[1] And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles.
[1] ---
[2] And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.
[2] ---
[3] But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.
[3] ---
[4] They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word.
[4] ---
[5] And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.
[5] ---
[6] And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did.
[6] ---
[7] For from many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed.
[7] ---
[8] And there was much joy in that city.
[8] ---
[9] But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
[9] ---
[10] to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.
[10] ---
[11] And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
[11] ---
[12] But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
[12] ---
[13] And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.
[13] ---
[14] Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
[14] ---
[15] who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
[15] ---
[16] for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
[16] ---
[17] Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
[17] ---
[18] Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
[18] ---
[19] saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.
[19] ---
[20] But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.
[20] ---
[21] Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God.
[21] ---
[22] Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.
[22] ---
[23] For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.
[23] ---
[24] And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.
[24] ---
[25] They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
[25] ---
[26] But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert.
[26] ---
[27] And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;
[27] ---
[28] and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
[28] ---
[29] And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
[29] ---
[30] And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
[30] ---
[31] And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.
[31] ---
[32] Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:
[32] ---
[33] In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth.
[33] ---
[34] And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other?
[34] ---
[35] And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus.
[35] ---
[36] And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
[36] ---
[37]
[37] ---
[38] And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
[38] ---
[39] And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
[39] ---
[40] But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.
[40] ---