Acts 8

¹And the same day there was made a great persecution in the Church, which was at Jerusalem, and all were dispersed through the countries of Jewry and Samaria, saving the Apostles.

²And devout men took order for Steven's funeral, and made great mourning upon him.

³But Saul wasted the Church: entering in from house to house, and drawing men and women, delivered them into prison.

⁴They therefore that were dispersed, passed through, evangelizing the word.

⁵And Philippe descending into the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them.

⁶and the multitudes were attent to those things which were said of Philippe, with one accord hearing, and seeing the signs that he did.

⁷For many of them that had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out. And many sick of the palsy and lame were cured.

⁸There was made therefore great joy in that city.

⁹And a certain man named Simon, who before had been in that city a Magician, seducing the nation of Samaria, saying himself to be some great one:

¹⁰unto whom all harkened from the least to the greatest, saying: This man is the power of God, that is called great.

¹¹And they were attent upon him, because a long time he had bewitched them with his magical practices.

¹²But when they had believed Philippe evangelizing of the Kingdom of God, and of the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, men and women.

¹³Then Simon also himself believed: & being baptized, he cleaved to Philippe. Seeing also signs and very great miracles to be done, he was astonished with admiration.

¹⁴And when the Apostles who were in Jerusalem, had heard that Samaria had received the word of God: they sent unto them Peter and John.

¹⁵Who when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.

¹⁶For he was not yet come upon any of them, but they were only baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus.

¹⁷Then did they impose their hands upon them, & they received the Holy Ghost.

¹⁸And when Simon had seen that by the imposition of the hand of the Apostles, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

¹⁹saying: Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I impose my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

²⁰But Peter said to him: Thy money be with thee unto perdition: because thou hast thought that the gift of God is purchased with money.

²¹Thou hast no part, nor lot in this word. For thy heart is not right before God.

²²Do penance therefore from this thy wickedness: and pray to God, if perhaps this cogitation of thy heart may be remitted thee.

²³For I see thou art in the gall of bitterness and the obligation of iniquity.

²⁴And Simon answering said: Pray you for me to our Lord, that nothing come upon me of these things which you have said.

²⁵And they indeed having testified and spoken the word of our Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and evangelized to many countries of the Samaritans.

²⁶And an Angel of our Lord spake to Philippe, saying: Arise, and go toward the South, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem into Gaza: this is desert.

²⁷And rising he went. And behold, a man of Æthiopia, an Eunuch, of great authority under Candace the queen of the Æthiopians, who was over all her treasures, was come to Jerusalem to adore:

²⁸and he was returning and sitting upon his chariot, and reading Esay the Prophet.

²⁹And the Spirit said to Philippe: Go near, and join thyself to this same chariot.

³⁰And Philippe running thereunto, heard him reading Esay the Prophet, and he said: Trowest thou that thou understandest the things which thou readest?

³¹Who said: And how can I, unless some man shew me? & he desired Philippe that he would come up and sit with him.

³²And the place of the scripture which he did read, was this: As a sheep to slaughter was he led: and as a lamb before his shearer, without voice, so did he not open his mouth.

³³In humility his judgement was taken away. His generation who shall declare, for from the earth shall his life be taken?

³⁴And the Eunuch answering Philip, said: I beseech thee, of whom doth the Prophet speak this? of himself, or of some other?

³⁵And, Philip opening his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, evangelized unto him Jesus.

³⁶And as they went by the way, they came to a certain water: and the Eunuch said: Lo water, who doth let me to be baptized?

³⁷And Philip said: If thou believe with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answering said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.^†

³⁸And he commanded the chariot to stay: and both went down into the water, Philip and the Eunuch, and he baptized him.

³⁹And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of our Lord took away Philip, & the Eunuch saw him no more. And he went on his way rejoicing.

⁴⁰But Philip was found in Azotus, and passing through, he evangelized to all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.