8:1And there arose on that day a great persecution in the church which was in Jerusalem, and all were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. 8:2And devout men took care of Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. 8:3But Saul was laying waste the church, going into house after house, and dragging off men and women, he was handing them over into custody. 8:4So those who had been scattered were passing through, preaching the good news of the word of God. 8:5And Philip, going down into the city of Samaria, was preaching Christ to them. 8:6And the crowds were attending to the things which were being said by Philip, with one mind, hearing them, and seeing the signs which he was doing.
8:7For many of those who had unclean spirits, shouting with a great voice, were going out. 8:7And many paralysed and lame people were cured. 8:8So there was great joy in that city. 8:9But a certain man by name Simon, who before had been a magician in the city, leading astray the nation of Samaria, saying that he himself was someone great: to whom all were listening, from the least to the greatest, saying: "This man is the power of God, which is called great." 8:11And they were attending to him, because for a long time he had driven them out of their minds with his magic arts. 8:12But when they had believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God, men and women were being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
8:13Then Simon too himself believed: and when he had been baptized, he was clinging to Philip. 8:13Seeing also signs and very great mighty works being done, he was stunned and wondering. 8:14And when the Apostles who were in Jerusalem had heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John. 8:15And they, when they had come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: for not yet had he come upon any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 8:17Then they were laying hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. 8:18But when Simon had seen that through the laying on of the hand of the Apostles the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying: "Give to me also this power, that whoever I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit."
8:19But Peter said to him: "May your money be with you into perdition: since you have supposed the gift of God to be possessed with money. 8:21There is not for you part nor lot in this matter: for your heart is not right before God. 8:22Repent therefore of this your wickedness: and ask God, if perhaps this thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 8:23For in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of wickedness, I see that you are." 8:24And Simon, answering, said: "Pray you for me to the Lord, so that nothing of these things which you have said may come upon me." 8:25And they indeed, having borne witness, and having spoken the word of the Lord, were returning to Jerusalem, and were preaching the good news in many regions of the Samaritans.
8:26But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: "Rise, and go towards the south, to the road which goes down from Jerusalem into Gaza: this is deserted." 8:27And rising he went away. 8:27And look, an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, a man of power under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasures, had come to worship in Jerusalem: and he was returning, sitting upon his chariot, and reading Isaiah the prophet. 8:29And the Spirit said to Philip: "Go up, and join yourself to that chariot." 8:30And Philip, running up, heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said: "Do you think you understand what you are reading?"
8:31And he said: "And how can I, unless someone shows me?" 8:31And he asked Philip to come up, and to sit with him. 8:32And the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: 'Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter: and like a lamb before the one who shears it, without a voice, so he did not open his mouth. 8:33In humiliation his judgement was taken away. 8:33His generation, who will tell it? 8:33Since his life will be taken from the earth.' And the eunuch, answering Philip, said: "I beg you, about whom does the prophet say this? 8:34About himself, or about some other?" 8:35And Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached the good news of Jesus to him.
8:36And while they were going along the road, they came to some water: and the eunuch said: "Look, water: what prevents me from being baptized?" 8:37And Philip said: "If you believe with your whole heart, it is allowed." 8:37And answering he said: "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 8:38And he ordered the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 8:39But when they had come up from the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more. 8:39And he went on his way rejoicing. 8:40But Philip was found in Azotus, and passing through he was preaching the good news to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.