8:1 he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
8:1 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.
8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the Church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
8:7 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.
8:8 And there was great joy in that city.
8:9 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:
8:10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God."
8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
8:12 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.
8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
8:14 Now when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
8:15 who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
8:16 (for as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.)
8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
8:19 saying, "Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost."
8:20 But Peter said unto him, "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."
8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, "Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me."
8:25 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.
8:26 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.
8:27 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 veneration,
8:28 was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, "Go near, and join thyself to this chariot."
8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, "Understandest thou what thou readest?"
8:31 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.
8:32 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:
8:33 In His humiliation His judgment was taken away:And who shall declare His generation?For His life is taken from the earth.'"
8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, "I pray thee, of Whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man?"
8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
8:36 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?"
8:37 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."
8:38 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.
8:39 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.
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