1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy

gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all

mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains,

but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my

body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great

persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered

throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men

buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging

the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and

committed them to prison.

4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went

down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds

with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard

him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud

voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame

were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.

9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the

city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody

great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying,

“This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to

him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when

they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and

the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even

Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And

seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the

word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed

for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on

any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17

Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now

when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’

hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that

anyone on whom I lay my hands 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 is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours,

and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24

And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have

said may come upon me.”

25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned

to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the

road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he

rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of

Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had

come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he

was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join

this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet

and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How

can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with

him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter

and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,

so he opens not his mouth.

33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.

Who can describe his generation?

For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say

this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth,

and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And

as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch

said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the

water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up

out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw

him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at

Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until

he came to Caesarea.

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be

ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be

gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were

once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures,

passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he

saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his

own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6

whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being

justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those

who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.

These things are excellent and profitable for people.