Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the congregation which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. 2Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him. 3But Saul ravaged the congregation, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison. 4Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around proclaiming the word of the Injil. 5Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them al-Masih.6The crowds listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. 7For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8There was great joy in that city.
9But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, 10to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of Allah.“ 11They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. 12But when they believed Philip declaring the Injil concerning the Kingdom of Allah and the name of ‘Isa al-Masih, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occuring, he was amazed.
14Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of Allah, they sent Peter and John to them, 15who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 16for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of al-Masih ‘Isa. 17Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19saying, “Give me also this power, that whoever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.“ 20But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of Allah with money! 21You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before Allah. 22Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask Allah if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.“
24Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.“
25They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Injil to many villages of the Samaritans. 26But 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.“
27He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship. 28He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Shaya.
29The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.“
30Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Shaya the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?“
31He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?“ He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. 32Now the passage of Al-Kitab which he was reading was this,
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter.
As a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So he did not open his mouth.
33In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For his life is taken from the earth.“[1]
34The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?“
35Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him ‘Isa. 36As 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?“
37,38He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39When 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. 40But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Injil to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.
[1] 8:32:33 Quoting the Taurat, Shaya 53:7-8.