Acts 8    

And ^aSaul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and ^bthey were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and ^cmade great lamentation over him. ³ As for Saul, ^dhe made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. ⁴ Therefore ^ethey that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

⁵ Then ^fPhilip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. ⁶ And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷ For ^gunclean 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. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city. ⁹ But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city ^hused sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, ⁱgiving out that himself was some great one: ¹⁰ To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. ¹¹ And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. ¹² But when they believed Philip preaching the things ^jconcerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Then Simon himself ^kbelieved also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

¹⁴ Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: ¹⁵ Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, ^lthat they might receive the Holy Ghost: ¹⁶ (For ^mas yet he was fallen upon none of them: only ⁿthey were baptized in ^othe name of the Lord Jesus.) ¹⁷ Then ^plaid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. ¹⁸ And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, ¹⁹ Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. ²⁰ But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because ^rthou hast thought that ^qthe gift of God may be purchased with money. ²¹ Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy ^sheart is not right in the sight of God. ²² Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, ^tif perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. ²³ For I perceive that thou art in ^uthe gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. ²⁴ Then answered Simon, and said, ^vPray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. ²⁵ 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.

^{26 w}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, which is desert. ²⁷ And he arose and went: and, behold, ^xa man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and ^yhad come to Jerusalem for to worship, ²⁸ Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. ²⁹ Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

³⁰ And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? ³¹ And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. ³² The place of the scripture which he read was this, ^zHe was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: ³³ In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. ³⁴ And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? ³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, ^aand began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

³⁶ And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; ^bwhat doth hinder me to be baptized? ³⁷ And Philip said, ^dIf thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, ^cI believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. ³⁸ 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. ³⁹ And when they were come up out of the water, ^ethe Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip was found ^fat Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Acts 9