Saul Persecutes the Church

1And Saul was approving of his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the assembly which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the countries of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3But Saul was laying waste the assembly, entering house after house; and, dragging men and women, was committing them to prison.

Philip in Samaria

4Those, therefore, who were dispersed, went about, proclaiming the good tidings of the word. 5And Philip, having come down to the city of Samaria, preached to them the Christ. 6And the multitudes, with one accord, were giving heed to the things spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the things which he was doing. 7For unclean spirits came forth from many of those possessing them, crying with a loud voice; and many paralyzed and lame persons were healed; 8and there was much joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

9But a certain man, Simon by name, was in the city before, using sorcery, and astonishing the nation of Samaria, affirming himself to be some great one; 10to whom all were giving heed, from small to great, saying, "This man is the power of God, which is called Great." 11And they were giving heed to him, because of his having for a long time amazed them with his sorceries. 12But, when they believed Philip proclaiming the glad tidings concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being immersed, both men and women. 13And Simon also himself believed; and, having been immersed, he was adhering closely to Philip; and, beholding the signs and great miracles being done, he was amazed.

14Now the apostles in Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria had received the word of God, sent to them Peter and John; 15who, indeed, having come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 16for as yet He had fallen upon no one of them, but they had only been immersed in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18Now Simon, seeing that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, offered them money, 19saying, "Give me also this authority, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit." 20But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought to acquire the gift of God with money! 21You have no part nor lot in this matter; for your heart is not right before God. 22Repent, therefore, of this your wickedness, and entreat the Lord, if, perhaps, the thought of your heart may be forgiven you; 23for I see that you are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity." 24And Simon answered and said, "Pray ye to the Lord in my behalf, that none of the things which ye have spoken may come upon me."

25They, therefore, having fully testified and spoken the word of the Lord, were returning to Jerusalem, and preaching the Gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip and the Ethiopian

26But an angel of the Lord spake to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south, on the way that leads down from Jerusalem to Gaza:" this is a wilderness. 27And, having arisen, he went on; and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, a state-officer of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship; 28he was also returning, and, sitting on his chariot, was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot." 30And Philip, having run near, heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you, then, understand what you are reading?" 31But he said, "How, in fact, were I able, unless some one should guide me?" And he besought Philip, having come up, to sit with him.

32Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and, as a lamb dumb before its shearer, so He openeth not His mouth.

33In His humiliation, His judgment was taken away; His generation who shall declare? because His life is being taken away from the earth."

34And the eunuch, answering Philip, said, "I pray you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself, or of someone else?" 35And Philip, opening his mouth, and, beginning from this Scripture, proclaimed to him the good news of Jesus. 36And, as they were journeying along the way, they came to a certain water; and the eunuch says, "Behold, here is water; what hinders me from being immersed?" 37[And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."] 38And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he immersed him. 39And, 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 was going on his way rejoicing. 40And Philip was found at Azotus; and, passing through, he was publishing the good news to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.