✧And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles. ✧2And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. ✧3But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison. ✧4They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word. ✧5And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ. ✧6And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did. ✧7For [from] many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed. ✧8And there was much joy in that city. ✧9But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: ✧10to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great. ✧11And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. ✧12But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ✧13And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed. ✧14Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: ✧15who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: ✧16for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ✧17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. ✧18Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, ✧19saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. ✧20But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money. ✧21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God. ✧22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. ✧23For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. ✧24And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me. ✧25They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. ✧26But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert. ✧27And he arose and went: and behold, 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; ✧28and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. ✧29And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. ✧30And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? ✧31And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him. ✧32Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth: ✧33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth. ✧34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other? ✧35And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus. ✧36And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? ✧38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went 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. ✧40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.