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 emissaries. 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 proclaiming the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Messiah. 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.

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 proclaiming good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Yeshua the Messiah, they were immersed, both men and women. 13 Simon himself also believed. Being immersed, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.

14 Now when the emissaries who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and Yochanan 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 immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua. 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 emissaries’ 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 But 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."

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 judgment 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 Yeshua. 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 immersed?"

37 38 He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he immersed 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 And Saul was well pleased with his slaughter. And at that time there was a great persecution against the congregation in Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed through the regions of Judea, and Samaria, except the Apostles.2 And devout men carried away Stephen, and made great lamentation for him.3 But Saul made havoc of the congregation, entering into houses, and dragging men and whom, whom he committed to prison.4 Nevertheless, they who were dispersed, went about declaring the glad tidings of the word.5 Then came Philip to the city of Samaria, and announced the Messiah to them.6 And the people unanimously attended to the things that were spoken by Philip; as they heard them, and saw the miracles which he performed.7 For, unclean spirits, which had possessed many, crying with a loud voice, came out of them; and many, who were paralytic and lame, were healed.8 And there was great joy in that city.9 But there was a certain man named Simon, who had, before, in that city, used magic, and astonished the nation of Samaria; pretending himself to be some extraordinary person:10 to whom they all paid regard, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.11 And they paid regard to him; because he had, for a long time, astonished them wit his enchantments.12 But when they gave credit to Philip, declaring the glad tidings concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ: they were immersed, both men and women.13 And Simon himself also believed; and being immersed, he kept near to Philip, beholding with amazement, the great and powerful miracles which were done.14 Now when the Apostles, who were at Jerusalem, heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John;15 who, going down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit.16 (For he was not yet fallen on any of them; only, they were immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus.)17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.18 Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given by the imposition of the Apostles' hands, he offered them money,19 saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.20 But Peter said to him, Let your money go with you to destruction, since you have thought that the free gift of God might be purchased with money.21 You have no part nor lot in this matter; for your heart is not upright in the sight of God.22 Reform, therefore, from this your wickedness; and beg of God, if, indeed, the thought of your heart may be forgiven you;23 for I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity.24 And Simon answered, and said, Make your supplications to the Lord on my behalf; that none of these things which you have spoken, may come upon me.25 Now when they had borne their testimony, and had spoke the word of the Lord, they turned back for Jerusalem; and declared the glad tidings in many villages of the Samaritans.26 And a messenger of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south, by the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert.27 And he arose, and took his journey; and, behold, a certain Ethiopian officer, a grandee of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, that was over all her treasure, who had come to worship at Jerusalem,28 was returning, and sat in his chariot, reading the Prophet Isaiah.29 And the Spirit said to Philip, Approach, and join yourself to this chariot.30 And Philip, running up, heard him read in the Prophet Isaiah, and said, Do you understand what you are reading?31 And he said, How can I, unless some one should guide me? And he requested Philip that he would come up and sit with him.32 «Now the passage of scripture which he was reading, was this,» 'He was brought to the slaughter, as a sheep; and as a lamb before its shearer, is dumb; so he opened not his mouth.'33 «In his humiliation his condemnation was extorted; and who shall describe his generation? for his life is cut off from the earth.»34 The officer answering Philip, said, I beseech you, of whom does the prophet say this? -of himself, or of some other person?35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from the scripture, told him the glad tidings concerning Jesus.36 And as they went along the way, they came to a certain water, and the officer said, Behold, water; what hinders my being immersed?37 OMITTED TEXT38 And he ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the officer; and he immersed him.39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly conveyed away Philip, and the officer saw him no more: so he went on his way rejoicing.40 But Philip was found at Azotus; and going on thence, he proclaimed the glad tidings in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.