|
1 | And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there
was a great persecution against the church which was at
Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the
regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. |
|
2 | And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great
lamentation over him. |
|
3 | As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every
house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. |
|
4 | Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where
preaching the word. |
|
5 | Then Philip 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 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. |
|
8 | And there was great joy in that city. |
|
9 | But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in
the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of
Samaria, giving 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 concerning
the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were
baptized, both men and women. |
|
13 | Then Simon himself believed 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, that they
might receive the Holy Ghost: |
|
16 | (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) |
|
17 | Then laid 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
thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with
money. |
|
21 | Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart
is not right in the sight of God. |
|
22 | Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if
perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. |
|
23 | For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in
the bond of iniquity. |
|
24 | Then answered Simon, and said, Pray 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 | 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, a man of Ethiopia, an
eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the
Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had
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, He 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, and 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; what doth hinder me
to be baptized? |
|
37 | And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou
mayest. And he answered and said, I 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, the 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 at Azotus: and passing through he
preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. |
|
|