Chapter 8

Saul Persecutes the Church

1 aSaul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.

And on that day a great persecution 1began against bthe church in Jerusalem, and they were all cscattered throughout the regions of Judea and dSamaria, except the apostles.

2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.

3 But aSaul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and bdragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

4 Therefore, those awho had been scattered went about 1bpreaching the word.

5 aPhilip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming 1Christ to them.

6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the 1signs which he was performing.

7 For in the case of many who had aunclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been bparalyzed and lame were healed.

8 So there was amuch rejoicing in that city.

9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing amagic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, bclaiming to be someone great;

10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “aThis man is what is called the Great Power of God.”

11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his amagic arts.

12 But when they believed Philip apreaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being bbaptized, men and women alike.

13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed asigns and bgreat miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

14 Now when athe apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them bPeter and John,

15 who came down and prayed for them athat they might receive the Holy Spirit.

16 For He had anot yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been bbaptized 1in the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 Then they abegan laying their hands on them, and they were breceiving the Holy Spirit.

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

19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

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

21 “You have ano part or portion in this 1matter, for your heart is not bright before God.

22 “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, aif possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

23 “For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in athe 1bondage of iniquity.”

24 But Simon answered and said, “aPray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

An Ethiopian Receives Christ

25 So, when they had solemnly atestified and spoken bthe word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were cpreaching the gospel to many villages of the dSamaritans.

26 But aan angel of the Lord spoke to bPhilip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to cGaza.” (1This is a desert road.)

27 So he got up and went; and athere was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he bhad come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 and he was returning and sitting in his 1chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 Then athe Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this 1chariot.”

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

31 And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:

“aHe was led as a sheep to slaughter;

And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,

So He does not open His mouth.

33 “aIn humiliation His judgment was taken away;

Who will 1relate His 2generation?

For His life is removed from the earth.”

34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?”

35 Then Philip aopened his mouth, and bbeginning from this Scripture he cpreached Jesus to him.

36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch * said, “Look! Water! aWhat prevents me from being baptized?”

37 [1And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]

38 And he ordered the 1chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

39 When they came up out of the water, athe Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, 1but went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip 1found himself at 2aAzotus, and as he passed through he bkept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to cCaesarea.