Summary
Following Saul’s death, Christians scattered across Judaea and Samaria are driven by persecution to spread the gospel, with Stephen’s burial symbolizing early martyrdom. Philip travels to Samaria, preaches, performs miracles, and restores joy to the city, while the sorcerer Simon the Magician converts and attempts to buy the Holy Spirit, prompting Peter’s rebuke and Simon’s repentance. The apostles at Jerusalem, upon learning of Samaria’s conversion, send Peter and John to bestow the Holy Spirit upon the believers there, illustrating the continuity of divine empowerment. An angel directs Philip south to Gaza, where he encounters an Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah; Philip explains the scripture, baptizes the man, and the Spirit departs Philip, who then continues preaching in Azotus and Caesarea.