Acts:8

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* 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 . * And devout men carried Stephen to his burial , and made great lamentation over him . * As for Saul , he made havock of the church , entering into every house , and haling men and women committed them to prison . * Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word . * Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria , and preached Christ unto them . * And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake , hearing and seeing the miracles which he did . * 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 . * And there was great joy in that city . * 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 : * To whom they all gave heed , from the least to the greatest , saying , This man is the great power of God . * And to him they had regard , because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries . * 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 . * Then Simon himself believed also : and when he was baptized , he continued with Philip , and wondered , beholding the miracles and signs which were done . * Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God , they sent unto them Peter and John : * Who , when they were come down , prayed for them , that they might receive the Holy Ghost : * (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them : only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus .) * Then laid they their hands on them , and they received the Holy Ghost . * And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles ' hands the Holy Ghost was given , he offered them money , * Saying , Give me also this power , that on whomsoever I lay hands , he may receive the Holy Ghost . * But Peter said unto him , Thy money perish with thee , because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money . * Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter : for thy heart is not right in the sight of God . * Repent therefore of this thy wickedness , and pray God , if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee . * For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness , and in the bond of iniquity . * Then answered Simon , and said , Pray ye to the Lord for me , that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 to worship , * Was returning , and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet . * Then the Spirit said unto Philip , Go near , and join thyself to this chariot . * And Philip ran thither to him , and heard him read the prophet Esaias , and said , Understandest thou what thou readest ? * 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 . * 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 : * In his humiliation his judgment was taken away : and who shall declare his generation ? for his life is taken from the earth . * And the eunuch answered Philip , and said , I pray thee , of whom speaketh the prophet this ? of himself , or of some other man ? * Then Philip opened his mouth , and began at the same scripture , and preached unto him Jesus . * 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 ? * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * But Philip was found at Azotus : and passing through he preached in all the cities , till he came to Caesarea .

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