^{1 Ref} And Saul gave approval to his death. Now at that time a violent attack was started against the church in Jerusalem; and all but the Apostles went away into all parts of Judaea and Samaria.

^{2 Ref} And God-fearing men put Stephen's body in its last resting-place, making great weeping over him.

^{3 Ref} But Saul was burning with hate against the church, going into every house and taking men and women and putting them in prison.

^{4 Ref} But those who had gone in flight went everywhere preaching the word.

^{5 Ref} And Philip went down to Samaria and was teaching them about Christ.

^{6 Ref} And all the people gave attention to the words which Philip said, when they saw the signs which he did.

^{7 Ref} For unclean spirits came out from those who had them, crying with a loud voice; and a number of those who were ill and broken in body were made well.

^{8 Ref} And there was much joy in that town.

^{9 Ref} But there was a certain man named Simon, who in the past had been a wonder-worker and a cause of surprise to the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was a great man:

^{10 Ref} To whom they all gave attention, from the smallest to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is named Great.

^{11 Ref} And they gave attention to him, because for a long time his wonder-working powers had kept them under his control.

^{12 Ref} But when they had faith in the good news given by Philip about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, a number of men and women had baptism.

^{13 Ref} And Simon himself had faith and, having had baptism, he went with Philip and, seeing the signs and the great wonders which he did, he was full of surprise.

^{14 Ref} Now when the Apostles at Jerusalem had news that the people of Samaria had taken the word of God into their hearts, they sent to them Peter and John;

^{15 Ref} Who, when they came there, made prayer for them, that the Holy Spirit might be given to them:

^{16 Ref} For up to that time he had not come on any of them; only baptism had been given to them in the name of the Lord Jesus.

^{17 Ref} Then they put their hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them.

^{18 Ref} Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the touch of the Apostles' hands, he made them an offering of money, saying,

^{19 Ref} Give me this power, so that when I put my hands on anyone he may get the Holy Spirit.

^{20 Ref} But Peter said, May your money come to destruction with you, because you had the idea that what is freely given by God may be got for a price.

^{21 Ref} You have no part in this business, because your heart is not right before God.

^{22 Ref} Let your heart be changed, and make prayer to God that you may have forgiveness for your evil thoughts.

^{23 Ref} For I see that you are prisoned in bitter envy and the chains of sin.

^{24 Ref} And Simon, answering, said, Make prayer for me to the Lord, so that these things which you have said may not come on me.

^{25 Ref} So they, having given their witness and made clear the word of the Lord, went back to Jerusalem, giving the good news on their way in a number of the small towns of Samaria.

^{26 Ref} But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Get up, and go to the south, to the road which goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, through the waste land.

^{27 Ref} And he went and there was a man of Ethiopia, a servant of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, and controller of all her property, who had come up to Jerusalem for worship;

^{28 Ref} He was going back, seated in his carriage, and was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.

^{29 Ref} And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and get on his carriage.

^{30 Ref} And Philip, running up to him, saw that he was reading Isaiah the prophet, and said to him, Is the sense of what you are reading clear to you?

^{31 Ref} And he said, How is that possible when I have no guide? And he made Philip get up by his side.

^{32 Ref} Now the place in the book where he was reading was this: He was taken, like a sheep, to be put to death; and as a lamb is quiet when its wool is being cut, so he made no sound:

^{33 Ref} Being of low degree, his cause was not given a hearing: who has knowledge of his family? for his life is cut off from the earth.

^{34 Ref} And the Ethiopian said to Philip, About whom are these words said by the prophet? about himself, or some other?

^{35 Ref} So Philip, starting from this writing, gave him the good news about Jesus.

^{36 Ref} And while they were going on their way, they came to some water, and the Ethiopian said, See, here is water; why may I not have baptism?

³⁷ []

^{38 Ref} And he gave orders for the carriage to be stopped, and the two of them went down into the water, and Philip gave him baptism.

^{39 Ref} And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away; and the Ethiopian saw him no more, for he went on his way full of joy.

^{40 Ref} But Philip came to Azotus, and went through all the towns, preaching the good news, till he came to Caesarea.

^{1 Ref} And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

^{2 Ref} And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.

^{3 Ref} But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.

^{4 Ref} They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word.

^{5 Ref} And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.

^{6 Ref} And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did.

^{7 Ref} For `from' many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed.

^{8 Ref} And there was much joy in that city.

^{9 Ref} But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

^{10 Ref} to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.

^{11 Ref} And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.

^{12 Ref} But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

^{13 Ref} And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.

^{14 Ref} Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

^{15 Ref} who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:

^{16 Ref} for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

^{17 Ref} Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

^{18 Ref} Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,

^{19 Ref} saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.

^{20 Ref} But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.

^{21 Ref} Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God.

^{22 Ref} Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.

^{23 Ref} For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.

^{24 Ref} And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.

^{25 Ref} They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

^{26 Ref} But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert.

^{27 Ref} And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;

^{28 Ref} and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

^{29 Ref} And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

^{30 Ref} And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

^{31 Ref} And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.

^{32 Ref} Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:

^{33 Ref} In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth.

^{34 Ref} And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other?

^{35 Ref} And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus.

^{36 Ref} And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, `here is' water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

³⁷ `And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'

^{38 Ref} And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

^{39 Ref} And 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.

^{40 Ref} But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

^{1 Ref} Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

^{2 Ref} Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.

^{3 Ref} But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.

^{4 Ref} Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.

^{5 Ref} Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.

^{6 Ref} The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did.

^{7 Ref} For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

^{8 Ref} There was great joy in that city.

^{9 Ref} But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one,

^{10 Ref} to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is that great power of God."

^{11 Ref} They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.

^{12 Ref} But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

^{13 Ref} Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occuring, he was amazed.

^{14 Ref} Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

^{15 Ref} who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;

^{16 Ref} for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.

^{17 Ref} Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

^{18 Ref} Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,

^{19 Ref} saying, "Give me also this power, that whoever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit."

^{20 Ref} But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

^{21 Ref} You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn't right before God.

^{22 Ref} Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

^{23 Ref} For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."

^{24 Ref} Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me."

^{25 Ref} They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

^{26 Ref} But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert."

^{27 Ref} He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.

^{28 Ref} He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

^{29 Ref} The Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot."

^{30 Ref} Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

^{31 Ref} He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.

^{32 Ref} Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, So he doesn't open his mouth.

^{33 Ref} In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth."

^{34 Ref} The eunuch answered Philip, "Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?"

^{35 Ref} Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.

^{36 Ref} As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?"

³⁷ {TR adds "Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' He answered, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'"}

^{38 Ref} He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

^{39 Ref} When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn't see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

^{40 Ref} But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Gospel to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.