1And Saul was one of the witnesses and approving of their killing of Stephen. And a great wave of persecution against the church at Jerusalem began that day; and all except the apostles were scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria. 2And godly men carried Stephen to his burial, and mourned deeply for him. 3But as for Saul, he wreaked havoc on the church, going from house to house, and dragging both men and women off to prison. 4But those that were scattered abroad preached the word wherever they went.

5Then Philip went down to a city in Samaria, and preached Christ to them. 6And when the people saw the miracles he did, they eagerly listened to what Philip said. 7For unclean spirits, shrieking loudly, came out of many that were possessed with them; and many stricken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8And so there was great joy in that city. 9But there was a certain man, named Simon, in that city, who had previously practiced sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, boasting that he was something great. 10And many, from the least to the greatest, had often said, “This man is rightly called ‘the Great Power of God.’” 11And they followed Simon with high regard, because he had bewitched them with sorceries for a long time. 12But when they believed Philip, as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women, 13Then even Simon, himself, believed; and when he was baptized, he followed Philip, and was astonished as he beheld the miracles and signs that were done.

14Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 16Because, as yet, He was fallen upon none of them; but had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18And when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19Saying, “Give me also this power, that on whomever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20But Peter said to him, “May your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God can be bought with money. 21You have no part nor share in this matter; for your heart is not right in the eyes of God. 22Repent of this, your wickedness, and pray to God; perhaps you may be forgiven for the thought of your heart. 23For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness, and are captive to sin.” 24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of these things which you have said come upon me.” 25And after preaching the gospel, the word of the Lord, in many villages of the Samaritans, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem.

26And an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Go toward the south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27And so he arose and started out; and on his way, he met a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch with great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, having charge of all her treasury, and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28And he was now returning, and sitting in his chariot, reading the writing of Isaiah, the prophet. 29Then the Spirit told Philip, “Go near, and walk along beside this chariot.” 30And so Philip ran up to the chariot, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31And he replied, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32The place of the scripture where he was reading was this, “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb silent before his shearer, He opened not His mouth; 33In His humiliation He received no justice; and who shall declare His generation (possibly meaning ‘who can count those who became His followers’)? For His life is taken from the earth.” (Isaiah 53:7-8) 34And the eunuch said to Philip, “Tell me, please, of Whom is the prophet speaking this? Of himself, or of some other man?” 35Then Philip began at that same scripture, and preached to him Jesus. 36And as they travelled along, they came to a body of water; and the eunuch said, “Look here is water. Why can I not be baptized?” 37And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both - Philip and the eunuch - went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more; but went on his way, rejoicing. 40Philip, however, appeared at Azotus; and travelled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns, until he came to Caesarea.