Chapter 8
1 Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day . They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria , except for the apostles.
2 Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him .
3 But Saul ravaged the assembly , entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison .
4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word .
5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ .
6 The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip when they heard and saw the signs which he did .
7 For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them . They came out , crying with a loud voice . Many who had been paralysed and lame were healed .
8 There was great joy in that city .
9 But there was a certain man , Simon by name , who used to practise sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria , making himself out to be some great one ,
10 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest , saying , " This man is that great power of God ."
11 They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries .
12 But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God ’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ , they were baptised, both men and women .
13 Simon himself also believed . Being baptised, he continued with Philip . Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed .
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God , they sent Peter and John to them ,
15 who , when they had come down , prayed for them , that they might receive the Holy Spirit ;
16 for as yet he had fallen on none of them . They had only been baptised in the name of Christ Jesus .
17 Then they laid their hands on them , and they received the Holy Spirit .
18 Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands , he offered them money ,
19 saying , " Give me also this power , that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit ."
20 But Peter said to him , " May 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 isn’ t right before God .
22 Repent therefore of this , your wickedness , and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you .
23 For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."
24 Simon answered , " Pray for me to the Lord , that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me ."
25 They therefore , when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord , returned to Jerusalem , and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans .
26 Then an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip , saying , "Arise, and go towards the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza . This is a desert ."
27 He arose and went ; and behold , there was 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 .
28 He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah .
29 The Spirit said to Philip , " Go near , and join yourself to this chariot."
30 Philip ran to him , and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet , and said , " Do you understand what you are reading?"
31 He said , " How can I , unless someone explains it to me ?" He begged Philip to come up and sit with him .
32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this , " He was led as a sheep to the slaughter . As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’ t open his mouth .
33 In his humiliation , his judgement was taken away. Who will declare His generation ? For his life is taken from the earth ."
34 The eunuch answered Philip , " Who is the prophet talking about ? About himself , or about someone else ?"
35 Philip opened his mouth , and beginning from this Scripture , preached to him about Jesus .
36 As they went on the way , they came to some water ; and the eunuch said , " Behold , here is water . What is keeping me from being baptised?"
37 He commanded the chariot to stand still , and they both went down into the water , both Philip and the eunuch , and he baptised him .
38 When they came up out of the water , the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away , and the eunuch didn’ t see him any more , for he went on his way rejoicing .
39 But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through , he preached the Good News to all the cities until he came to Caesarea .