Acts 8

Saul Persecutes the Church

11Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.

And on that day a great persecution 2began against 3the church in Jerusalem, and they were all 4scattered throughout the regions of Judea and 5Samaria, except the apostles. 2Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. 3But 6Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and 7dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

4Therefore, those 8who had been scattered went about 910preaching the word. 511Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming 12Christ to them. 6The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the 13signs which he was performing. 7For in the case of many who had 14unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been 15paralyzed and lame were healed. 8So there was 16much rejoicing in that city.

9Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing 17magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, 18claiming to be someone great; 10and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “19This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” 11And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his 20magic arts. 12But when they believed Philip 21preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being 22baptized, men and women alike. 13Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed 23signs and 24great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

14Now when 25the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them 26Peter and John, 15who came down and prayed for them 27that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16For He had 28not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been 29baptized 30in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they 31began laying their hands on them, and they were 32receiving the Holy Spirit. 18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could 33obtain the gift of God with money! 21You have 34no part or portion in this 35matter, for your heart is not 36right before God. 22Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, 37if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in 38the 39bondage of iniquity.” 24But Simon answered and said, “40Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

An Ethiopian Receives Christ

25So, when they had solemnly 41testified and spoken 42the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were 43preaching the gospel to many villages of the 44Samaritans.

26But 45an angel of the Lord spoke to 46Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to 47Gaza.” (48This is a desert road.) 27So he got up and went; and 49there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he 50had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28and he was returning and sitting in his 51chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29Then 52the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this 53chariot.” 30Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: “54He was led as a sheep to slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He does not open His mouth.3355In humiliation His judgment was taken away; Who will 56relate His 57generation? For His life is removed from the earth.” 34The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” 35Then Philip 58opened his mouth, and 59beginning from this Scripture he 60preached Jesus to him. 36As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! 61What prevents me from being baptized?” 37[62And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38And he ordered the 63chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, 64the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, 65but went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip 66found himself at 6768Azotus, and as he passed through he 69kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to 70Caesarea.