The Early Church

For I see that thou art in the gall of bitternes, and in the bonde of iniquitie.

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye haue spoken, come vpon me.

So they, when they had testified and preached the worde of the Lord, returned to Hierusalem, and preached the Gospel in many townes of the Samaritans.

Then the Angel of the Lord spake vnto Philip, saying, Arise, and goe towarde the South vnto the way that goeth downe from Hierusalem vnto Gaza, which is waste.

And hee arose and went on: and beholde, a certaine Eunuche of Ethiopia, Candaces the Queene of the Ethiopians chiefe Gouernour, who had the rule of all her treasure, and came to Hierusalem to worship:

And as he returned sitting in his charet, he read Esaias the Prophet.

Then the Spirit said vnto Philip, Goe neere and ioyne thy selfe to yonder charet.

And Philip ranne thither, and heard him reade the Prophet Esaias, and said, But vnderstandest thou what thou readest?

And he saide, Howe can I, except I had a guide? And he desired Philip, that he would come vp and sit with him.

Nowe the place of the Scripture which he read, was this, Hee was lead as a sheepe to the slaughter: and like a lambe domme before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.

In his humilitie his iudgement hath bene exalted: but who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

Then the Eunuche answered Philippe, and saide, I pray thee of whome speaketh the Prophet this? of himselfe, or of some other man?

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached vnto him Iesus.

And as they went on their way, they came vnto a certaine water, and the Eunuche said, See, here is water: what doeth let me to be baptized?

And Philippe said vnto him, If thou beleeuest with all thine heart, thou mayest. Then he answered, and saide, I beleeue that that Iesus Christ is that Sonne of God.

Then he commanded the charet to stand stil: and they went downe both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuche, and he baptized him.

And assoone as they were come vp out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the Eunuche sawe him no more: so he went on his way reioycing.

But Philippe was found at Azotus, and he walked to and from preaching in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.

And Saul yet breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of ye Lord, went vnto the hie Priest,

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the Synagogues, that if he found any that were of that way (either men or women) hee might bring them bound vnto Hierusalem.

Now as he iourneyed, it came to passe that as he was come neere to Damascus, suddenly there shined rounde about him a light from heauen.

And hee fell to the earth, and heard a voyce, saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And he sayd, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord sayd, I am Iesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kicke against pricks.

He then both trembling and astonied, sayd, Lord, what wilt thou that I doe? And the Lord sayd vnto him, Arise and goe into the citie, and it shall be tolde thee what thou shalt doe.

The men also which iourneyed with him, stood amased, hearing his voyce, but seeing no man.