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 paralysed and lame were healed. 8 There was great joy in that city.

9 But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practise 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 baptised, both men and women. 13 Simon himself also believed. Being baptised, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.

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 baptised 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."

24 Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me."

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.

26 Then an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go towards the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert."

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.

29 The Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot."

30 Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

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,

"He was led as a sheep to the slaughter.

As a lamb before his shearer is silent,

so he doesn’t open his mouth.

33 In his humiliation, his judgement was taken away.

Who will declare His generation?

For his life is taken from the earth."

34 The eunuch answered Philip, "Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?"

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 baptised?"

37 38 He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptised him.

39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

1 But Shaol willed to take part in his killing. And there was made in those days a great persecution against the church that was in Urishlem; and they were all dispersed in the country of Jihud and also among the Shomroyee, excepting only the apostles.2 And faithful men laid Estephanos in his tomb, and mourned over him greatly.3 BUT Shaol persecuted the church of Aloha, going to the houses, and drawing men and women delivered them to the house of the bound.4 And they who were dispersed went about and preached the word of Aloha.5 But Philipos descended to a city of the Shomroyee, and preached concerning the Meshiha.6 And when they heard his word, the men who were there attended to him, and were persuaded of all that he said: for they saw the signs that he wrought.7 For many whom unclean spirits possessed cried with a high voice, and they came out from them; and others, palsied and lame, were healed:8 and great joy was in that city.9 But a certain man was there whose name was Simon, who had dwelt in that city much time, and with his sorceries had deceived the people of the Shomroyee, magnifying himself, and saying, I am the Great.10 And all inclined to him, great and small, and said, This is the great Power of Aloha.11 And they were persuaded by him, because that much time by his sorceries he had astonished them.12 But when they believed Philipos, who evangelized the kingdom of Aloha in the name of our Lord Jeshu Meshiha, they were baptized, men and women.13 And Simon also himself believed, and was baptized, and adhered to Philipos. And when he saw the signs and great works which were done by his hands, he wondered and was astonished.14 AND when the apostles who were at Urishlem heard that the people of the Shomroyee had received the word of Aloha, they sent to them Kipha and Juhanon.15 And they went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Spirit of Holiness:16 for he was not upon one of them yet; but they were only baptized in the name of our Lord Jeshu.17 Then they laid upon them the hand, and they received the Spirit of Holiness.18 And when Simon saw that by the hand-laying of the apostles the Spirit of Holiness was given, he offered to them silver,19 saying, Give also to me this power, that he on whom I shall lay the hand may receive the Spirit of Holiness.20 Shemun Kipha said to him, Thy silver go with thee into perdition, because thou thoughtest that the gift of Aloha with the possessions of the world might he obtained.21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this faith, because thine heart hath not been right before Aloha.22 Nevertheless, repent of this thy wickedness, and pray of Aloha, that the guile of thy heart may haply be forgiven thee;23 for in bitter gall and in the bonds of iniquity I see that thou art.24 Simon answered and said, Pray you on my behalf, of Aloha, that not any of these things which you have spoken may come upon me.25 But Shemun and Juhanon, when they had testified and taught the word of Aloha, returned to Urishlem, and evangelized in many villages of the Shomroyee.26 AND the angel of the Lord spake with Philipos, and said to him, Arise, go to the south, in the desert way which goeth down from Urishlem to Gaza.27 And arising he went. And there met him a certain eunuch who had come from Cush, an officer of Kandak, queen of the Cushoyee; and he was officer over all her treasure. And he had been to worship at Urishlem;28 and while returning that he might go, he sat in the chariot and read in Eshaia the prophet.29 And the Spirit of Holiness said to Philipos, Approach, and join the chariot.30 And being near, he heard that he read in Eshaia the prophet; and he said to him, Understandest thou what thou readest?31 And he said, How can I understand, unless one teach me? And he prayed of him, of Philipos, to ascend and sit with him.32 But the section (phosuka) of the scripture in which he was reading is this: As a lamb to the slaughter was he led; And as a sheep before the shearer is silent, So opened not he his mouth in his humiliation.33 From oppression and from judgment was he led; And his age who shall recount? For his life is taken from the earth.34 That eunuch said Unto Philipos, I pray thee, of whom speaketh this the prophet? of himself, or of another man?35 Then Philipos opened his mouth and began, from that very scripture, preaching to him concerning our Lord Jeshu.36 And as they went in the way they came to a certain place which had water in it, and that eunuch said, Behold the water; what is the hinderance that I should be baptized?38 And he commanded that the chariot should stand; and they descended both of them to the water, and Philipos baptized that eunuch.39 And when they had ascended from the water, the Spirit of the Lord rapt away Philipos, and the eunuch again saw him not; but he went on his way rejoicing.40 But Philipos was found at Azotos, and from thence he itinerated and evangelized in all the cities until he came to Cesarea.