5
1Philipwentdown to the city of Samaria and began proclaimingChrist to them.
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The crowds with oneaccord were givingattention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signswhich he was performing.
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For in the case of many who had2uncleanspirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loudvoice; and many who had been 3paralyzed and lame were healed.
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Now there was a mannamedSimon, who formerly was practicing5magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, 6claiming to be someonegreat;
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and they all, from smallest to greatest, were givingattention to him, saying, "7Thisman is what is called the GreatPower of God."
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And they were giving him attentionbecause he had for a longtimeastonished them with his 8magicarts.
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But when they believedPhilip9preaching the goodnewsabout the kingdom of God and the name of JesusChrist, they were being 10baptized, men and womenalike.
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EvenSimonhimselfbelieved; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed11signs and 12greatmiraclestakingplace, he was constantly amazed.
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Now when 13the apostles in Jerusalemheard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them 14Peter and John,
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whocamedown and prayed for them 15that they might receive the HolySpirit.
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For He had 16not yetfallen upon any of them; they had simplybeen17baptized in the name of the LordJesus.
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Then they 18began laying their hands on them, and they were 19receiving the HolySpirit.
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Now when Simonsaw that the Spirit was bestowedthrough the laying on of the apostles'hands, he offered them money,
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saying, "Givethisauthority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the HolySpirit."
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But Petersaid to him, "May your silverperish with you, because you thought you could 20obtain the gift of God with money!
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"You have 21nopartorportion in thismatter, for your heart is not 22rightbeforeGod.
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"Thereforerepent of thiswickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, 23ifpossible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
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"For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in 24the bondage of iniquity."
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But Simonanswered and said, "25Pray 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 solemnly26testified and spoken27the word of the Lord, they startedback to Jerusalem, and were 28preaching the gospel to manyvillages of the 29Samaritans.
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But 30an angel of the Lordspoke to 31Philipsaying, "Get up and gosouth to the road that descends from Jerusalem to 32Gaza." (This is a desert road. )
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So he got up and went; and 33there was an Ethiopianeunuch, a courtofficial of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he 34had come to Jerusalem to worship,
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and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophetIsaiah.
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Then35the Spiritsaid to Philip, "Go up and jointhischariot."
30
Philipran up and heard him readingIsaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understandwhat you are reading?"
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And he said, "Well, howcould I, unless*someoneguides me?" And he invitedPhilip to come up and sit with him.
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Now the passage of Scripturewhich he was reading was this: "36HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMBBEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
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"37IN 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?"
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ThenPhilip38opened his mouth, and 39beginning from thisScripture he 40preachedJesus to him.
36
As they wentalong the road they came to somewater; and the eunuchsaid, "Look! Water! 41Whatprevents me from being baptized?"
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[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."]
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And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they bothwentdown into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
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When they came up out of the water, 42the Spirit of the LordsnatchedPhilipaway; and the eunuchnolongersaw him, but went on his wayrejoicing.
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But Philipfound himself at 43Azotus, and as he passedthrough he 44kept preaching the gospel to all the citiesuntil he came to 45Caesarea.