Acts 8
1AND Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day there arose a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and all were scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3But Saul laid waste the church, entering house after house, and dragging both men and women, committed them to prison.
4They, therefore, that were scattered, went abroad, preaching the word.
5And Philip went down to the city[8:5] of Samaria, and preached to them the Christ.
6And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to the things said by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he wrought.
7For out of many who had unclean spirits they went forth, crying with loud voice; and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed.
8And there was great joy in that city.
9But a certain man, named Simon, was in the city before, using sorcery, and bewitching the people of Samaria, saying that he was some great one;
10to whom all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying: This man is the great power of God[8:10].
11And to him they gave heed, because for a long time they were bewitched by his sorceries.
12But when they believed Philip publishing the good news concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were immersed, both men and women.
13And Simon also himself believed; and having been immersed, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were wrought.
14And the apostles in Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria has received the word of God, sent to them Peter and John;
15who, having come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
16for he had not yet fallen upon any of them; but they had only been immersed in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18And Simon, seeing that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, offered them money,
19saying: Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.
20But Peter said to him: Thy money perish with thee; because thou didst think to obtain the gift of God with money:
21Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter[8:21]; for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.
23For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity.
24And Simon answering, said: Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.
25They, therefore, having testified and spoken the word of the Lord, were returning to Jerusalem, and publishing the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.
26But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise, and go down to the south, to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is desert.
27And he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, an officer of state of Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28was returning, and sitting in his chariot; and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30And Philip ran thither, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet. And he said: Understandest thou then what thou art reading?
31And he said: How could I, except some one should guide me? And he entreated Philip to come up, and sit with him.
32And the contents of the Scripture which he was reading was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb dumb before his shearer, So he opens not his mouth.
33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away; And his generation[8:33] who shall fully declare? For his life is taken away from the earth.
34And the eunuch answering said to Philip: I pray thee, of whom does the prophet speak this? Of himself, or of some other man?
35And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, made known to him the good news of Jesus.
36And as they went along the way, they came to a certain water. And the eunuch said: See, here is water; what hinders that I should be immersed?
37[8:37]And Philip said: If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And answering he said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38And he commanded that the chariot should stop. And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he immersed him.
39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
40But Philip was found at Azotus; and passing through, he published the good news to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.