8:1 Now Saul was in agreement with his execution. 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.
8:2 Devout men buried · · Stephen and made great lamentation over him.
8:3 But Saul was making havoc of the church; entering every · house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
8:4 Now those who were scattered went from place to place preaching the word.
8:5 Philip · went down to the main city of Samaria and began proclaiming to them the Christ.
8:6 And with one accord the crowds paid attention to what was being said by · Philip as · they heard him and saw the signs that he was performing.
8:7 For many of those who had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out; and many paralyzed and lame were healed.
8:9 Now there was a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic in the city and amazing the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was someone great.
8:10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God, which is called Great.”
8:11 And they paid attention to him because · for a long time he had amazed them by his magic.
8:12 But when they believed · Philip as he preached about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
8:13 · · Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he stayed constantly with · Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles happening, he was amazed.
8:14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received · the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
8:15 who went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
8:16 for he had not yet fallen on any one of them, but they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
8:17 Then Peter and John laid · hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
8:18 But when Simon saw · that it was through the laying on of the hands of the apostles that the Spirit was given, he offered them money,
8:19 saying, “Give me also · this power, that anyone on whom I lay · hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
8:20 But Peter said to him, “May · your silver go with you to destruction, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
8:21 There is not for you a part or share in · this matter, · for your heart is not upright before · God.
8:22 Repent, therefore, of · this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
8:23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of unrighteousness.”
8:24 And answering, · Simon said, “You pray for me to the Lord so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
8:25 · Now after solemnly testifying and speaking the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
8:26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Rise and go toward the south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.
8:27 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, who had come to Jerusalem to worship
8:28 and was returning, · seated in · his carriage, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
8:29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join · this carriage.”
8:30 So Philip ran to · him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and he said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
8:31 And he said, “How could I unless someone guide me?” And he invited · Philip to come up and sit with him.
8:32 Now the passage of scripture the man was reading was this: “As a sheep to the slaughter he was led, and as a lamb dumb before · its shearer, so he opens not · his mouth.
8:33 In · humiliation · justice was taken from him. · His family history who will declare? For his life is taken away from the earth.” ·
8:34 And in answer the eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”
8:35 Then Philip opened · · his mouth, and beginning from · this Scripture he announced the good news to him, · Jesus.
8:36 And as they traveled along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
8:38 And he ordered the carriage to stop, and they both went down into the water, · both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
8:39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took · Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on · his way rejoicing.
8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus; and as he traveled through the area he announced the good news to all the towns, until · he came to Caesarea.
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