Acts 8

 

1 And Saul was there consenting (and approving) to 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 (remained unmoved).

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great weeping over him.

3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and hauling men and women committed to the way (followers of Christ) to prison.

 

4 Therefore, those who were scattered abroad went everywhere (they went) preaching the word (of Christ).

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

6 And the people with one heart and mind gave heed to those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did (in the name of Jesus).

7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voices, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many that were paralyzed, and those that were lame, were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

9 But there was a certain man, named Simon, who previously in the same city used magic, and bewitched the people of Samaria, claiming he was someone great (with great power):

 

10 To whom they all gave attention, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man contains the great power of God.

 

11 And to him they had (high) regard, because for a long time he had amazed them with magic.

12 But when they believed Philip’s preaching and the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Then Simon himself also believed, and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and was amazed, beholding the miracles and signs which were done (by Philip).

 

14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received (and believed on) the word of God, they sent for Peter and John:

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

16 {For as yet the Holy Ghost had not fallen on any of them: only they had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.}

17 Then (after they prayed) they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

 

18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, (coveting this power) he offered them money,

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

20 But Peter said to him, Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21 You have no part or share in this matter: because your heart is not right before God.

22 Repent therefore of this wickedness (the poisonous corruption) in your heart (the lust for power and fame), and pray earnestly to the Lord, if perhaps the intent of your heart shall be forgiven (sent away from) you.

 

23 For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness (a root that brings forth envy and bitterness), and (enslaved to unrighteousness united) with the bond of iniquity (and its defining principles).

 

24 Then Simon answered, (not with his own prayer for repentance but saying), Pray to the LORD for me, that none of these things which you have spoken come on me.

 

25 And the Apostles, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord (Jesus), returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans (along the way).

26 And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert.

27 And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch (abstinent man) of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot, reading Isaiah the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, Do you understand what you read?

31 And he said, How can I (understand it) except someone should show 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 silent lamb before the shearer, so he did not open his mouth:

33 In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away: His generation, who shall declare? for his life is taken from the earth (for the transgressions of My people He was stricken).

 

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray you, (tell me) of whom the prophet speaks this? of himself, or of some other man?

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

36 And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what prevents me from being baptized?

37 And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may (be baptized). And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of (the living) God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stop: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, so that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

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