Who consented to Stephen’s death?
What happened to the church in Jerusalem at that time? What was the result?
Where were they scattered to? Who stayed behind?
What were some of the things Saul did to the church?
What did the scattered disciples do as they went out to different places?
Where did Philip go?
Did the Samaritans listen to him?
What kind of miracles did Philip do there? What was the result?
What did Simon do? What did he claim?
Who paid attention to him? What did the people say? Why?
Who else did they pay attention to now? Concerning what? What did they do as a result?
Did Simon believe? What did he do? What was he amazed at?
Who learned that the Samaritans had received the Word of God? Who did they send to them?
What did Peter and John do when they arrived?
What kind of baptism had the Samaritans received? What had they not yet received?
What did the apostles do for them to receive the Holy Spirit?
When Simon saw this, what did he offer them? For what?
What was Peter’s response?
Why did Peter say that Simon had “neither part nor portion in this matter”?
What did he suggest Simon do?
What did Peter say that Simon was poisoned and bound by?
What was Simon’s prayer?
After they had testified and preached the Word of the Lord, where did they return to? Where else did they preach?

Thought Questions

Is persecution ever a good thing? What was the fortunate result of the persecution of the church in Jerusalem in this case? Do you think the disciples would have had as much motivation to go to places like Samaria otherwise?
Why do you think Samaria was a logical safe place for an enemy of the Jews to go?
Verse 13 says that Simon believed, although later in the chapter Peter points out that he was “poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” What do you think was really going on inside Simon’s mind? How would you compare your faith to his?
Do you think Philip knew if Simon truly believed the Gospel in his heart? Why did he agree to baptize him, and allow Simon to follow him? What should be the qualification for baptism?
When a group of people receives the Word of God, what next step needs to be done in follow-up? What can we learn from vs. 14-15?
What does it mean to you to receive the Holy Spirit? How is this different from simply being baptized in the name of Jesus?
From verse 19, explain the root of Simon’s sin. Where do you see this principle today, maybe even in your own life?
Was Simon really repentant? What does his request for the disciples’ prayer tell you? Could he have been forgiven?

My prayer is:
that, if facing persecution, my response would be to go out and tell others the wonderful things God has done;
that my desire for accepting the gospel and receiving the Holy Spirit would be motivated by love for the One who loved me, not for personal power;
and that my repentance for sin would truly be motivated by sorrow for rebelling against the One who loved me, not for avoidance of consequences.