AC-8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a
great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all
scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the
apostles.
AC-8:2 And devout men carried Stephen [to his burial], and made great
lamentation over him.
AC-8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house,
and haling men and women committed [them] to prison.
AC-8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching
the word.
AC-8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto
them.
AC-8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip
spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
AC-8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were
possessed [with them]: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were
healed.
AC-8:8 And there was great joy in that city.
AC-8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same
city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself
was some great one:
AC-8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying,
This man is the great power of God.
AC-8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched
them with sorceries.
AC-8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the
kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and
women.
AC-8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he
continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which
were done.
AC-8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
AC-8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might
receive the Holy Ghost:
AC-8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized
in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
AC-8:17 Then laid they [their] hands on them, and they received the Holy
Ghost.
AC-8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the
Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
AC-8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he
may receive the Holy Ghost.
AC-8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast
thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
AC-8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not
right in the sight of God.
AC-8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the
thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
AC-8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and [in] the
bond of iniquity.
AC-8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none
of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
AC-8:25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord,
returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the
Samaritans.
AC-8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go
toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which
is desert.
AC-8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of
great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of
all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
AC-8:28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
AC-8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this
chariot.
AC-8:30 And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him read the prophet
Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
AC-8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he
desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
AC-8:32 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:
AC-8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare
his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
AC-8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom
speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
AC-8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and
preached unto him Jesus.
AC-8:36 And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and
the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
AC-8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.
And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
AC-8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both
into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
AC-8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord
caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way
rejoicing.
AC-8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all
the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
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