001 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.
002 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
003 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
004 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
005 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
006 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
007 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.
008 And there was great joy in that city.
009 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:
010 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
011 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
012 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.
013 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
014 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
015 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
016 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
017 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
018 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
019 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
020 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
021 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
022 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
023 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
024 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
025 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.
026 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.
027 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,
028 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
029 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
030 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
031 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.
032 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:
033 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
034 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
035 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
036 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?
037 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.
038 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.
039 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.
040 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.