1 | And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great
persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all
scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the
apostles.
|
2 | And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation
over him.
|
3 | As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and
haling men and women committed them to prison.
|
4 | Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the
word.
|
5 | Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto
them.
|
6 | And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip
spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
|
7 | For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were
possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were
healed.
|
8 | And there was great joy in that city.
|
9 | But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same
city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself
was some great one:
|
10 | To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This
man is the great power of God.
|
11 | And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched
them with sorceries.
|
12 | But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom
of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
|
13 | Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued
with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
|
14 | Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
|
15 | Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive
the Holy Ghost:
|
16 | (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus.)
|
17 | Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
|
18 | And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy
Ghost was given, he offered them money,
|
19 | Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may
receive the Holy Ghost.
|
20 | But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast
thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
|
21 | Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right
in the sight of God.
|
22 | Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the
thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
|
23 | For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond
of iniquity.
|
24 | Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of
these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
|
25 | And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord,
returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the
Samaritans.
|
26 | And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward
the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is
desert.
|
27 | And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great
authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her
treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
|
28 | Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
|
29 | Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this
chariot.
|
30 | And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias,
and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
|
31 | And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired
Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
|
32 | The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep
to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his
mouth:
|
33 | In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his
generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
|
34 | And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh
the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
|
35 | Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and
preached unto him Jesus.
|
36 | And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the
eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
|
37 | And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And
he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
|
38 | And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into
the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
|
39 | And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught
away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
|
40 | But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the
cities, till he came to Caesarea.
|