Acts 8:1-40 GW

[1] Saul approved of putting Stephen to death. On that day widespread persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. Most believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. [2] Devout men buried Stephen as they mourned loudly for him. [3] Saul tried to destroy the church. He dragged men and women out of one home after another and threw them into prison. [4] The believers who were scattered went from place to place, where they spread the word. [5] Philip went to the city of Samaria and told people about the Messiah. [6] The crowds paid close attention to what Philip said. They listened to him and saw the miracles that he performed. [7] Evil spirits screamed as they came out of the many people they had possessed. Many paralyzed and lame people were cured. [8] As a result, that city was extremely happy. [9] A man named Simon lived in that city. He amazed the people of Samaria with his practice of magic. He claimed that he was great. [10] Everyone from children to adults paid attention to him. They said, "This man is the power of God, and that power is called great." [11] They paid attention to Simon because he had amazed them for a long time with his practice of magic. [12] However, when Philip spread the Good News about the kingdom of God and the one named Jesus Christ, men and women believed him and were baptized. [13] Even Simon believed, and after he was baptized, he became devoted to Philip. Simon was amazed to see the miracles and impressive things that were happening. [14] When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. [15] Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed that the Samaritans would receive the Holy Spirit. [16] (Before this the Holy Spirit had not come to any of the Samaritans. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) [17] Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit. [18] Simon saw that the Spirit was given to the Samaritans when the apostles placed their hands on them. So he offered Peter and John money [19] and said, "Give me this power so that anyone I place my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit." [20] Peter told Simon, "May your money be destroyed with you because you thought you could buy God's gift. [21] You won't have any share in this because God can see how twisted your thinking is. [22] So change your wicked thoughts, and ask the Lord if he will forgive you for thinking like this. [23] I can see that you are bitter with jealousy and wrapped up in your evil ways." [24] Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me that none of the things you said will happen to me." [25] After they had boldly spoken about the message of the Lord, they spread the Good News in many Samaritan villages on their way back to Jerusalem. [26] An angel from the Lord said to Philip, "Get up, and take the desert road that goes south from Jerusalem to Gaza." [27] So Philip went. An Ethiopian man who had come to Jerusalem to worship was on his way home. The man was a eunuch, a high-ranking official in charge of all the treasures of Queen Candace of Ethiopia. [28] As the official rode along in his carriage, he was reading the prophet Isaiah out loud. [29] The Spirit said to Philip, "Go to that carriage, and stay close to it." [30] Philip ran to the carriage and could hear the official reading the prophet Isaiah out loud. Philip asked him, "Do you understand what you're reading?" [31] The official answered, "How can I understand unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to sit with him in his carriage. [32] This was the part of the Scriptures that the official was reading: "He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. He was like a sheep that is silent when its wool is cut off. He didn't open his mouth. [33] When he humbled himself, he was not judged fairly. Who from his generation will talk about his life on earth being cut short?" [34] The official said to Philip, "I would like to know who the prophet is talking about. Is he talking about himself or someone else?" [35] Then Philip spoke. Starting with that passage, Philip told the official the Good News about Jesus. [36] As they were going along the road, they came to some water. The official said to Philip, "Look, there's some water. What can keep me from being baptized?" [38] The official ordered the carriage to stop. He and Philip stepped into the water, and Philip baptized him. [39] When they had stepped out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away. The official joyfully continued on his way and didn't see Philip again. [40] Philip found himself in the city of Azotus. He traveled through all the cities and spread the Good News until he came to the city of Caesarea.