< Acts 8 >

1 And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
And Saul consented to his death, and at that time, there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Hierusalem, and they were all scattered abroad thorowe the regions of Iudea and of Samaria, except the Apostles.
2 God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
Then certaine men fearing God, caried Steuen amongs them, to be buried, and made great lamentation for him.
3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
But Saul made hauocke of the Church, and entred into euery house, and drewe out both men and women, and put them into prison.
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Therefore they that were scattered abroad, went to and from preaching the worde.
5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
Then came Philip into the citie of Samaria, and preached Christ vnto them.
6 The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.
And the people gaue heed vnto those things which Philippe spake, with one accorde, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
For vncleane spirits crying with a loud voyce, came out of many that were possessed of them: and many taken with palsies, and that halted, were healed.
8 So there was great joy in that city.
And there was great ioy in that citie.
9 Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,
And there was before in the citie a certaine man called Simon, which vsed witchcraft, and bewitched the people of Samaria, saying that he himselfe was some great man.
10 and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.”
To whome they gaue heede from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that great power of God.
11 They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
And they gaue heed vnto him, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
But assoone as they beleeued Philip, which preached the thinges that concerned the kingdome of God, and the Name of Iesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women.
13 Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.
Then Simon himselfe beleeued also and was baptized, and continued with Philippe, and wondred, when he sawe the signes and great miracles which were done.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
Nowe when the Apostles, which were at Hierusalem, heard say, that Samaria had receiued the worde of God, they sent vnto them Peter and Iohn.
15 On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
Which whe they were come downe, prayed for them, that they might receiue the holy Ghost.
16 For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
(For as yet, hee was fallen downe on none of them, but they were baptized onely in the Name of the Lord Iesus.)
17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Then layd they their handes on them, and they receiued the holy Ghost.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
And when Simon sawe, that through laying on of the Apostles hands the holy Ghost was giuen, he offred them money,
19 “Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Saying, Giue mee also this power, that on whomsoeuer I lay the handes, he may receiue the holy Ghost.
20 But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
Then saide Peter vnto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou thinkest that the gift of God may be obteined with money.
21 You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
Thou hast neither part nor fellowship in this businesse: for thine heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
Repent therefore of this thy wickednes, and pray God, that if it be possible, the thought of thine heart may be forgiuen thee.
23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
For I see that thou art in the gall of bitternes, and in the bonde of iniquitie.
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye haue spoken, come vpon me.
25 And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.
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.
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
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.
27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
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:
28 and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
And as he returned sitting in his charet, he read Esaias the Prophet.
29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
Then the Spirit said vnto Philip, Goe neere and ioyne thy selfe to yonder charet.
30 So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
And Philip ranne thither, and heard him reade the Prophet Esaias, and said, But vnderstandest thou what thou readest?
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
And he saide, Howe can I, except I had a guide? And he desired Philip, that he would come vp and sit with him.
32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
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.
33 In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”
In his humilitie his iudgement hath bene exalted: but who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 “Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
Then the Eunuche answered Philippe, and saide, I pray thee of whome speaketh the Prophet this? of himselfe, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached vnto him Iesus.
36 As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”
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.
38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
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.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.
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.
40 But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
But Philippe was found at Azotus, and he walked to and from preaching in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.

< Acts 8 >