8:1 And Saul approved of his execution. 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. 8:2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 8:3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 8:4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 8:5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 8:6 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. 8:7 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. 8:8 So there was much joy in that city. 8:9 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. 8:10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called Great." 8:11 And they paid attention 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 at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to 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 on any of them, but they had only 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 this power also, so that anyone 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 neither part nor lot 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, 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 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. 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. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 8:28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 8:29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot." 8:30 So Philip ran 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 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. 8:33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation For his life is taken away from the earth." 8:34 And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, 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 about Jesus. 8:36 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" 8:37 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 carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 8:40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.