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Acts 8, RSV

8:1 And Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Sama'ria, except the apostles.

8:2 Devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.

8:3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

8:4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

8:5 Philip went down to a city of Sama'ria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.

8:6 And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did.

8:7 For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.

8:8 So there was much joy in that city.

8:9 But there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the nation of Sama'ria, saying that he himself was somebody great.

8:10 They all gave heed to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is that power of God which is called Great."

8:11 And they gave heed to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

8:13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

8:14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Sama'ria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,

8:15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit;

8:16 for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

8:17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

8:18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,

8:19 saying, "Give me also this power, that any one on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

8:20 But Peter said to him, "Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

8:21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

8:22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

8:23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."

8:24 And Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

8:25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

8:26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert road.

8:27 And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Can'dace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship

8:28 and was returning; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

8:29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."

8:30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

8:31 And he said, "How can I, unless some one guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

8:32 Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: "As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he opens not his mouth.

8:33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth."

8:34 And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, pray, does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?"

8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus.

8:36 And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?"

8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

8:39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

8:40 But Philip was found at Azo'tus, and passing on he preached the gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesare'a.

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