1 S aul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 S ome devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.

3 B ut Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. Philip in Samaria

4 T herefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

5 P hilip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.

6 T he crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.

7 F or in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

8 S o there was much rejoicing in that city.

9 N ow there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;

10 a nd they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “ This man is what is called the Great Power of God.”

11 A nd they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.

12 B ut when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.

13 E ven Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

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

15 w ho came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

16 F or He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 T hen they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.

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

19 s aying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 B ut Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

21 Y ou have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

22 T herefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

23 F or I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”

24 B ut Simon answered and said, “ Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” An Ethiopian Receives Christ

25 S o, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

26 B ut an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” ( This is a desert road.)

27 S o he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 a nd he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 T hen the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”

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

31 A nd he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 N ow the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: “ He was led as a sheep to slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He does not open His mouth.

33 “ In humiliation His judgment was taken away; Who will relate His generation ? For His life is removed from the earth.”

34 T he eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?”

35 T hen Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

36 A s they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

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

38 A nd he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

39 W hen they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

40 B ut Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.