The believers scatter1Saul witnessed Stephen's death with approval. This event triggered a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. All the believers, except the apostles, fled to places of safety in Judea and Samaria.2But godly men buried Stephen's body and mourned deeply for him.3Saul tried to destroy the church wherever he could. He went from house to house dragging off both men and women to be thrown into prison.4But those who were scattered as a result of the persecution preached the gospel of Jesus wherever they went.5For example, Philip went and proclaimed the Christ to a city in Samaria.6When the crowds heard Philip's preaching and saw the miraculous signs he performed, they listened attentively to his message.7Evil spirits came out of people with shrieks, and many paralysed and crippled people were healed,8causing great joy in that place.Believers receive the Holy Spirit9For some time in that city, a man named Simon had practised sorcery and claimed to be someone great because he did things that amazed the Samaritans.10He drew everyone's attention, from the most important to the least. It was even said of him that he had divine power, 'the Great Power!'11He had a large following because he amazed people with his magical deeds.12However, those who believed Philip's preaching about the good news of God's Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, were baptised, both men and women.13This magician Simon also professed to believe and was baptised. He then followed Philip everywhere, and was amazed at the great signs and wonders he saw Philip perform.14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the gospel, they sent Peter and John there.15-16On their arrival they discovered that the believers had not yet received the Holy Spirit; they had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.17So Peter and John laid hands on them and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.18-19When Simon saw that God's Spirit was given to people when the apostles laid their hands on them, he offered them money saying: "Give me this power so that everyone on whom I lay my hands will receive the Holy Spirit."20Peter answered him: "Let your money perish with you for imagining that God's gift could be purchased.21You cannot share in this ministry because your heart is not right before God.22Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps then He will forgive you for thinking such a thing.23I see that you are still full of bitterness and are a prisoner of sin."24So Simon said: "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing awful will happen to me."25When Peter and John had testified and preached God's Word, they returned to Jerusalem, stopping to proclaim the gospel in many villages on the way.Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch26An angel of the Lord told Philip: "Go south to the desert road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza."27He obeyed and on the way met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official from the court of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was in charge of her treasury and had been in Jerusalem to worship.28Now he was returning home and sitting in his chariot, reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.29The Holy Spirit said to Philip: "Go and walk alongside that chariot."30As Philip ran to be close to the chariot, he heard the man reading from the prophecy of Isaiah and so asked him: "Do you understand what you are reading?"31"How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?" the eunuch replied. He then invited Philip to enter the chariot and sit with him.32He was reading the passage that says, 'He was led to the slaughter like a sheep and did not open His mouth, just as a lamb is silent before the shearer.33He was humiliated and deprived of justice. Who can speak of His descendants? For His life was taken from the earth.'34The official asked Philip: "Please tell me who is the prophet speaking of, himself or someone else?"35Using that passage of scripture as a starting point, Philip told him the good news about Jesus.36As they continued along the road they came to a pool of water. So the eunuch said: "Look! Here is some water, surely I can be baptised now!"37Philip replied: "You can be baptised if you believe with all your heart." "I believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son", the eunuch answered.38He gave orders for the chariot to stop. Then both of them went down to the water and Philip baptised the eunuch.39When they came up out of the water, suddenly the Lord's Spirit took Philip away. Although the eunuch did not see him again, he continued on his journey rejoicing.40Meanwhile, Philip suddenly found himself at Azotus, a city further to the north. From there he set out for Caesarea, preaching the gospel in every place on the way.
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)