Chapter 8

1Saul approved of Stephen’s killing. That same day, a fierce persecution began against the community of Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem. Everyone except the apostles—the movement’s leading messengers—was scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.

2Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.

3But Saul began destroying the community of believers. He went from house to house, dragged out both men and women, and had them put in prison.

4Those who had been scattered traveled from place to place, announcing the message as good news.

5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and announced to its people that Jesus was the Messiah.

6The crowds listened closely and with one mind to what Philip said, because they heard him and saw the miraculous signs he performed.

7Evil spirits came out of many possessed people, screaming loudly. Many people who were paralyzed or unable to walk were also healed.

8So there was great joy in that city.

9A man named Simon had already been practicing sorcery in the city. He amazed the people of Samaria and claimed to be someone great.

10Everyone, from the least important to the most important, paid attention to him. They said, “This man is the power of God known as ‘the Great Power.’”

11They listened to Simon because he had amazed them with his magic for a long time.

12But when they believed Philip’s good news about God’s reign and about Jesus the Messiah, both men and women were baptized by being immersed in water.

13Simon himself also believed and was baptized. He stayed close to Philip, and he was amazed when he saw the great miracles and displays of power taking place.

14The apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, so they sent Peter and John to them.

15When Peter and John arrived, they prayed that the new believers would receive God’s Holy Spirit.

16The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, marking them as his people.

17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles placed their hands on people, so he offered them money.

19Simon said, “Give me this authority too, so that anyone I place my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit.”

20But Peter told him, “May you and your money perish together, because you thought you could buy God’s gift with money!

21You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God.

22Turn away from this evil and plead with the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for the thought you conceived in your heart.

23I see that you are filled with bitter poison and bound by wrongdoing.”

24Simon answered, “You plead with the Lord for me, so that none of the things you have said will happen to me.”

25After Peter and John had firmly declared the truth and spoken the Lord’s message, they started back to Jerusalem. Along the way, they announced the good news in many Samaritan villages.

26Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza. It is a desert road.”

27Philip got up and went. On the road was an Ethiopian eunuch, a high official serving Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He managed her entire treasury and had gone to Jerusalem to worship.

28The official was now returning home. He sat in his chariot, reading from the prophet Isaiah.

29God’s Spirit told Philip, “Go over and stay close to that chariot.”

30Philip ran up beside it and heard the official reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31The official replied, “How could I, unless someone guides me?” Then he invited Philip to climb into the chariot and sit beside him.

32The passage he was reading said: “He was led away like a sheep to be slaughtered. Like a lamb that is silent before the person shearing it, he does not open his mouth.

33In his humiliation, he was denied justice. Who can tell the story of his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”

34The eunuch asked Philip, “Please tell me, who is the prophet talking about here? Is he talking about himself or someone else?”

35Philip began speaking. Starting with this passage, he told the official the good news about Jesus.

36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

38He ordered the chariot to stop. Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

39When they came up out of the water, the Lord’s Spirit suddenly carried Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again, but he continued on his way rejoicing.

40Philip found himself in Azotus. From there he traveled through the region, announcing the good news in every town until he reached Caesarea.