Acts 8 Summary

After Saul consents to Stephen's death, a great persecution arises against the church at Jerusalem, scattering all believers except the apostles throughout Judaea and Samaria; Saul makes havoc of the church, entering every house and dragging men and women to prison, yet those scattered preach the word everywhere. Philip goes down to Samaria and preaches Christ, and the people with one accord heed his words, seeing the miracles he performs—unclean spirits cry out and come out of many possessed, and the lame and palsied are healed. When the apostles in Jerusalem hear Samaria has received God's word, they send Peter and John, who pray for the believers that they might receive the Holy Ghost (for as yet it had not fallen upon them, only baptism in Jesus's name), and when the apostles lay their hands on them, the believers receive the Holy Ghost. Then Philip is told by the angel of the Lord to go toward Gaza, where he meets an Ethiopian eunuch of great authority returning from Jerusalem; Philip perceives the eunuch reading the prophet Isaiah and runs to him, and when the eunuch asks who the prophet speaks of, Philip preaches unto him Jesus. The eunuch believes, desires baptism, and Philip baptizes him in the water; afterwards the Spirit of the Lord catches away Philip, and the eunuch goes on his way rejoicing while Philip is found at Azotus and preaches in all the cities until he comes to Caesarea.