October 14 Daily Devotional

Acts 8

“And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were scattered abroad throughout the regions of Juda that were scattered went abroad everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did … And there was great joy in that city.” Now there was a man at Samaria called Simon. He was a sorcerer, who for a long time bewitched the people with his sorceries. “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also … Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John … And when Simon saw that through laying on the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.”

“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is a desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth (Isa. 53). And the eunuch answered Philip, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? … And Philip … began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus … And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water: what doth hinder me to be baptized. And Philip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God … and he baptized him.”