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.
02 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial,
and made great lamentation over him.
03 As for Saul, he made havock of the church,
entering into every house, and haling men and
women committed them to prison.
04 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went
every where preaching the word.
05 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria,
and preached Christ unto them.
06 And the people with one accord gave heed unto
those things which Philip spake, hearing and
seeing the miracles which he did.
07 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.
08 And there was great joy in that city.
09 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.
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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.
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