AndSaulwasconsentingunto hisdeath. Andatthattimethere wasa greatpersecutionagainstthechurchwhichwas atJerusalem; andthey were allscattered abroadthroughouttheregionsof JudeaandSamaria, excepttheapostles. AnddevoutmencarriedStephen to his burial, andmadegreatlamentationoverhim. As forSaul, he made havocof thechurch, entering intoevery house, andhalingmenandwomencommitted them toprison. Thereforethey that were scattered abroadwent every wherepreachingtheword. ThenPhilipwent downtothe cityof Samaria, and preachedChristunto them. Andthepeoplewith one accordgave heedunto those things whichPhilipspake, hearingandseeingthemiracleswhichhe did. Foruncleanspirits, cryingwith loudvoice, came outof manythat were possessed with them : andmanytaken with palsies, andthat were lame, were healed. Andthere wasgreatjoyinthatcity. Butthere was a certainman, calledSimon, which beforetimeinthesame cityused sorcery, andbewitchedthepeopleof Samaria, giving outthat himselfwassomegreat one: To whomthey allgave heed, fromthe leasttothe greatest, saying, This manisthegreatpowerof God. Andto himthey had regard, because that of longtimehe had bewitchedthemwith sorceries. Butwhenthey believedPhilippreachingthe thingsconcerningthekingdomof God, andthenameof JesusChrist, they were baptized, bothmenandwomen. ThenSimonhimselfbelievedalso: andwhen he was baptized, he continuedwith Philip, andwondered, beholdingthemiraclesandsignswhich were done. Nowwhen theapostleswhichwere atJerusalemheardthatSamariahad receivedthewordof God, they sentuntothemPeterandJohn: Who, when they were come down, prayedforthem, thatthey might receivethe HolyGhost: ( Foras yethe wasfallenuponnoneof them: onlythey werebaptizedinthenameof theLordJesus.) Thenlaidthey their handsonthem, andthey receivedthe HolyGhost. Andwhen Simonsawthatthroughlaying onof theapostles' handstheHolyGhostwas given, he offeredthemmoney, Saying, Giveme alsothispower, thaton whomsoeverI layhands, he may receivethe HolyGhost. ButPetersaiduntohim, Thymoneyperishwiththee, becausethou hast thoughtthat thegiftof Godmay be purchasedwithmoney. Thouhastneitherpartnorlotinthismatter: forthyheartisnotrightin the sightof God. Repentthereforeofthisthywickedness, andprayGod, ifperhapsthethoughtof thineheartmay be forgiventhee. ForI perceivethat thouartinthe gallof bitterness, and in the bondof iniquity. ThenansweredSimon, and said, PrayyetotheLordforme, thatnoneof these things whichye have spokencomeuponme. Andthey, when theyhad testifiedandpreachedthewordof theLord, returnedtoJerusalem, andpreached the gospelin manyvillagesof theSamaritans. Andthe angelof the LordspakeuntoPhilip, saying, Arise, andgotowardthe southuntothewaythat goeth downfromJerusalemuntoGaza, whichisdesert. Andhe aroseandwent: and, behold, a manof Ethiopia, an eunuchof great authorityunder Candacequeenof the Ethiopians, whohad the chargeof allhertreasure, andhadcometoJerusalemfor to worship, Wasreturning, andsittinginhischariotreadIsaiahtheprophet. ThentheSpiritsaidunto Philip, Go near, andjoin thyselfto thischariot. AndPhilipran thitherto him, and heardhimreadtheprophetIsaiah, andsaid, Understandestthou whatthou readest? Andhesaid, HowcanI, exceptsome manshould guideme? Andhe desiredPhilipthat he would come upand sitwithhim. Theplaceof theScripturewhichhe readwasthis, He was ledasa sheeptothe slaughter; andlikea lambdumbbeforehisshearer, soopenedhe nothismouth: Inhishumiliationhisjudgmentwas taken away: andwhoshall declarehisgeneration? forhislifeis takenfromtheearth. AndtheeunuchansweredPhilip, and said, I praythee, ofwhomspeakeththeprophetthis? ofhimself, orofsome other man? ThenPhilipopenedhismouth, andbeganatthe sameScripture, and preachedunto himJesus. Andasthey wenton their way, they cameuntoa certainwater: andtheeunuchsaid, See, here is water; whatdoth hindermeto be baptized? AndPhilipsaid, Ifthou believestwithallthine heart, thou mayest. Andhe answeredand said, I believethat JesusChrististheSonof God. Andhe commandedthechariotto stand still: andthey went downbothintothewater, bothPhilipandtheeunuch; andhe baptizedhim. Andwhenthey were come upout ofthewater, the Spiritof the Lordcaught awayPhilip, thattheeunuchsawhimno more: andhe wenton hiswayrejoicing. ButPhilipwas foundatAzotus: andpassing throughhe preachedin allthecities, tillhecametoCaesarea.