Acts 8

1Saul, for his part, gave his full approval to Stephen’s death. That same day a fierce persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles was driven out into the country districts of Judea and Samaria. 2Some devout men gave Stephen a burial and mourned loudly for him. 3Saul, however, set about destroying the church. He went from house to house, hauled off men and women alike, and had them put in prison.

4Those who had been scattered went from place to place, announcing the good news of the message. 5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began to proclaim the Christ to the people there. 6The crowds, one and all, listened closely to what Philip said, as they heard him and saw the signs he performed. 7Unclean spirits came out of many people, shrieking as they left, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.

9Now there was a man named Simon who had been in the city for some time, working magic and astonishing the people of Samaria. He made himself out to be someone great, 10and everyone, from the least to the most important, hung on his words. “This man,” they said, “is the power of God that is called Great.” 11They followed him because for a long while he had dazzled them with his magic. 12But when Philip announced the good news of God’s kingdom and of the name of Jesus Christ, they believed him, and both men and women were baptized. 13Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized he stayed close to Philip. When he saw the signs and great miracles that were happening, he was astounded.

14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15The two went down and prayed for the people there to receive the Holy Spirit, 16for the Spirit had not yet come down on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, and he offered them money. 19“Let me have this power too,” he said, “so that whoever I place my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit.” 20Peter answered him, “To ruin with you and your silver! You thought you could get the gift of God with money. 21You have no part or portion in this, because in God’s eyes your heart is not right. 22So turn from this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord. It may be that he will forgive you for what you had in your heart, 23For I can see that you are full of bitter poison and bound by wrongdoing.” 24Simon replied, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that none of the things you have said will happen to me.”

25After Peter and John had borne witness and spoken the word of the Lord, they set out back to Jerusalem, announcing the good news in many Samaritan villages on the way.

26An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get ready and head south, to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) 27So Philip got up and went. And there on the road was a man from Ethiopia, a eunuch, a high official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28and now he was on his way home, seated in his chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah. 29The Spirit told Philip, “Go up to that chariot and stay with it.” 30Philip ran over to him and heard him reading aloud from the prophet Isaiah. “Do you know what it is you are reading?” he asked. 31“How could I,” he said, “if no one guides me?” He asked Philip to climb up and sit beside him. 32The passage of Scripture he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led away to be slaughtered, and like a lamb that makes no sound while it is sheared, he did not open his mouth. 33When he was humiliated, justice was denied him. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34The eunuch said to Philip, “Please tell me, who is the prophet talking about here? Is he speaking of himself, or of another person?” 35Then Philip spoke up. Starting from that very Scripture, he made Jesus known to him as good news. 36As they traveled on along the road, they came to some water. “There is water here!” the eunuch exclaimed. “Is there any reason I should not be baptized?” 38He gave orders to halt the chariot, and the two of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away. The eunuch did not see him again, but he traveled on with a glad heart. 40Philip, for his part, turned up at Azotus. He went on through the region, announcing the good news in every town until he reached Caesarea.