Acts - 8

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 - .