PART VI.

THE EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE DISPERSION OF THE CHURCH, AND THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL

IN SYRIA.

SECT. CLXV. A PERSECUTION IS RAISED AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS. PHILIP THE DEACON PREACHES IN SAMARIA, AND BAPTISES SIMON MAGUS. A.D. 37.

AND at that time there was raised a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem and they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea and Samaria except the apostles. And devout men took order for Stephen's burial, and made great mourning over him. But Saul made havoc of the Church, entering in from house to house, and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison.

Samaria.

They then that were dispersed went about preaching the word of God; and Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them; and the people with one accord were attentive to those things that were said by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles that he did. For many of them that had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out; and many, taken with the palsy, and that were lame, were healed. There was therefore great joy in that city.

Now there was a certain man named Simon,* who

*This Simon is generally regarded as the founder of the Gnostics, a heretical sect in the early Church; the sin of simony

before had been a magician in that city, seducing the people of Samaria, giving out that he was some great one; to whom they all gave ear, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the power of God, which is called great. And they were attentive to him, because for a long time he had bewitched them with his magical practices. But when they believed Philip preaching of the kingdom of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also; and when he was baptised, he continued with Philip; and he was astonished to see the signs and exceeding great miracles that were done.

SECT. CLXVI. THE APOSTLES PETER AND JOHN GO DOWN TO SAMARIA. THE SIN OF SIMON MAGUS.

Now when the apostles who were in Jerusalem had heard that Samaria had received the

Samaria. word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: for he was not as yet come upon any of them; but they were only baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

And when Simon saw that by the imposition of the hands of the apostles the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I shall lay hands he may receive the Holy Ghost.

But Peter said to him, Keep thy money to thyself, to perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter. For thy heart is

takes its name from him. He went to Rome, and succeeded in getting many followers there.