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, was taking pleasure with them in his death. Moreover there arose, in that day, a great persecution against the assembly which was in Jerusalem; [and], all, were scattered abroad throughout the countries of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
Howbeit reverent men assisted at the burial of Stephen, and made great lamentation over 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, went on to lay waste the assembly, along the houses, going in, and, dragging off both men and women, was
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
They, indeed, therefore, who were scattered abroad, passed through, telling the good-news of the word;
5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
And, Philip, going down unto the city of Samaria, proclaimed unto them the Christ.
6 The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.
And the multitudes began to give heed unto the things that were being spoken by Philip, with one accord, when they heard him, and saw the signs which he was working.
7 With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
For, from many who had impure spirits, shouting with a loud voice, they were going out, and, many that were paralysed and lame, were cured.
8 So there was great joy in that city.
And there came to be great joy in that city.
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,
But, a certain man named Simon, was already in the city, practising magical arts, and astonishing the nation of Samaria, —saying that himself was someone great:
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.”
Unto whom all were giving heed, from small even to great, saying—This, is the Power of God, which is called Great.
11 They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
And they were giving heed to him, because that, for a considerable time, with his magical arts, he had astonished them.
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, when they believed Philip telling the good news concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they proceeded to be immersed, 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.
And, Simon himself also, believed; and, having been immersed, was in constant attendance on Philip, —and, beholding signs and great works of power coming to pass, was astonished.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
And the Apostles who were in Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria had welcomed the word of God, sent out unto them Peter and John;
15 On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
Who, indeed, going down, prayed for them, that they might receive Holy Spirit; —
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, not yet, had it, upon any one of them, fallen, but, only, to begin with, they had been immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Then, proceeded they to lay their hands upon them, and they were receiving Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
But Simon, seeing that, through means of the laying on of the hands of the Apostles, the Spirit was being given, offered unto 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—Give unto me also this authority, —in order that, on whomsoever may lay my hands, he may receive Holy Spirit.
20 But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
And Peter said unto him—Thy silver, with thee, go to destruction! Because, the free-gift of God, thou didst suppose could, with money, be obtained!
21 You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter; for, thy heart, is not upright before 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, from this thy baseness, and entreat of the Lord—whether, after all, the purpose of thy heart shall be forgiven thee;
23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
For see that thou servest as a gall-root of bitterness, and a bond of unrighteousness.
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
And Simon, answering, said—Entreat ye, in my behalf, unto the Lord; that, nothing, may come upon me, of the things whereof ye have spoken!
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.
They, therefore, having fully borne witness, and spoken the word of the Lord, began their return unto Jerusalem, and, unto many villages of the Samaritans, were they telling the glad tidings.
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.”
And, a messenger of the Lord, spake unto Philip, saying—Arise, and be journeying along southward, unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, —the same, is desert.
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, arising, he journeyed. And lo! a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, one in power under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure [who] had come to worship in Jerusalem;
28 and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
And was returning, and, sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
And the Spirit said unto Philip—Go near, and join thyself unto this chariot!
30 So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
And, running near, Philip heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said—Dost thou, then, understand what thou art reading?
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
And, he, said—How indeed should be able—unless someone shall guide me? And he called upon Philip, to come up 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.
Now, the passage of Scripture which he was reading, was, this: —As a sheep, unto slaughter, was he led, and, as a lamb, before him that sheareth it, is dumb, so, he openeth 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 humiliation, his judgment was taken away, —his generation, who shall describe? because, his life, is taken away from the earth.
34 “Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
And the eunuch, making answer unto Philip, said—I pray thee! Of whom, is the prophet saying this? of himself, or, of some different person?
35 Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
And Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, told him the glad tidings of Jesus.
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 were journeying along the way, they came unto a certain water, —and the eunuch saith—Lo! water! What doth hinder my being immersed?
38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down, both, into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, —and he immersed 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.
But, when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more; for he was going on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Now Philip was found at Azotus; and, passing through, he was telling the glad tidings unto all the cities, until he came unto Caesarea.
