Act8:1 And Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem;and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Sama'ria, except the apostles.
Act8:2 Devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.
Act8:3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Act8:4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
Act8:5 Philip went down to a city of Sama'ria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.
Act8:6 And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did.
Act8:7 For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice;and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
Act8:8 So there was much joy in that city.
Act8:9 But there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the nation of Sama'ria, saying that he himself was somebody great.
Act8:10 They all gave heed to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, 'This man is that power of God which is called Great.'
Act8:11 And they gave heed to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.
Act8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Act8:13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
Act8:14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Sama'ria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
Act8:15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
Act8:16 for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act8:17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
Act8:18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
Act8:19 saying, 'Give me also this power, that any one on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'
Act8:20 But Peter said to him, 'Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
Act8:21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
Act8:22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
Act8:23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.'
Act8:24 And Simon answered, 'Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.'
Act8:25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
Act8:26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' This is a desert road.
Act8:27 And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Can'dace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship
Act8:28 and was returning;seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
Act8:29 And the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go up and join this chariot.'
Act8:30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?'
Act8:31 And he said, 'How can I, unless some one guides me?' And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Act8:32 Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: 'As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he opens not his mouth.
Act8:33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth.'
Act8:34 And the eunuch said to Philip, 'About whom, pray, does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?'
Act8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus.
Act8:36 And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?'
Act8:37
Act8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Act8:39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip;and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
Act8:40 But Philip was found at Azo'tus, and passing on he preached the gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesare'a.