Acts 8

1 And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

2 God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.

3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.

6 The crowds all paid close attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.

7 With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.

8 So there was great joy in that city.

9 Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,

10 and from the least to the greatest they heeded his words and said, “This man is the great power of God.”

11 They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the miracles and signs he observed.

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

15 On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.

16 For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of Jesus Christ.

17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.

19 “Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!

21 You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to God. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.

23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”

24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

25 And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

28 and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.

29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”

30 So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

33 In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”

34 “Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”

35 Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”

38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

1 ¶ And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 And devout men carried Stephen [to his burial], and made great lamentation over him.

3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed [them] to prison.

4 ¶ Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed [with them]: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched 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 the great power of God.

11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14 ¶ Now when the apostles which 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 Ghost:

16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 Then laid they [their] hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and [in] the bond of iniquity.

24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

26 ¶ And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? 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 man?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36 And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine 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 went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

1 And Saul was pleased with his death. And at that time there arose a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad in Judea and Samaria without the apostles.

2 And there buried Stephen, men that feared God, and made great lamentation over him.

3 And Saul destroyed the church, and went to and fro into the houses, and brought out men and women, and delivered them into prison.

4 They therefore which were scattered abroad went about preaching the word.

5 And Philip came down into a city of Samaria, and preached unto them of Christ.

6 And the people with one accord diligently heard what Philip said, and saw the signs which he did.

7 For the unclean spirits came out of many that were possessed with a great cry; and many that were sick of the palsy and lame were made whole.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

9 Now there was a man named Simon, which did sorcery before in the same city, and bewitched the Samaritan people, pretending that he was something great.

10 And they all looked upon him, both small and great, and said: This is the power of God, which is great.

11 And they looked upon him because he had long bewitched them with his magic.

12 And when they believed the preaching of Philip concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of JESUS Christ, both men and women were baptized.

13 Then Simon also believed, and was baptized, and stood by Philip. And when he saw the signs and the deeds that were done, he marvelled.

14 And when the apostles heard at Jerusalem that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.

15 Which when they were come down, they prayed over them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.

16 (For he was not yet fallen on any, but were baptized alone in the name of Christ JEsu.)

17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost:]

18 And when Simon saw that the Holy Ghost was given when the apostles laid their hands on him, he offered them money.

19 Saying, Give me also power, that if I lay hands on any man, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 And Peter said unto him, That thou shouldest be condemned with thy money, that thou shouldest think that the gift of God is obtained by money.

21 Thou shalt not have any part nor any pleasure in this word: for thy heart is not righteous in the sight of God.

22 Therefore repent of this thy wickedness, and ask God whether the wickedness of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23 For I see that thou art full of bitter gall, and bound up in iniquity.

24 And Simon answered and said, Pray ye the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken of come upon me.

25 And they, when they had testified and spoken the word of the LORD, returned again to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many Samaritan villages.

26 And the angel of the LORD spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south into the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desolate.

27 And he arose, and went his way. And, behold, a man of the land of Moor, an officer and ruler of the queen Candaze in the land of Moor, which was over all her treasures, came to Jerusalem to worship,

28 And he returned home, and sat in his chariot, and read the prophet Isaiah.

29 And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go thy way, and stand by this chariot.

30 Then Philip ran and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou also what thou readest?

31 And he said, How can I, except some man lead me? And exhorted Philip to stand, and sat with him.

32 And the content of the scripture which he read was this, He is as a sheep led to the slaughter, and is as a lamb before his shearer: so he hath not opened his mouth.

33 In his lowliness his judgment is taken away: but who shall speak out the length of his life? For his life is taken away from the earth.

34 Then Philip the eunuch answered and said: I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet these things, of himself, or of some other?

35 And Philip opened his mouth, and began from this scripture, and preached unto him the gospel of JEsu.

36 And as they went along by the way, they came to a water. And the eunuch said, Behold, there is water; what hindereth me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, it may be so. 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 went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch: and he baptized him.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the spirit of the LORD departed from Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more: but he went on his way rejoicing.

40 And Philip was found in Ashdod, and went about preaching the gospel in all the cities, until he came.