08:01 .. Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death .. and on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem .. ......... and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria .. except the apostles 08:02 .. Some devout men buried Stephen .. and made loud lamentation over him 08:03 .. but Saul began ravaging the church .. entering house after house .. and dragging off men and women .. ......... he would put them in prison
.................. Philip in Samaria
08:04 .. therefore .. those who had been scattered went about preaching the word 08:05 .. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them 08:06 .. the crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip .. ......... as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing 08:07 .. for in the case of many who had unclean spirits .. they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice .. ......... and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed 08:08 .. so there was much rejoicing in that city
08:09 .. now there was a man named Simon .. who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria .. ......... claiming to be someone great 08:10 .. and they all .. from smallest to greatest .. were giving attention to him .. saying . . . this man is what is called the great power of God 08:11 .. and they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts 08:12 .. but when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ .. ......... they were being baptized .. ......... men and women alike 08:13 .. even Simon himself believed .. and after being baptized .. he continued on with Philip .. ......... and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place .. ......... he was constantly amazed 08:14 .. now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God .. they sent them Peter and John 08:15 .. who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 08:16 .. for he had not yet fallen upon any of them .. they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus 08:17 .. then they began laying their hands on them .. and they were receiving the Holy Spirit 08:18 .. now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands .. he offered them money 08:19 .. saying . . . give this authority to me as well .. so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit 08:20 .. but Peter said to him . . . may your silver perish with you .. because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money 08:21 .. you have no part or portion in this matter .. for your heart is not right before God 08:22 .. therefore repent of this wickedness of yours .. and pray the Lord that .. if possible .. the intention of your heart may be forgiven you 08:23 .. for I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity 08:24 .. but Simon answered and said . . . pray to the Lord for me yourselves .. ......... so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me
.................. an Ethiopian receives Christ
08:25 .. so .. when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord .. they started back to Jerusalem .. ......... and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans 08:26 .. but an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying . . . get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza .. ......... (this is a desert road) 08:27 .. so he got up and went .. and there was an Ethiopian eunuch .. a court official of Candace .. queen of the Ethiopians .. ......... who was in charge of all her treasure .. and he had come to Jerusalem to worship 08:28 .. and he was returning and sitting in his chariot .. and was reading the prophet Isaiah 08:29 .. then the Spirit said to Philip . . . go up and join this chariot 08:30 .. Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet .. and said . . . do you understand what you are reading 08:31 .. and he said . . . well .. how could I .. unless someone guides me .. and he invited Philip to come up and sit with him 08:32 .. now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this . . . he was led as a sheep to slaughter .. ......... and as a lamb before its shearer is silent .. ......... so he does not open his mouth 08:33 .. In humiliation his judgment was taken away .. who will relate his generation .. for his life is removed from the earth 08:34 .. the eunuch answered Philip and said . . . please tell me .. of whom does the prophet say this .. of himself or of someone else 08:35 .. then Philip opened his mouth .. and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him 08:36 .. as they went along the road they came to some water .. and the eunuch said . . . look .. water .. what prevents me from being baptized 08:37 .. and Philip said .. If you believe with all your heart .. you may .. and he answered and said . . . I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God 08:38 .. and he ordered the chariot to stop .. and they both went down into the water .. Philip as well as the eunuch .. and he baptized him 08:39 .. when they came up out of the water .. the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away .. and the eunuch no longer saw him .. ......... but went on his way rejoicing 08:40 .. but Philip found himself at Azotus .. and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea
Where Jesus Christ is preached and the gospel is embraced .. Satan is forced to quit his hold of men .. and those are restored to their right mind who .. while they were blinded by Satan .. were distracted and dissatisfied .. the bringing of Christ’s gospel to any place or individual is a matter of great joy to that place or person . . . . v 37 a short but comprehensive confession of faith .. the deity of Jesus Christ is the principal doctrine of Christianity .. and those who believe it with all their hearts and confess it are to be baptized .. and only those