1 S aul thought it was all right that Stephen was killed. On that day people started to work very hard against the church in Jerusalem. All the followers, except the missionaries, were made to leave. They went to parts of the countries of Judea and Samaria.

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.

2 G ood men put Stephen in a grave. There was much sorrow because of him.

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

3 D uring this time Saul was making it very hard for the church. He went into every house of the followers of Jesus and took men and women and put them in prison. Philip Preaches in Samaria

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

4 T hose who had been made to go to other places preached the Word as they went.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

5 P hilip went down to a city in Samaria and preached about Christ.

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6 T he people all listened to what Philip said. As they listened, they watched him do powerful works.

And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7 T here were many people who had demons in their bodies. The demons cried with loud voices when they went out of the people. Many of the people could not move their bodies or arms and legs. They were all healed.

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.

8 T here was much joy in that city. Simon the Witch Doctor

And there was great joy in that city.

9 A man by the name of Simon had done witchcraft there. The people of Samaria were surprised at the things he did. He pretended that he was a great man.

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:

10 A ll the people watched and listened to him. They said, “This man must be that great power of God.”

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11 T hey kept running after him. For a long time he fooled them with his witchcraft.

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12 P hilip told the Good News of the holy nation of God and of Jesus Christ. Both men and women put their trust in Christ and were baptized.

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.

13 E ven Simon believed in Christ and was baptized. He went along with Philip everywhere. He was surprised when he saw the powerful works that were being done.

Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14 T he missionaries in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had received the Word of God. They sent Peter and John to them.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15 W hen Peter and John got there, they prayed that the new followers might receive the Holy Spirit.

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16 H e had not yet come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 T hey laid their hands on them and the followers received the Holy Spirit.

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

18 W hen Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given when the missionaries laid their hands on the people, he wanted to give money to the missionaries.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 H e said, “Let me also have this power. Then I can give the Holy Spirit to anyone I lay my hands on.”

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 P eter said to him, “May your money be destroyed with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21 Y ou have no part or place in this work. Your heart is not right in God’s sight.

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 Y ou must be sorry for this sin of yours and turn from it. Pray to the Lord that He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23 I see that you are full of jealousy and chained by your sin.”

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

24 S imon said, “Pray to the Lord for me that nothing you have said will come to me.”

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

25 P eter and John went back to Jerusalem after telling what they had seen and heard. They had preached the Word of the Lord also. On the way they preached the Good News in many other towns in the country of Samaria. Philip and the Man from Ethiopia

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.

26 A n angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south. Take the road that goes down from Jerusalem to the country of Gaza. It goes through the desert.”

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.

27 P hilip got up and went. A man from the country of Ethiopia had come to Jerusalem to worship. He had been made so he could not have children. He cared for all the riches that belonged to Candace who was Queen of Ethiopia.

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,

28 A s he was going back home, he was sitting in his wagon reading about the early preacher Isaiah.

Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 T he Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that wagon and get on it.”

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 P hilip ran up to him. He saw that the man from Ethiopia was reading from the writings of the early preacher Isaiah and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31 T he man from Ethiopia said, “How can I, unless someone teaches me?” Then he asked Philip to come up and sit beside him.

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.

32 H e was reading the part in the Holy Writings which says He was taken like a lamb to be put to death. A sheep does not make a sound while its wool is cut. So He made no sound.

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:

33 N o one listened to Him because of His shame. Who will tell the story of His day? For His life was taken away from the earth.

In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 T he man from Ethiopia said to Philip, “Who is the early preacher talking about, himself, or someone else?”

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35 S o Philip started with this part of the Holy Writings and preached the Good News of Jesus to him.

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36 A s they went on their way, they came to some water. The man from Ethiopia said, “See! Here is water. What is to stop me from being baptized?”

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?

37 ( Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The man said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”)

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 H e stopped the wagon. Then both Philip and the man from Ethiopia went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

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.

39 W hen they came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit took Philip away. The man from Ethiopia did not see Philip again. He went on his way full of joy.

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.

40 P hilip found himself at the city of Azotus. Then Philip went through all the towns as far as the city of Caesarea preaching the Good News at each place.

But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.