1 A nd Saul was consenting to his being killed. And on that day there arose a great persecution against the assembly which was in Jerusalem, and all were scattered into the countries of Judaea and Samaria except the apostles.

2 A nd pious men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

3 B ut Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into the houses one after another, and dragging off both men and women delivered them up to prison.

4 T hose then that had been scattered went through announcing the glad tidings of the word.

5 A nd Philip, going down to a city of Samaria, preached the Christ to them;

6 a nd the crowds with one accord gave heed to the things spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he wrought.

7 F or from many who had unclean spirits they went out, crying with a loud voice; and many that were paralysed and lame were healed.

8 A nd there was great joy in that city.

9 B ut a certain man, by name Simon, had been before in the city, using magic arts, and astonishing the nation of Samaria, saying that himself was some great one.

10 T o whom they had all given heed, from small to great, saying, This is the power of God which is called great.

11 A nd they gave heed to him, because that for a long time he had astonished them by his magic arts.

12 B ut when they believed Philip announcing the glad tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women.

13 A nd Simon also himself believed; and, having been baptised, continued constantly with Philip; and, beholding the signs and great works of power which took place, was astonished.

14 A nd the apostles who were in Jerusalem, having heard that Samaria had received the word of God, sent to them Peter and John;

15 w ho, having come down, prayed for them that they might receive Holy Spirit;

16 f or he was not yet fallen upon any of them, only they were baptised to the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 T hen they laid their hands upon them, and they received Holy Spirit.

18 B ut Simon, having seen that by the laying on of the hands of the apostles the Spirit was given, offered them money,

19 s aying, Give to me also this power, in order that on whomsoever I may lay hands he may receive Holy Spirit.

20 A nd Peter said to him, Thy money go with thee to destruction, because thou hast thought that the gift of God can be obtained by money.

21 T hou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not upright before God.

22 R epent therefore of this thy wickedness, and supplicate the Lord, if indeed the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee;

23 f or I see thee to be in the gall of bitterness, and bond of unrighteousness.

24 A nd Simon answering said, Supplicate ye for me to the Lord, so that nothing may come upon me of the things of which ye have spoken.

25 T hey therefore, having testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and announced the glad tidings to many villages of the Samaritans.

26 B ut angel of Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Rise up and go southward on the way which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza: the same is desert.

27 A nd he rose up and went. And lo, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a man in power under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to worship at Jerusalem,

28 w as returning and sitting in his chariot: and he was reading the prophet Esaias.

29 A nd the Spirit said to Philip, Approach and join this chariot.

30 A nd Philip, running up, heard him reading the prophet Esaias, and said, Dost thou then know what thou art reading of?

31 A nd he said, How should I then be able unless some one guide me? And he begged Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 A nd the passage of the scripture which he read was this: He was led as a sheep to slaughter, and as a lamb is dumb in presence of him that shears him, thus he opens not his mouth.

33 I n his humiliation his judgment has been taken away, and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 A nd the eunuch answering Philip said, I pray thee, concerning whom does the prophet say this? of himself or of some other?

35 A nd Philip, opening his mouth and beginning from that scripture, announced the glad tidings of Jesus to him.

36 A nd as they went along the way, they came upon a certain water, and the eunuch says, Behold water; what hinders my being baptised?

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 A nd he commanded the chariot to stop. And they went down both to the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptised him.

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

40 A nd Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through he announced the glad tidings to all the cities till he came to Caesarea.