Acts 8:5-40

51Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming 2Christ to them. 6The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the 3signs which he was performing. 7For in the case of many who had 4unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been 5paralyzed and lame were healed. 8So there was 6much rejoicing in that city.

9Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing 7magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, 8claiming to be someone great; 10and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “9This 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 10magic arts. 12But when they believed Philip 11preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being 12baptized, men and women alike. 13Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed 13signs and 14great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

14Now when 15the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them 16Peter and John, 15who came down and prayed for them 17that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16For He had 18not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been 19baptized 20in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they 21began laying their hands on them, and they were 22receiving 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 23obtain the gift of God with money! 21You have 24no part or portion in this 25matter, for your heart is not 26right before God. 22Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, 27if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in 28the 29bondage of iniquity.” 24But Simon answered and said, “30Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

25So, when they had solemnly 31testified and spoken 32the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were 33preaching the gospel to many villages of the 34Samaritans.

26But 35an angel of the Lord spoke to 36Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to 37Gaza.” (38This is a desert road.) 27So he got up and went; and 39there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he 40had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28and he was returning and sitting in his 41chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29Then 42the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this 43chariot.” 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: “44He was led as a sheep to slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He does not open His mouth.3345In humiliation His judgment was taken away; Who will 46relate His 47generation? 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 48opened his mouth, and 49beginning from this Scripture he 50preached Jesus to him. 36As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! 51What prevents me from being baptized?” 37[52And 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 53chariot 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, 54the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, 55but went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip 56found himself at 5758Azotus, and as he passed through he 59kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to 60Caesarea.