Acts 8

1verseSaul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

2verseDevout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him.

3verseBut Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.

4verseTherefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.

5versePhilip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

6verseThe multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip when they heard and saw the signs which he did.

7verseFor unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

8verseThere was great joy in that city.

9verseBut there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one,

10verseto whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.”

11verseThey listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.

12verseBut when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13verseSimon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.

14verseNow when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

15versewho, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;

16versefor as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.

17verseThen they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18verseNow when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

19versesaying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20verseBut Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

21verseYou have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God.

22verseRepent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

23verseFor I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”

24verseSimon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”

25verseThey therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans.

26verseThen an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.”

27verseHe arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.

28verseHe was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29verseThe Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”

30versePhilip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31verseHe said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.

32verseNow the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth.

33verseIn his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”

34verseThe eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”

35versePhilip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus.

36verseAs they went on the way, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”

37verseHe commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

38verseWhen they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

39verseBut Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.