Acts 8

1Saul approved of his execution. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.

2Devout men buried Stephen and mourned loudly for him.

3But Saul was trying to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

4Now those who had been scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the good news of the word.

5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.

6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he was doing, they all paid close attention to what he said.

7For unclean spirits came out of many who had them, shrieking with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.

8So there was great joy in that city.

9Now a man named Simon had been practicing magic in the city for some time and amazing the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,

10and all of them, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him. They said, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”

11They paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

12But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized he stayed close to Philip. He was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that were taking place.

14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

16for he had not yet come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

17Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money

19and said, “Give me this power too, so that anyone I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!

21You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God.

22So repent of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

23For I see that you are full of bitter poison and bound by wickedness.”

24Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

25After they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news in many Samaritan villages along the way.

26Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert road.

27So he got up and went. And there was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship

28and was now returning home. He was sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah.

29The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and stay close to that chariot.”

30So Philip ran up to it and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32This was the passage of Scripture he was reading: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth.

33In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34The eunuch said to Philip, “Please tell me, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”

35Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this Scripture he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus.

36As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to keep me from being baptized?”

37[Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]

38He ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

40Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through the region he proclaimed the good news in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.