Chapter 8 And Saul was consenting unto his death.
And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was
at Jerusalem.
And they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and
Samaria, except the apostles.
And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over
him.
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and hailing men
and women, committed them to prison.
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake,
hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were
possessed with them, and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
And there was great joy in that city.
But there was a certain man called Simon, which before time in the same city used
sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some
great one, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest,
saying, This man is the great power of God.
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with
sorceries.
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God,
and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Then Simon himself believed also.
And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the
miracles and signs which were done.
Now when the apostles, which were at Jerusalem, heard that Samaria had received
the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come down,
prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost.
For as yet he was fallen upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name
of the Lord Jesus.
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
And when Simon saw that through laying on the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was
given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on
whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that
the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the
sight of God.
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of
thine heart may be forgiven thee.
For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of
iniquity.
Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of
these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord,
returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the
south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
And he arose and went.
And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candacy,
queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come
to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read
Esaias the prophet.
Then the spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias,
and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me?
And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the
slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.
In his humiliation his judgment was taken away.
And who shall declare his generation?
For his life is taken from the earth.
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh
the prophet this?
Of himself, or of some other man?
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him
Jesus.
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water,
and the eunuch said, See, here is water.
What doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.
And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still.
And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he
baptized him.
And when they were come up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord caught away
Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more.
And he went on his way, rejoicing.
But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through he preached in all the
cities till he came to Caesarea.