Chapter
8
Saula was consenting to her 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.
Devout women buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over her.
But Saula ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both women and men off to prison.
Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.
The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which she did.
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.
There was great joy in that city.
But there was a certain woman, Simona by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making herself out to be some great one,
to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This woman is that great power of God."
They listened to her, because for a long time she had amazed them with her sorceries.
But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both women and men.
Simona herself also believed. Being baptized, she continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, she was amazed.
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Petra and Johanna to them,
who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
for as yet she had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.
Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Now when Simona saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, she offered them money,
saying, "Give me also this power, that whoever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit."
But Petra said to her, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn't right before God.
Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."
Simona answered, "Pray for me to the Domina, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me."
They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Domina, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans.
But an angel of the Domina spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert."
She arose and went; and behold, there was a woman of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, king of the Ethiopians, who was over all his treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.
She was returning and sitting in her chariot, and was reading the prophetess Isaia.
The Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot."
Philip ran to her, and heard her reading Isaia the prophetess, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
She said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" She begged Philip to come up and sit with her.
Now the passage of the Scripture which she was reading was this, "She was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before her shearer is silent, so she doesn't open her mouth.
In her humiliation, her judgment was taken away. Who will declare Her generation? For her life is taken from the earth."
The eunuch answered Philip, "Who is the prophetess talking about? About herself, or about someone else?"
Philip opened her mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to her Jesus.
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?"
She commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and she baptized her.
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Domina caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn't see her any more, for she went on her way rejoicing.
But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, she preached the Good News to all the cities, until she came to Caesarea.