Acts:8

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* Saul was consenting to his death . A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day . They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria , except for the apostles . * Devout men buried Stephen , and lamented greatly over him . * But Saul ravaged the assembly , entering into every house , and dragged both men and women off to prison . * Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word . * Philip went down to the city of Samaria , and proclaimed to them the Christ . * The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip , when they heard and saw the signs which he did . * For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them . They came out , crying with a loud voice . Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed . * There was great joy in that city . * But there was a certain man , Simon by name , who used to practice sorcery in the city , and amazed the people of Samaria , making himself out to be some great one , * to whom they all listened , from the least to the greatest , saying , "This man is that great power of God ." * They listened to him , because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries . * But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ , they were baptized , both men and women . * Simon himself also believed . Being baptized , he continued with Philip . Seeing signs and great miracles occurring , he was amazed . * Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God , they sent Peter and John to them , * who , when they had come down , prayed for them , that they might receive the Holy Spirit ; * for as yet he had fallen on none of them . They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus . * Then they laid their hands on them , and they received the Holy Spirit . * Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles ' hands , he offered them money , * saying , "Give me also this power , that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit ." * But Peter said to him , "May your silver perish with you , because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money ! * You have neither part nor lot in this matter , for your heart isn 't right before God . * Repent therefore of this , your wickedness , and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you . * For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity ." * Simon answered , "Pray for me to the Lord , that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me ." * They therefore , when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord , returned to Jerusalem , and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans . * But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip , saying , "Arise , and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza . This is a desert ." * He arose and went ; and behold , there was a man of Ethiopia , a eunuch of great authority under Candace , queen of the Ethiopians , who was over all her treasure , who had come to Jerusalem to worship . * He was returning and sitting in his chariot , and was reading the prophet Isaiah . * The Spirit said to Philip , "Go near , and join yourself to this chariot ." * Philip ran to him , and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet , and said , "Do you understand what you are reading ?" * He said , "How can I , unless someone explains it to me ?" He begged Philip to come up and sit with him . * Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this , "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter . As a lamb before his shearer is silent , so he doesn 't open his mouth . * In his humiliation , his judgment was taken away . Who will declare His generation ? For his life is taken from the earth ." {Isaiah strkjv @53:7 ,8 } * The eunuch answered Philip , "Who is the prophet talking about ? About himself , or about someone else ?" * Philip opened his mouth , and beginning from this Scripture , preached to him Jesus . * As they went on the way , they came to some water , and the eunuch said , "Behold , here is water . What is keeping me from being baptized ?" * {TR adds "Philip said , 'If you believe with all your heart , you may .' He answered , 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God .'"} * He commanded the chariot to stand still , and they both went down into the water , both Philip and the eunuch , and he baptized him . * When they came up out of the water , the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away , and the eunuch didn 't see him any more , for he went on his way rejoicing . * But Philip was found at Azotus . Passing through , he preached the Good News to all the cities , until he came to Caesarea .

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