1 And Saul was consenting unto his (Stephen's) 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.
2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great
lamentation over him.
3As for Saul, he made havock of the church,
entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to
prison.
4Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ
unto them. 6And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things
which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7For
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. 8And there was great joy in that city.
9But 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: 10To whom they all gave heed, from
the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched
them with sorceries.
12But 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. 13Then Simon himself believed also:
and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered,
beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria
had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might
receive the Holy Ghost: 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them:
only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy
Ghost.
18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’
hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19Saying, Give me
also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the
Holy Ghost.
20But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee,
because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with
money. 21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is
not right in the sight of God.
22Repent therefore of this thy
wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be
forgiven thee. 23For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness,
and in the bond of iniquity.
24Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye
to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come
upon me.
25And 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.
26And 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. 27And 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 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot
read Esaias the prophet.
29Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to
this chariot. 30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the
prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And 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 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: 33In his humiliation his judgment was taken
away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from
the earth.
34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36And 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?
37And 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.
38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down
both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39And 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.
40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing
through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.