[1] And Saul was consenting to his death.  And on that day a great
persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all
scattered throughout the region of Judea and Sama'ria, except the apostles.
[2] Devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. [3] But
Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged
off men and women and committed them to prison. [4] Now those who were
scattered went about preaching the word. [5] Philip went down to a city of
Sama'ria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. [6] And the multitudes with
one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and
saw the signs which he did. [7] For unclean spirits came out of many who
were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or
lame were healed. [8] So there was much joy in that city. [9] But there was
a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed
the nation of Sama'ria, saying that he himself was somebody great. [10]
They all gave heed to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This
man is that power of God which is called Great." [11] And they gave heed to
him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. [12] But
when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God
and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. [13]
Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with
Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. [14]
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Sama'ria had received the
word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, [15] who came down and
prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; [16] for it had
not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name
of the Lord Jesus. [17] Then they laid their hands on them and they
received the Holy Spirit. [18] Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given
through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, [19]
saying, "Give me also this power, that any one on whom I lay my hands may
receive the Holy Spirit." [20] But Peter said to him, "Your silver perish
with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
[21] You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not
right before God. [22] Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and
pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be
forgiven you. [23] For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in
the bond of iniquity." [24] And Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord,
that nothing of what you have said may come upon me." [25] Now when they
had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem,
preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. [26] But an angel
of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that
goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert road. [27] And he rose
and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Can'dace,
queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had come to
Jerusalem to worship [28] and was returning; seated in his chariot, he was
reading the prophet Isaiah. [29] And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and
join this chariot." [30] So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah
the prophet, and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" [31] And
he said, "How can I, unless some one guides me?" And he invited Philip to
come up and sit with him. [32] Now the passage of the scripture which he
was reading was this: "As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its
shearer is dumb, so he opens not his mouth. [33] In his humiliation justice
was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up
from the earth." [34] And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, pray,
does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?" [35] Then
Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the
good news of Jesus. [36] And as they went along the road they came to some
water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What is to prevent my
being baptized?" [37] And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both
went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. [38]
And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up
Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. [39]
But Philip was found at Azo'tus, and passing on he preached the gospel to
all the towns till he came to Caesare'a.