4Therefore, those1who had been scatteredwentabout2preaching the word.
5
3Philipwentdown to the city of Samaria and began proclaimingChrist to them.
6
The crowds with oneaccord were givingattention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signswhich he was performing.
7
For in the case of many who had4uncleanspirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loudvoice; and many who had been 5paralyzed and lame were healed.
9
Now there was a mannamedSimon, who formerly was practicing7magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, 8claiming to be someonegreat;
10
and they all, from smallest to greatest, were givingattention to him, saying, "9Thisman is what is called the GreatPower of God."
11
And they were giving him attentionbecause he had for a longtimeastonished them with his 10magicarts.
12
But when they believedPhilip11preaching the goodnewsabout the kingdom of God and the name of JesusChrist, they were being 12baptized, men and womenalike.
13
EvenSimonhimselfbelieved; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed13signs and 14greatmiraclestakingplace, he was constantly amazed.
14
Now when 15the apostles in Jerusalemheard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them 16Peter and John,
15
whocamedown and prayed for them 17that they might receive the HolySpirit.
16
For He had 18not yetfallen upon any of them; they had simplybeen19baptized in the name of the LordJesus.
17
Then they 20began laying their hands on them, and they were 21receiving the HolySpirit.
18
Now when Simonsaw that the Spirit was bestowedthrough the laying on of the apostles'hands, he offered them money,
19
saying, "Givethisauthority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the HolySpirit."
20
But Petersaid to him, "May your silverperish with you, because you thought you could 22obtain the gift of God with money!
21
"You have 23nopartorportion in thismatter, for your heart is not 24rightbeforeGod.
22
"Thereforerepent of thiswickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, 25ifpossible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
23
"For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in 26the bondage of iniquity."
24
But Simonanswered and said, "27Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
An Ethiopian Receives Christ
25So, when they had solemnly28testified and spoken29the word of the Lord, they startedback to Jerusalem, and were 30preaching the gospel to manyvillages of the 31Samaritans.
26
But 32an angel of the Lordspoke to 33Philipsaying, "Get up and gosouth to the road that descends from Jerusalem to 34Gaza." (This is a desert road. )
27
So he got up and went; and 35there was an Ethiopianeunuch, a courtofficial of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he 36had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28
and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophetIsaiah.
29
Then37the Spiritsaid to Philip, "Go up and jointhischariot."
30
Philipran up and heard him readingIsaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understandwhat you are reading?"
31
And he said, "Well, howcould I, unless*someoneguides me?" And he invitedPhilip to come up and sit with him.
32
Now the passage of Scripturewhich he was reading was this: "38HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMBBEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
33
"39IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKENAWAY; WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH."
34
The eunuchansweredPhilip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophetsaythis? Of himselfor of someoneelse?"
35
ThenPhilip40opened his mouth, and 41beginning from thisScripture he 42preachedJesus to him.
36
As they wentalong the road they came to somewater; and the eunuchsaid, "Look! Water! 43Whatprevents me from being baptized?"
37
[And Philipsaid, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that JesusChrist is the Son of God."]
38
And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they bothwentdown into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39
When they came up out of the water, 44the Spirit of the LordsnatchedPhilipaway; and the eunuchnolongersaw him, but went on his wayrejoicing.
40
But Philipfound himself at 45Azotus, and as he passedthrough he 46kept preaching the gospel to all the citiesuntil he came to 47Caesarea.