Acts 8:1-40 BSB

[1] And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. [2] God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. [3] But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. [4] Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. [5] Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. [6] The crowds all paid close attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform. [7] With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed. [8] So there was great joy in that city. [9] Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, [10] and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” [11] They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery. [12] But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. [13] Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed. [14] When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. [15] On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. [16] For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. [17] Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. [18] When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. [19] “Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” [20] But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! [21] You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God. [22] Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart. [23] For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.” [24] Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” [25] And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages. [26] Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” [27] So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, [28] and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet. [29] The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.” [30] So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. [31] “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. [32] The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. [33] In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.” [34] “Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” [35] Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. [36] As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?” [38] And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. [39] When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing. [40] But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.