- 1Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.
- 2Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.
- 3But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.
- 4Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.
- 5Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.
- 6The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did.
- 7For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.
- 8There was great joy in that city.
- 9But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one,
- 10to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.”
- 11They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
- 12But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
- 13Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
- 14Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
- 15who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
- 16for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.
- 17Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- 18Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
- 19saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
- 20But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
- 21You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God.
- 22Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
- 23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
- 24Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”
- 25They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans.
- 26But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.”
- 27He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.
- 28He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
- 29The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”
- 30Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
- 31He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.
- 32Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth.
- 33In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”
- 34The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”
- 35Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.
- 36As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”