was

great joy in that city but there was a certain man called simon you can circle his name as well

who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of samaria claiming

that he was someone great to whom they all gave heed from

the least to the greatest, saying, this man is the great power of God. And they heeded him because

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