Acts 8

Saul Persecutes the Church

1 And Saul was there, giving approval to [Stephen’s] death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women [and] put [them] in prison.

Philip in Samaria

4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to [a] city [in] Samaria [and] proclaimed the Christ to them. 6 The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip’s message and the signs they saw him perform. 7 With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many [of the] paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

9 Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, 10 [and] all [the people] , from the least to the greatest, heeded [ his words ] [and] said, “This [man] is the divine power called [the] Great [Power] .” 11 They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with [his] sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip {closely} and was astounded [by the] great signs and miracles he observed. 14 [When] the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive [the] Holy Spirit. 16 For [the Holy Spirit] had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then [Peter and John] laid [their] hands on them, and they received [the] Holy Spirit. 18 [When] Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. 19 “Give {me} this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay [my] hands may receive [the] Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter replied, “ {May} your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part [or] share in [our] ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.” 24 Then Simon answered, “ - Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” 25 And after [Peter and John] had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.

Philip and the Ethiopian

26 Now an angel of [the] Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 [So] he started out, and on his way [he met] an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of [the] Ethiopians. [He] had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his return was sitting in his chariot, reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to [that] chariot and stay by [it] .” 30 [So] Philip ran up [and] heard [the man] reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” [Philip] asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up [and] sit with him. 32 [The eunuch] was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to [the] slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer [is] silent, so He did not open His mouth. 33 In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.” ▼

▼Isaiah 53:7,8

34 “Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who {is} the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road [and] came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, [here is] water! What can prevent me [from] being baptized?” ▼

▼TR includes 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may be baptized.” The eunuch replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and [Philip] baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, [the] Spirit of [the] Lord carried Philip {away} , and the eunuch saw him no more, [but] went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through [that region] , preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.