1THE
ACTS
OF THE APOSTLES
WRITTEN BY
2LUKE
Acts 8 ©
1 The church of Jerusalem is persecuted and scattered. 2 And Stephen buried. 3 Saul troubles the church. 5 Philip preaches Christ at Samaria, and does many miracles there. 9 Where Simon the sorcerer had deceived the people, and was in great esteem. 12 Many believe through Philip’s preaching, and are baptized. 13 And amongst them Simon also. 14 Peter and John are sent to Samaria. 15 By whose prayer and imposition of hands the faithful there receive the Holy Ghost. 18 Whose power Simon desires to buy with money. 20 But is vehemently reproved for it by Peter, and exhorted to repentance. 26 Philip is sent to the Ethiopian, who, sitting on his chariot, read the prophet Isaiah. 34 Being instructed by Philip, after confession of his faith, is baptized by him on the way. 39 Philip is taken away by the Spirit of the Lord, and is found at Azotus.
AND Saula was 1consenting unto his 2death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; andb they were all 3scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, 4except the apostles.
And devout men 5carried Stephen to his burial, andc made 6great lamentation over him.
As for Saul,d he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and halinge men and women 7committed them to prison.
Therefore they that were scattered abroad wentf every where 8preaching the word.
Then 9Philip went down 10to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Forg unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
And there was great joy in that city.
But there was a certain man, called 11Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery,h and 12bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Then Simon himself 13believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and 14signs which were done.
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they 15sent unto them Peter and John:
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive 16the Holy Ghost:
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized 17in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Theni laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
And when Simon saw that through 18laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive 19the Holy Ghost.
But Peter said unto him, Thy money 20perish with thee, becausej thou hast thought 21that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Thou hast neither part nor lot 22in this matter: for thy heart is not 23right in the sight of God.
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if 24perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
For I perceive that thou art in the 25gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Then answered Simon, and said, 26Prayk ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, 27which is desert.
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, 28an eunuch of great authority under 29Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, andl had come to Jerusalem for 30to worship,
Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
And he said, 31How can I, except some man should 32guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
Them place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare 34his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Then Philip 35opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preachedn unto him Jesus.
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; whato doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is 36the Son of God.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way 37rejoicing.
But Philip 38was found 39at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to 40Cæsarea.