1And Saul was consenting and participating in his death. And there was, in that day, a great persecution against the church that was at Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed, except the legates, among the villages of Judaea and likewise among the Samaritans. 2And believing men gathered up and buried Stephen. And they lamented over him greatly. 3And Saul persecuted the church of God, entering houses, and dragging forth men and women and committing them to prison. 4And they who were dispersed, travelled about and preached the word of God. 5And Philip went down to a city of the Samaritans, and preached concerning the Messiah. 6And when the people who were there heard his discourse, they gave ear to him, and acquiesced in all that he said; because they saw the signs which he wrought. 7For many who were possessed by unclean spirits, cried with a loud voice, and came out of them: and others, who were paralytic and lame, were healed. 8And there was great joy in that city. 9And there was a certain man there, whose name was Simon, who had resided in that city a long time, and who seduced the people of the Samaritans by his sorceries, magnifying himself, and saying, I am a great personage. 10And they all inclined towards him, great and small; and they said, This is the mighty power of God. 11And they acquiesced in him, because for a long time he had astonished them by his sorceries. 12But when they gave credence to Philip, as he preached the kingdom of God, in the name of our Lord Jesus Messiah; they were baptized, both men and women. 13And Simon himself also believed, and was baptized, and adhered to Philip. And when he saw the signs and mighty deeds which were wrought by his hand, he was surprised and astonished. 14And when the legates at Jerusalem, heard that the people of the Samaritans had received the word of God, they sent out to them Simon Cephas and John. 15And they went down, and prayed over them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16For he was not yet on any one of them; and they had only been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus. 17Then they laid the hand on them; and they received the Holy Spirit. 18And when Simon saw that, by the imposition of a hand of the legates, the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19saying: Give me also this prerogative, that he on whom I impose a hand, may receive the Holy Spirit. 20Simon Cephas said to him: Thy money go with thee to perdition! because thou hast supposed, that the gift of God may be purchased by a worldly substance. 21Thou hast no part nor lot in this faith; because thy heart is not right before God. 22Nevertheless, repent of this thy wickedness, and entreat of God, if perhaps the guile of thy heart may be forgiven thee. 23For I perceive that thou art in the bitter gall and in the bonds of iniquity. 24Simon answered and said: Intercede ye with God for me, that nothing of which ye have mentioned may come upon me. 25And Simon and John, when they had testified, and had taught them the word of God, returned to Jerusalem. And they had preached in many villages of the Samaritans. 26And the angel of the Lord spake with Philip, and said to him: Arise, go to the south, along the desert way that leadeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza. 27And he arose and went. And there met him a eunuch, who had come from Cush, an officer of Candace, queen of the Cushites, who had charge of all her treasure; and he had come to worship at Jerusalem. 28And as he turned to go, he was sitting in his chariot, and was reading in Isaiah the prophet. 29And the Holy Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to the chariot. 30And when he came near, he heard him reading in Isaiah the prophet; and he said to him: Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said: How can I understand, unless some one instruct me? And he requested of Philip, that he would come up and sit with him. 32And the section of scripture in which he was reading, was this: As a lamb to the slaughter he was led away, and as a sheep before the shearer is silent, so also he in his humility opened not his mouth. 33From prison and from judgment he was carried: and his generation, who will declare? for his life is taken away from the earth. 34And the eunuch said to Philip: I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other person? 35Then Philip opened his mouth and, from that scripture, began to preach to him concerning our Lord Jesus. 36And as they proceeded on the way, they came to a certain place in which there was water. And the eunuch said: Lo, here is water; what doth forbid, that I should be baptized? 37And Philip said: If thou believest with all thy heart, it is allowable. And he answered, and said: I believe that Jesus Messiah is the Son of God. 38And he commanded the chariot to stop; and they both went down to the water, and Philip baptized the eunuch. 39And when they came up from the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more; but he went on his way rejoicing. 40And Philip was found at Azotus; and from there he travelled about, and preached in all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.