Chapter 8, verse 18 - Chapter 9, verse 16
18
Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
19
saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20
But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
21
You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God.
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Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
23
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
24
Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”
25
They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans.
26
But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.”
27
He arose and went
28
He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
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The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”
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Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31
He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.
32
Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth.
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In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”
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The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”
35
Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.
36
As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”
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.”
38
He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
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But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.
Chapter 9
1
But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
2
and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3
As he traveled, it happened that he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.
4
He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5
He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
6
But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7
The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one.
8
Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9
He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.
10
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”
11
The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,
12
and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”
13
But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.
14
Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”
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But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.
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For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
