1
aSaul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.
2
Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
3
But aSaul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and bdragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
4
Therefore, those awho had been scattered went about bpreaching the word.
5
aPhilip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
6
The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.
7
For in the case of many who had aunclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been bparalyzed and lame were healed.
8
So there was amuch rejoicing in that city.
9
Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing amagic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, bclaiming to be someone great;
10
and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, "aThis man is what is called the Great Power of God."
11
And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his amagic arts.
12
But when they believed Philip apreaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being bbaptized, men and women alike.
13
Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed asigns and bgreat miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
14
Now when athe apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them bPeter and John,
15
who came down and prayed for them athat they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16
For He had anot yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been bbaptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17
Then they abegan laying their hands on them, and they were breceiving the Holy Spirit.
18
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
19
saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
20
But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could aobtain the gift of God with money!
21
"You have ano part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not bright before God.
22
"Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, aif possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
23
"For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in athe bondage of iniquity."
24
But Simon answered and said, "aPray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
25
So, when they had solemnly atestified and spoken bthe word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were cpreaching the gospel to many villages of the dSamaritans.
26
But aan angel of the Lord spoke to bPhilip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to cGaza." (This is a desert road.)
27
So he got up and went; and athere was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he bhad come to Jerusalem to worship,
28
and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29
Then athe Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."
30
Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
31
And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32
Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: