Acts 8

1Saul was approving of his execution. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2But devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

3But Saul was ravaging the church, entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he was handing them over to prison.

4So those who had been scattered went through the region proclaiming the word.

5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.

6And the crowds with one accord paid close attention to what was being said by Philip, as they heard him and saw the signs that he was doing.

7For many who had unclean spirits, they came out crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

8And there was great joy in that city.

9A certain man named Simon had previously been in the city practicing magic and astonishing the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was someone great,

10They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”

11And they paid attention to him because for a considerable time he had amazed them with his magic arts.

12But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus the Messiah, they were being baptized, both men and women.

13And Simon himself also believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip, and as he saw signs and great works of power happening, he was amazed.

14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

15who came down and prayed for them so that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

16For he had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

17Then they laid their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.

18But when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

19saying, “Give me also this authority, so that anyone 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 acquire the gift of God with money.”

21You have neither part nor share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God.

22Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, if perhaps the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the bond of unrighteousness.

24But Simon answered, “You pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

25So, after they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they were returning to Jerusalem, and were proclaiming the good news in many Samaritan villages.

26An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a deserted road.

27So he got up and went. And behold, an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, a high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury, had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28And he was returning, seated in his chariot, and was reading Isaiah the prophet.

29Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”

30So Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you really understand what you are reading?”

31And he said, “How could I, unless someone guides me?” Then he urged Philip to come up and sit with him.

32The passage of Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to slaughter, and like a lamb before the one shearing it is silent, so he does not open his mouth.”

33In his humiliation justice was taken away from him. Who will recount his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.

34Then the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this—about himself or about someone else?”

35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, he proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him.

36And as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch says, “Look, water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

37And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.”

38And he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no longer, for he went on his way rejoicing.

40But Philip was found at Azotus, and as he passed through, he was proclaiming the good news to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.