1AndSaulwasconsenting unto hisdeath. Andatthattime there was a greatpersecutionagainst the churchwhichwasatJerusalem; and they wereall scattered abroadthroughout the regions of JudaeaandSamaria, except the apostles.
2AnddevoutmencarriedStephen to his burial, andmadegreatlamentationoverhim.
3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering intoeveryhouse, andhalingmenandwomencommitted them toprison.
4Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every wherepreaching the word.
5ThenPhilip went downto the city of Samaria, and preachedChrist unto them.
6And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things whichPhilipspake, hearingandseeing the miracleswhich he did.
7Foruncleanspirits, crying with loudvoice, came out of many that were possessed with them: andmany taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8And there wasgreatjoyinthatcity.
9But there was a certainman, calledSimon, which beforetimein the same city used sorcery, andbewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himselfwassome great one:
10Towhom they all gave heed, from the leastto the greatest, saying, This manis the greatpower of God.
11And to him they had regard, because that of longtime he had bewitchedthem with sorceries.
12Butwhen they believedPhilippreaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of JesusChrist, they were baptized, bothmenandwomen.
13ThenSimonhimselfbelievedalso: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, andwondered, beholding the miraclesandsigns which were done.
14Now when the apostleswhich were atJerusalemheardthatSamaria had received the word of God, they sentuntothemPeterandJohn:
15Who, when they were come down, prayedforthem, that they might receive the HolyGhost:
16
(For as yet he wasfallenuponnone of them: only they werebaptizedin the name of the LordJesus.)
17Then laid they their handsonthem, andtheyreceived the HolyGhost.
18And when Simonsawthatthrough laying on of the apostles' hands the HolyGhost was given, he offeredthemmoney,
19Saying, Give me alsothispower, thatonwhomsoever I layhands, he may receive the HolyGhost.
20ButPetersaiduntohim, Thymoneyperishwiththee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchasedwithmoney.
21Thouhastneitherpartnorlotinthismatter: forthyheartisnotrightin the sight of God.
22Repentthereforeofthisthywickedness, andprayGod, ifperhaps the thoughtofthineheart may be forgiventhee.
23For I perceive that thouartin the gall of bitterness, andin the bond of iniquity.
24ThenansweredSimon, and said, Prayyeto the Lordforme, that none of these thingswhichye have spokencomeuponme.
25And they, when they had testifiedandpreached the word of the Lord, returnedtoJerusalem, andpreached the gospel in manyvillages of the Samaritans.
26And the angel of the LordspakeuntoPhilip, saying, Arise, andgotoward the southunto the way that goeth downfromJerusalemuntoGaza, whichisdesert.
27And he aroseandwent: and, behold, a manofEthiopia, an eunuchof great authority under Candacequeenof the Ethiopians, whohad the charge ofallhertreasure, andhadcometoJerusalem for toworship,
28Wasreturning, andsittinginhischariotreadEsaias the prophet.
29Then the Spiritsaid unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself tothischariot.
30AndPhilipran thither to him, andheardhimread the prophetEsaias, andsaid, Understandest thouwhatthoureadest?
31And he said, How can I, except some man should guideme?And he desiredPhilip that he would come upandsitwithhim.
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The place of the scripturewhichhereadwasthis, Hewasledas a sheepto the slaughter; andlike a lambdumbbeforehisshearer, so opened henothismouth:
33Inhishumiliationhisjudgment was takenaway: andwho shall declarehisgeneration?forhislife is takenfrom the earth.
34And the eunuchansweredPhilip, andsaid, I praythee, ofwhomspeaketh the prophetthis?ofhimself, orofsome other man?
35ThenPhilipopenedhismouth, andbeganat the samescripture, andpreached unto himJesus.
36Andas they wenton their way, they cameunto a certainwater: and the eunuchsaid, See, here is water; what doth hinderme to be baptized?
37AndPhilipsaid, If thou believestwith all thineheart, thou mayest. And he answeredandsaid, I believe that JesusChristis the Son of God.
38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went downbothinto the water, bothPhilipand the eunuch; and he baptizedhim.
39Andwhen they were come up out of the water, the Spiritof the Lord caught awayPhilip, that the eunuchsawhim no more: and he went on hiswayrejoicing.
40ButPhilip was foundatAzotus: andpassing through hepreached in all the cities, tillhecametoCaesarea.