Saul Persecutes the Church

1And 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. 2And godly men buried Stephen, and made great mourning over him. 3But Saul was laying waste the church, entering into the houses, and arresting men and women, he committed them to prison.

Philip in Samaria

4Therefore indeed, being dispersed abroad, they went everywhere preaching the word: 5and Philip, having gone down to the city of Samaria, was preaching Christ to them, 6And the multitudes were unanimously giving heed to the things spoken by Philip, while they were hearing and seeing the miracles which he was performing. 7For many of those having unclean spirits, roaring with a loud voice, went out: and many paralyzed and lame were healed; 8and there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

9And 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: 10to whom all from small even unto the great gave heed, saying, This one is the power of God, called Great. 11And they gave heed to him, because for a long time he had deceived them with his magic arts. 12But 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. 13But Simon himself also believed: and being baptized, was constantly with Philip, both seeing the miracles and the great dynamites performed, was astonished.

14But the apostles in Jerusalem, having heard that Samaria has received the word of God, sent to them Peter and John: 15who, having come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. 16For he had not yet fallen on any of them: but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18But Simon seeing that by the laying on of the hands of the apostles the Spirit was given, offered them money, saying, 19Give me this power, that on whomsoever I may lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20And Peter said to him, Thy silver be unto destruction with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money. 21There is neither part nor lot to thee in this word: for thy heart is not right before God. 22Therefore repent of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perchance the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee; 23for I see thou art in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity. 24And 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.

25Then indeed, witnessing and speaking the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip and the Ethiopian

26And 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. 27And 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, 28and was returning, and sitting upon his chariot he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29And the Spirit said to Philip, Go, and join yourself to that chariot. 30And Philip running forth, heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said; Whether do you understand what you are reading? 31And he said, How could I, unless some one shall guide me? And he called upon Philip coming up, to sit with him;

32and 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.

33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation? because his life is taken from the earth.

34And the eunuch responding to Philip, said, I pray thee, concerning whom does the prophet speak this? concerning himself, or some other man? 35Philip opening his mouth, and beginning from the same scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36And 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 38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both came down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized 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 went on his way rejoicing. 40And Philip was found at Azotus: and going through he preached the gospel to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.