1 And Saul was consenting to his death. On that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to burial and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he was laying waste the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women he delivered them to prison.
4 So those who had been scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
5 And Philip went down to a city of Samaria and preached the Christ to them.
6 And the crowds with one accord gave heed to the things spoken by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs he was doing.
7 For from many who had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed and lame were cured.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 But a certain man named Simon had previously been practicing magic in the city and astonishing the nation of Samaria, saying that he himself was someone great.
10 To him they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God."
11 And they gave heed to him, because for a long time he had astonished them with his magic arts.
12 But when they believed Philip, who was preaching the good news concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and he was astonished, beholding the miracles and signs that were done.
14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15 who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
16 for as yet he had fallen upon none of them; they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
19 saying, "Give me also this authority, so that on whomever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit."
20 But Peter said to him, "Your silver perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be acquired with money!
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the bond of unrighteousness."
24 Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things you have spoken may come upon me."
25 And they, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
26 And an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south, along the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." That way is desert.
27 So he rose and went; and look, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, an official of Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 was returning; and sitting in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and join yourself to this chariot."
30 Running up, Philip heard him reading the prophet Isaiah and said, "Do you really understand what you are reading?"
31 And he said, "Why, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he begged Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 Now the passage of Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to slaughter, and as a lamb is dumb before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away; and who will declare his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth."
34 And the eunuch said to Philip in reply, "Please tell me, about whom does the prophet say this? About himself, or about someone else?"
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
36 And as they went on their way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, water! What hinders me from being baptized?"
37 And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, it is allowed." And he answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through, he preached the gospel in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.