Acts 8:1
And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
Acts 8:2
God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
Acts 8:3
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Acts 8:4
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Acts 8:5
Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
Acts 8:6
The crowds all paid close attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.
Acts 8:7
With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
Acts 8:8
So there was great joy in that city.
Acts 8:9
Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,
Acts 8:10
and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.”
Acts 8:11
They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:13
Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.
Acts 8:14
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
Acts 8:15
On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:16
For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 8:17
Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:18
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
Acts 8:19
“Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 8:20
But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
Acts 8:21
You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
Acts 8:22
Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
Acts 8:23
For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
Acts 8:24
Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
Acts 8:25
And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.
Acts 8:26
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
Acts 8:27
So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
Acts 8:28
and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
Acts 8:29
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
Acts 8:30
So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
Acts 8:31
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:32
The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
Acts 8:33
In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”
Acts 8:34
“Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
Acts 8:35
Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
Acts 8:36
As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”
Acts 8:37
Acts 8:38
And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
Acts 8:39
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.
Acts 8:40
But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.