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[1]SAUL was pleased to have had a part in the murder of Stephen. At that very time there was severe persecution against the church at Jerusalem; and they were all, with the exception of the apostles, dispersed throughout the towns of Judae'a and Sama'ria.
[2]And devout men picked up Stephen and buried him, and they mourned over him in great sorrow.
[3]As for Saul, he continued to persecute the church of God, entering into houses and dragging out men and women and delivering them to prison,
[4]So that they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word of God.
[5]Then Philip went down to a Samaritan city and preached to them about Christ.
[6]And when the people of that place heard his word, they gave heed and listened attentively to everything Philip said, because they saw the miracles which he did.
[7]Many who were mentally afflicted, cried with loud voices and were restored; and others who were paralytic and lame, were healed.
[8]And there was great joy in that city.
[9]Now there was there a man called Semon, who had lived in that city a long time, and who had deceived the Samaritan people by his magic, boasting of himself and saying, I am the greatest one.
[10]And both the noblest and the least followed him, saying, He is the greatest power of God.
[11]All of them listened to him, because for a long time he had bewitched them with his sorceries.
[12]But when they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
[13]Semon himself also believed and was baptized and attached himself to Philip, and as he saw the miracles and great signs performed by his hand, he marvelled greatly.
[14]N ow when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritan people had accepted the word of God, they sent to them Simon Peter and John,
[15]Who, when they went down, prayed over them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
[16]For as yet it had not come upon them although they had been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus.
[17]Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
[18]And when Semon saw that the Holy Spirit was given by the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
[19]Saying, Give me also this authority so that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.
[20]Simon Peter said to him, Let your money perish with you because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with wealth.
[21]You have no part nor lot in this faith because your heart is not right in the sight of God.
[22]Repent, therefore, of this evil of yours, and beseech God that he may perhaps forgive you for the guile which is in your heart.
[23]For I see your heart is as bitter as gall and you are in the bonds of iniquity.
[24]Then Semon answered and said, Pray God for me so that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me.
[25]Now when Simon Peter and John had testified and taught them the word of God, they returned to Jerusalem after they had preached in many Samaritan villages.
[26]And the angel of the LORD spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go south by way of the desert that leads down from Jerusalem to Gaza,
[27]So he arose and went: and he was met by a eunuch, who had come from E-thi-o'pi-a; an official of Can'da-ce, queen of the E-thio'pi- ans, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to worship at Jerusalem.
[28]While he was returning, sitting in his chariot, he read the book of the prophet Isa'iah.
[29]And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and keep close to the chariot.
[30]And as Philip drew near and heard him reading from the book of the prophet I-sa'iah, he said to him, Do you understand what you are reading?
[31]And the E-thi-o'pi-an said, How can I understand unless some one teach me? and he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
[32]The portion of the scripture which he was reading was this: He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and like a ewe sheep before the shearer, so he opened not his mouth:
[33]In his humiliation, he suffered imprisonment and judgment: none can tell his struggle, for even his life is taken away from the earth.
[34]And the eunuch said to Philip. I pray you, of whom does this prophet speak? of himself or of some other man?
[35]Then Philip opened his mouth and began at that same scripture and preached to him concerning our LORD Jesus.
[36]And as they went on their way, they came to a place where there was water; and the eunuch said, Behold here is water; what prevents me from being baptized?
[37]And 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 commanded the chariot be stopped: and both went down into the water, and Philip baptized the eunuch.
[39]And when they came up from the water, the Spirit of the LORD caught Philip away and the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
[40]Philip was found at Az-o'tus: and from there he traveled around and preached in all the cities till he came to Caes-a-re'a.
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