Common - Acts - 8

8:1  Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

8:2  Devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.

8:3  But Saul began ravaging the church, and, entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

8:4  Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

8:5  Philip went down to a city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ to them.

8:6  The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did.

8:7  For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

8:8  So there was much joy in that city.

8:9  Now there was a man named Simon, who had formerly practiced magic in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,

8:10  and they all, from the least to the greatest, gave attention to him, saying, "This man is what is called the Great Power of God."

8:11  And they gave heed to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

8:12  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.

8:13  Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

8:14  Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,

8:15  who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

8:16  For he had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

8:17  Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

8:18  Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

8:19  saying, "Give me also this power, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

8:20  But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

8:21  You have no part or share in this matter, for your heart is not right 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 iniquity."

8:24  And Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

8:25  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.

8:26  But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert road.

8:27  So he got up and went. And there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,

8:28  and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

8:29  And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."

8:30  So Philip ran up to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

8:31  And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

8:32  Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "He was led as a sheep to slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he does not open his mouth.

8:33  In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth."

8:34  And the eunuch said to Philip, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?"

8:35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus.

8:36  And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"

8:38  And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

8:39  And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.

8:40  But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.