Saul Persecutes the Church

1And Saul was well pleased with his execution. For at that time there was a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all dispersed through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2And some pious men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation for him. 3But Saul made havock of the church, entring into the houses, and dragging out men and women, committed them to prison.

Philip in Samaria

4Now they that were dispersed went about preaching the word. 5And Philip coming to the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them. 6And the people unanimously attended to the things which were spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he wrought: 7for impure spirits crying with a loud voice came out of many that were possessed by them; and many paralytic and lame persons were cured. 8And there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

9But there was before in the city a man named Simon practising magic and bewitching the people of Samaria, giving out that he was some great person. 10Whom they all greatly regarded, from the lest to the greatest, saying, This man is as the great power of God. 11And they were attentive to him, because he had for a considerable time astonished them by his magic arts. 12But as they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women; 13and Simon himself also believed, and was baptized, and kept constantly with Philip: and beholding the signs and miracles that were wrought, he was amazed.

14Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John: 15who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the holy Spirit: (for He was not yet fallen upon any of them, 16only they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus:) and then they laid their hands on them, 17and they received the holy Spirit. 18And when Simon saw that the holy Spirit was given by the imposition of the hands of the apostles, he offered them money, 19saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the holy Spirit. 20But Peter said unto him, Let thy money perish with thee, since thou thoughtest to purchase the gift of God with money. 21Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray to God, if so be the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee: 23for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity. 24And Simon answered, and said, Do ye pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which ye have spoken may come upon me.

25And they having testified and declared the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip and the Ethiopian

26And an angel of the Lord spake to Philip, saying, Arise and go southward to the way that leads down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert. 27And he arose and went; and behold a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, and her high-treasurer, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28was returning, and as he sat in his chariot, was reading the prophet Esaias: 29and the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip running up to him, 30heard him reading the prophet Esaias, and said, Dost thou understand what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, unless some one guide me? and he desired Philip to come up and sit with him.

32And the portion of scripture, which he was reading, was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before it's shearer is dumb, so He opened not his mouth:

33in his humiliation his judgement was taken away, and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken away from the earth."

34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom doth the prophet say this? of himself, or of some other person? 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached unto him Jesus. 36And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, See here is water, what hindereth me from being baptized? 37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38And he ordered the chariot to stop: and they both went down to the water, Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more: but went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip was found at Azotus; and as he passed along, he preached the gospel in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.