1And 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 Judæa and Samaria , except the apostles. 2And devout men buried Stephen , and made great lamentation over him . 3But Saul laid waste the church , entering into every house , and dragging men and women committed them to prison . 4They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word . 5And Philip went down to the city of Samaria , and proclaimed unto them the Christ . 6And 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 . 7For 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 . 8And there was much joy in that city .
Simon the Sorcerer
9But 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 : 10to whom they all gave heed , from the least to the greatest , saying , This man is that power of God which is called Great . 11And they gave heed to him , because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries . 12But 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 . 13And Simon also himself believed : and being baptized, he continued with Philip ; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought , he was amazed . 14Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God , they sent unto them Peter and John : 15who , when they were come down , prayed for them , that they might receive the Holy Spirit : 16for as yet it was fallen upon none of them : only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus . 17Then laid they their hands on them , and they received the Holy Spirit . 18Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given , he offered them money , 19saying , Give me also this power , that on whomsoever I lay my hands , he may receive the Holy Spirit . 20But Peter said unto him , Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money . 21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter : for thy heart is not right before God . 22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness , and pray the Lord , if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. 23For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. 24And Simon answered and said , Pray ye for me to the Lord , that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me . 25They 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 .
The Ethiopian Eunuch
26But 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 . 27And 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 ; 28and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah . 29And the Spirit said unto Philip , Go near , and join thyself to this chariot. 30And Philip ran to him , and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet , and said , Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said , How can I , except some one shall guide me ? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him . 32Now 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 : 33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare ? For his life is taken from the earth . 34And the eunuch answered Philip , and said , I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this ? of himself , or of some other ? 35And Philip opened his mouth , and beginning from this scripture , preached unto him Jesus . 36And 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? 3738And he commanded the chariot to stand still : and they both went down into the water , both Philip and the eunuch ; and he baptized him . 39And 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 . 40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities , till he came to Cæsarea .