New Living Translation (NLT)
Acts 7
59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
Acts 8
1 Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.
2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.)
3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.
4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.
5 Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah.
6 Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did.
7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed.
8 So there was great joy in that city.
9 A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great.