RKJNT - Acts - 8

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

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

8:3  As for Saul, he ravaged the church, entering into every house, and dragging off men and women and committing them to prison.

8:4  Therefore, those who were scattered abroad went about preaching the word.

8:5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to them.

8:6  And the people with one accord gave heed to the things of which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miraculous signs which he did.

8:7  For unclean spirits, crying out with loud voices, came out of many who were possessed: and many taken with paralysis, and those who were lame, were healed.

8:8  And there was great joy in that city.

8:9  But there was a certain man, named Simon, who formerly practiced sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great:

8:10  And they all gave heed to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

8:11  And they gave heed to him, because for so long he had amazed them with sorceries.

8:12  But when they believed Philip as he preached about the good news of the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

8:13  Even Simon himself believed: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and was amazed, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

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

8:15  Who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:

8:16  (For as yet he had fallen upon none 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  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,

8:19  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.

8:20  But Peter said to him, Your silver perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

8:21  You have no part or portion in this matter: for your heart is not right in the sight of God.

8:22  Therefore, repent of this wickedness, and pray to God, that perhaps the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

8:23  For I perceive that you are full of bitterness, and in the bondage of iniquity.

8:24  Then Simon answered, Pray to the Lord for me, that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me.

8:25  And when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

8:26  And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert road.

8:27  And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,

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

8:29  Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join this chariot.

8:30  And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, Do you understand what you are reading?

8:31  And he said, How can I, unless some man should guide me? And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

8:32  Now the passage of scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb silent before his shearer, so he did not open his mouth:

8:33  In his humiliation justice was taken from him: and who shall describe his generation? for his life was taken from the earth.

8:34  And the eunuch answered Philip, I pray you, of whom does the prophet speak? of himself, or of some other man?

8:35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at the same scripture, preached Jesus to him.

8:36  And as they went on their way, they came to some water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what prevents me from being baptized?

8:37  [And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.]

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

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

8:40  But Philip found himself at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.