Chapter 8
Acts of the Apostles · Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke
¹ 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. ² Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him. ³ But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison. ⁴ Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word. ⁵ Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. ⁶ The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip when they heard and saw the signs which he did. ⁷ 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. ⁸ There was great joy in that city.
Acts 8:1-8
⁹ 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, ¹⁰ to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.” ¹¹ They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. ¹² But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
Acts 8:9-13
¹⁴ Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, ¹⁵ who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; ¹⁶ for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus. ¹⁷ Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.” ²⁰ But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God. ²² Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
Acts 8:14-23
²⁴ Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”
Acts 8:24
²⁵ 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.
Acts 8:25
²⁶ Then 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.”
Acts 8:26
²⁷ 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. ²⁸ He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
Acts 8:27-28
³⁰ Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
Acts 8:30
³¹ He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. ³² Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this,
Acts 8:31-32
³⁴ The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”
Acts 8:34
³⁵ Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus. ³⁶ 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?”
Acts 8:35-36
³⁷ ³⁸ He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Acts 8:37-38