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AndSaulwasconsenting unto hisdeath.Andatthattime there was a greatpersecutionagainst the churchwhich was atJerusalem;and they wereall scattered abroadthroughout the regions of JudaeaandSamaria,except the apostles.
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AnddevoutmencarriedStephen to his burial, andmadegreatlamentationoverhim.
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As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering intoeveryhouse, and haling*menandwomencommitted them toprison.
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Thereforethey that were scattered abroad went every wherepreaching the word.
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ThenPhilip went downto the city of Samaria, and preachedChrist unto them.
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And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philipspake*, hearing**andseeing the miracleswhich he did.
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Foruncleanspirits,crying with loudvoice, came out of many that were possessed with them: andmany taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
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But there was a certainman,calledSimon, which beforetimein the same city used sorcery, andbewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himselfwassome great one:
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To whom they all gave heed, from the leastto the greatest,saying, This manis the greatpower of God.
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And to him they had regard, because that of longtime he had bewitchedthem with sorceries.
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Butwhen they believedPhilippreaching the things concerning the kingdom of God,and the name of JesusChrist, they were baptized, bothmenandwomen.
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ThenSimonhimselfbelievedalso:and when he was baptized, he continued* with Philip,andwondered, beholding the miracles[a]andsignswhich were done.
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Now when the apostleswhich were atJerusalemheardthatSamaria had received the word of God, they sentuntothemPeterandJohn:
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Who, when they were come down, prayedforthem,that they might receive the HolyGhost:
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(For as yet he wasfallenuponnone of them:onlytheywerebaptizedin the name of the Lord Jesus.)
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Then laid they their handsonthem,and they received the HolyGhost.
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And when Simonsawthatthrough laying on of the apostles'hands the HolyGhost was given, he offeredthemmoney,
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Saying, Give me alsothispower,thatonwhomsoeverIlayhands, he may receive the HolyGhost.
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ButPetersaiduntohim,Thymoneyperish*withthee,because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchasedwithmoney.
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Thouhastneitherpartnorlotinthismatter:forthyheartisnotright in the sight of God.
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Repentthereforeofthisthywickedness,andprayGod,ifperhaps the thought of thineheart may be forgiventhee.
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For I perceive that thouartin the gall of bitterness,and in the bond of iniquity.
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ThenansweredSimon, and said, Prayyeto the Lordforme,that none of these thingswhich ye have spokencomeuponme.
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And they, whenthey had testifiedandpreached the word of the Lord,returnedtoJerusalem,and preached the gospel in manyvillages of the Samaritans.
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And the angel of the LordspakeuntoPhilip,saying, Arise, andgotoward the southunto the way that goeth downfromJerusalemuntoGaza,whichisdesert.
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And he arose and went: and,behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candacequeen of the Ethiopians,whohad the charge ofallhertreasure,and had cometoJerusalem for to worship,
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Wasreturning, andsittinginhischariot*readEsaias the prophet.
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Then the Spiritsaid unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself tothischariot.
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AndPhilipran thither to him, and heardhimread the prophetEsaias,andsaid, Understandest thou**what thou readest?