1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones} which was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones}; entering into the houses and dragging out men and women, he committed them to prison.
4 But those that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word of the gospel. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached the Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the signs which he did. 7 For many unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of those who were possessed with them, and many paralytics and that were lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who before this in the same city used magic arts and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that he himself was some great one, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This is the great virtue of God. 11 And to him they had regard because for a long time he had amazed them with magic arts. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also; and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were being done.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John unto them, 15 who, when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them; they were baptized only in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God, if perhaps this thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the prison of iniquity. 24 Then Simon answered and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of God, returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
26 And the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, Arise and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 Then he arose and went, and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch 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 unto Philip, Go near and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran there to him and heard him read the prophet Isaiah and said, Dost thou understand what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except someone should guide me? And he besought Philip to 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 lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth; 33 in his humiliation his judgment was taken away, and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip and said, I pray thee, of whom does the prophet speak this? of himself or of some other? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture and preached unto him the gospel of Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what hinders me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou dost believe with all thine heart, thou may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still, and they went both down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come 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 the gospel in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.