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And now, I say to you: Desist from these men, and let them lone. For if this device and this work originate from men, they will dissolve and come to nothing.

For we have heard him say, that this Jesus the Nazarean will destroy this place, and will change the rites which Moses delivered to you.

And when the time arrived for that which God had promised to Abraham with an oath, the people had multiplied and become strong, in Egypt:

And when he was cast out, by his people, the daughter of Pharaoh found him, and brought him up for her own son.

And the Lord said to him: Loose thy shoes from thy feet; for the ground on which thou standest is holy.

when they said to Aaron: Make us gods who may go before us; because, as for this Moses who brought us from the land of Egypt, we know not what hath become of him.

And God turned away, and gave them up to worship the hosts of heaven: as it is written in the book of the prophets: Did ye, for forty years, in the wilderness, present to me a slain animal or a sacrifice, ye sons of Israel?

And this same tabernacle, our fathers, with Joshua, actually brought into the land which God gave to them for an inheritance from those nations which he drove out before them; and it was borne about, until the days of David.

He found favor before God; and he requested, that he might find a residence for the God of Jacob.

Heaven is my throne, and earth the footstool under my feet. What is the house, ye will build for me? saith the Lord: or, what is the place of my repose?

For, which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute and kill, [fn] them, who foretold the coming of the Just One, whom ye delivered up and slew?

For many who were possessed by unclean spirits, cried with a loud voice, and came out of them: and others, who were paralytic and lame, were healed.

And they acquiesced in him, because for a long time he had astonished them by his sorceries.

For he was not yet on any one of them; and they had only been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus.

For I perceive that thou art in the bitter gall and in the bonds of iniquity.

Simon answered and said: Intercede ye with God for me, that nothing of which ye have mentioned may come upon me.

From prison and from judgment he was carried: and his generation, who will declare? for his life is taken away from the earth.

span data-lang="eng" data-trans="jmt" data-ref="act.8.1" class="versetxt"> And Saul was consenting and participating in his death. And there was, in that day, a great persecution against the church that was at Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed, except the legates, among the villages of Judaea and likewise among the Samaritans. And believing men gathered up and buried Stephen. And they lamented over him greatly. And Saul persecuted the church of God, entering houses, and dragging forth men and women and committing them to prison. And they who were dispersed, travelled about and preached the word of God. And Philip went down to a city of the Samaritans, and preached concerning the Messiah. And when the people who were there heard his discourse, they gave ear to him, and acquiesced in all that he said; because they saw the signs which he wrought. For many who were possessed by unclean spirits, cried with a loud voice, and came out of them: and others, who were paralytic and lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city. And there was a certain man there, whose name was Simon, who had resided in that city a long time, and who seduced the people of the Samaritans by his sorceries, magnifying himself, and saying, I am a great personage. And they all inclined towards him, great and small; and they said, This is the mighty power of God. And they acquiesced in him, because for a long time he had astonished them by his sorceries. But when they gave credence to Philip, as he preached the kingdom of God, in the name of our Lord Jesus Messiah; they were baptized, both men and women. And Simon himself also believed, and was baptized, and adhered to Philip. And when he saw the signs and mighty deeds which were wrought by his hand, he was surprised and astonished. And when the legates at Jerusalem, heard that the people of the Samaritans had received the word of God, they sent out to them Simon Cephas and John. And they went down, and prayed over them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For he was not yet on any one of them; and they had only been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus. Then they laid the hand on them; and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that, by the imposition of a hand of the legates, the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying: Give me also this prerogative, that he on whom I impose a hand, may receive the Holy Spirit. Simon Cephas said to him: Thy money go with thee to perdition ! because thou hast supposed, that the gift of God may be purchased by a worldly substance. Thou hast no part nor lot in this faith; because thy heart is not right before God. Nevertheless, repent of this thy wickedness, and entreat of God, if perhaps the guile of thy heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the bitter gall and in the bonds of iniquity. Simon answered and said: Intercede ye with God for me, that nothing of which ye have mentioned may come upon me. And Simon and John, when they had testified, and had taught them the word of God, returned to Jerusalem. And they had preached in many villages of the Samaritans. And the angel of the Lord spake with Philip, and said to him: Arise, go to the south, along the desert way that leadeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza. And he arose and went. And there met him a eunuch, who had come from Cush, an officer of Candace, queen of the Cushites, who had charge of all her treasure; and he had come to worship at Jerusalem. And as he turned to go, he was sitting in his chariot, and was reading in Isaiah the prophet. And the Holy Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to the chariot. And when he came near, he heard him reading in Isaiah the prophet; and he said to him: Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said: How can I understand, unless some one instruct me? And he requested of Philip, that he would come up and sit with him. And the section of scripture in which he was reading, was this: As a lamb to the slaughter he was led away, and as a sheep before the shearer is silent, so also he in his humility opened not his mouth. From prison and from judgment he was carried: and his generation, who will declare? for his life is taken away from the earth. And the eunuch said to Philip: I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other person? Then Philip opened his mouth and, from that scripture, began to preach to him concerning our Lord Jesus. And as they proceeded on the way, they came to a certain place in which there was water. And the eunuch said: Lo, [fn] water; what doth forbid, that I should be baptized?

And he fell to the ground; and he heard a voice which said to him: Saul! Saul! why persecutest thou me? It will be hard for thee to kick against the goads.

And the men who travelled with him in the way, stood amazed; for they heard merely the voice, and no one was visible to them.