Acts 8:10-40

10and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “1This 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 2magic arts. 12But when they believed Philip 3preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being 4baptized, men and women alike. 13Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed 5signs and 6great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

14Now when 7the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them 8Peter and John, 15who came down and prayed for them 9that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16For He had 10not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been 11baptized 12in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they 13began laying their hands on them, and they were 14receiving 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 15obtain the gift of God with money! 21You have 16no part or portion in this 17matter, for your heart is not 18right before God. 22Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, 19if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in 20the 21bondage of iniquity.” 24But Simon answered and said, “22Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

25So, when they had solemnly 23testified and spoken 24the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were 25preaching the gospel to many villages of the 26Samaritans.

26But 27an angel of the Lord spoke to 28Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to 29Gaza.” (30This is a desert road.) 27So he got up and went; and 31there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he 32had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28and he was returning and sitting in his 33chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29Then 34the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this 35chariot.” 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: “36He was led as a sheep to slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He does not open His mouth.3337In humiliation His judgment was taken away; Who will 38relate His 39generation? 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 40opened his mouth, and 41beginning from this Scripture he 42preached Jesus to him. 36As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! 43What prevents me from being baptized?” 37[44And 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 45chariot 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, 46the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, 47but went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip 48found himself at 4950Azotus, and as he passed through he 51kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to 52Caesarea.