Acts 8:4-40

4Therefore, those 1who had been scattered went through places 23preaching the word. 54Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming the 5Christ to them. 6The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what was being said by Philip, as they heard and saw the 6signs which he was performing. 7For in the case of many who had 7unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been 8paralyzed or limped on crutches were healed. 8So there was 9much rejoicing in that city.

9Now a man named Simon had previously been practicing 10magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, 11claiming to be someone great; 10and all the people, from small to great, were paying attention to him, saying, “12This man is the Power of God that is called Great.” 11And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his 13magic arts. 12But when they believed Philip 14as he was preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being 15baptized. 13Now even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed 16signs and 17great miracles taking place, he was repeatedly amazed.

14Now when 18the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them 19Peter and John, 15who came down and prayed for them 20that they would receive the Holy Spirit. 16(For He had 21not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been 22baptized 23in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then they 24began laying their hands on them, and they were 25receiving the Holy Spirit. 18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given 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 26acquire the gift of God with money! 21You have 27no part or share in this 28matter, for your heart is not 29right before God. 22Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, 30if possible, the intention of your heart will be forgiven you. 23For I see that you are 31in the gall of bitterness and in 32the 33bondage of unrighteousness.” 24But Simon answered and said, “34Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

25So, when they had solemnly 35testified and spoken 36the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were 37preaching the gospel to many villages of the 38Samaritans.

26But 39an angel of the Lord spoke to 40Philip, saying, “Get ready and go 41south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to 42Gaza.” (43This is a desert road.) 27So he got ready and went; and 4445there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of 46Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he 47had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28and he was returning and sitting in his 48chariot, and was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29Then 49the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this 50chariot.” 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: “51He was led like a sheep to slaughter; And like a lamb that is silent before its shearer, So He does not open His mouth.3352In humiliation His justice was taken away; Who will 53describe His 54generation? For His life is taken away 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 55opened his mouth, and 56beginning from this Scripture he 57preached Jesus to him. 36As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! 58What prevents me from being baptized?”59 38And he ordered that the 60chariot 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, 61the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, 62but went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip 63found himself at 6465Azotus, and as he passed through he 66kept preaching the gospel to all the cities, until he came to 67Caesarea.