Chapter 8

Now there broke out on that day a great persecution against the Church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered abroad throughout the land of Judea and Samaria.

And devout men took care of Stephen's burial and made great lamentation over him.

But Saul was harassing the Church; entering house after house, and dragging out men and women, he committed them to prison. Samaria

Now those who were scattered abroad went about preaching the word.

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

And the crowds with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, listening to him and seeing the miracles that he worked.

For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out of many possessed persons, and many paralytics and cripples were cured.

So there was great joy in that city.

Now a man named Simon had previously been practicing sorcery in that city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;

and all from least to greatest listening to him, saying, "This man is the power of God, which is called great."

And they gave heed to him because for a long time he had bewitched them with his sorceries.

But when they believed Philip as he preached the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

And Simon also himself believed, and after his baptism attached himself to Philip; and at sight of the signs and exceedingly great miracles being wrought, he was amazed.

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John.

On their arrival they prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;

for as yet he had not come upon any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

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

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

saying, "Give me also this power, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

But Peter said to him, "Thy money go to destruction with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money.

Thou hast no part or lot in this matter; for thy heart is not right before God.

Repent therefore of this wickedness of thine and pray to God, that perhaps this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee;

for I see thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."

But Simon answered, "Do you pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me."

So they, after bearing witness and preaching the gospel of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many Samaritan villages. An Ethiopian

But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This road is desert.)

And he arose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of Candace, queen of Ethiopia, who was in charge of all her treasures, had come to Jerusalem to worship

and was returning, sitting in his carriage and reading the prophet Isaias.

And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and keep close to this carriage."

And Philip, running up, heard him reading the prophet Isaias, and he said, "Dost thou then understand what thou art reading? "

But he said, "Why, how can I, unless someone shows me?" And he asked Philip to get up and sit with him.

Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "He was led like a sheep to slaughter; and just as a lamb dumb before its shearer, so did he not open his mouth.

In humiliation his judgment was denied him; Who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth."

And the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I pray thee, of whom is the prophet saying this? Of himself or of someone else? "

Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning from this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

And as they went along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "See, here is water; what is there to prevent my being baptized?"

And Philip said, "If thou dost believe with all thy heart, thou mayest." And he answered, and said, "I believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. "

And he ordered the carriage to stop; and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

But when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but he went on his way rejoicing.

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