Acts 8

Saul Ravages the Church

1 And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria

4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.5 Philip went down to the cityt of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.8 So there was much joy in that city.

Simon the Magician Believes

9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called Great."11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.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.13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miraclest performed, he was amazed.

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,19 saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.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.23 For I see that you are in the gallt of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."24 And Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

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.

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the southt to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place.27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot."30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
"Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33  In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth."

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?"35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"t38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Acts 8

1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.2 And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.3 But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.4 They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word.5 And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.6 And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did.7 For from many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed.8 And there was much joy in that city.9 But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.11 And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.12 But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.13 And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.14 Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:15 who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:16 for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.18 Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,19 saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.20 But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God.22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.23 For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.24 And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.25 They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.26 But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert.27 And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.29 And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.30 And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?31 And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other?35 And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus.36 And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.