1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there was a great persecution in that day against the church in Jerusalem: and all were dispersed abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And godly men buried Stephen, and made great mourning over him. 3 But Saul was laying waste the church, entering into the houses, and arresting men and women, he committed them to prison.
4 Therefore indeed, being dispersed abroad, they went everywhere preaching the word: 5 and Philip, having gone down to the city of Samaria, was preaching Christ to them, 6 And the multitudes were unanimously giving heed to the things spoken by Philip, while they were hearing and seeing the miracles which he was performing. 7 For many of those having unclean spirits, roaring with a loud voice, went out: and many paralyzed and lame were healed; 8 and there was great joy in that city.
9 And a certain man, by name Simon, was formerly practicing magic in the city, and bewitching the nation of Samaria, saying that himself was some great man: 10 to whom all from small even unto the great gave heed, saying, This one is the power of God, called Great. 11 And they gave heed to him, because for a long time he had deceived them with his magic arts. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the gospel concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 But Simon himself also believed: and being baptized, was constantly with Philip, both seeing the miracles and the great dynamites performed, was astonished.
14 But the apostles in Jerusalem, having heard that Samaria has received the word of God, sent to them Peter and John: 15 who, having come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. 16 For he had not yet fallen on any of them: but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18 But Simon seeing that by the laying on of the hands of the apostles the Spirit was given, offered them money, saying, 19 Give me this power, that on whomsoever I may lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 And Peter said to him, Thy silver be unto destruction with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money. 21 There is neither part nor lot to thee in this word: for thy heart is not right before God. 22 Therefore repent of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perchance the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee; 23 for I see thou art in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity.
24 And Simon responding said, You pray to the Lord for me, in order that none of these things of which you have spoken may come upon me.
25 Then indeed, witnessing and speaking the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
26 And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go towards the south unto the way going down from Jerusalem to Gaza; the same is desert. 27 And rising up, he departed. And, behold, an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, an officer of Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury, had been to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and was returning, and sitting upon his chariot he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, Go, and join yourself to that chariot.
30 And Philip running forth, heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said; Whether do you understand what you are reading?
31 And he said, How could I, unless some one shall guide me? And he called upon Philip coming up, to sit with him; 32 and the place of the scripture which he was reading was this, He was led like a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before the one shearing him is dumb, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation? because his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch responding to Philip, said, I pray thee, concerning whom does the prophet speak this? concerning himself, or some other man? 35 Philip opening his mouth, and beginning from the same scripture, preached Jesus to him.
36 And while they were journeying along the road, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch says, Behold water; what doth hinder me from being baptized? 37 OMITTED TEXT 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both came down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And 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 went on his way rejoicing. 40 And Philip was found at Azotus: and going through he preached the gospel to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.