And there arose on that day a great persecution against the
church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the
regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men
buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was
ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off
men and women and committed them to prison.
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the
Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was
being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he
did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of
many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
So there was much joy in that city.
But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced
magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he
himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from
the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God
that is called Great.” And they paid attention to him because for a
long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed
Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the
name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even
Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with
Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was
amazed.
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who
came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy
Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only
been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their
hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw
that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles'
hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so
that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because
you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have
neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right
before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and
pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be
forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and
in the bond of iniquity.” And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the
Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they
returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the
Samaritans.
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the
south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a
desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a
eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who
was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to
worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was
reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over
and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading
Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are
reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And
he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of
the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does
the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then
Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told
him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the
road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is
water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the
chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and
the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the
water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch
saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found
himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel
to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
