Acts 8
1 And Saul was consenting to his death. And at that time there was raised a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea, and Samaria, except the apostles.
Saul was in agreement with his death. So there began on that day a great persecution against the church that was in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men took order for Stephen’s funeral, and made great mourning over him.
Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.
3 But Saul made havock of the church, entering in from house to house, and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison.
But Saul greatly harmed the church; he went into house after house and dragged out men and women, and put them into prison.
4 They therefore that were dispersed, went about preaching the word of God.
Yet the believers who had been scattered went about proclaiming the word.
5 And Philip going down to the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them.
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
6 And the people with one accord were attentive to those things which were said by Philip, hearing, and seeing the miracles which he did.
When multitudes of people heard and saw the signs that Philip did, they paid attention together to what he said.
7 For many of them who had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out.
Unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying out with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 And many, taken with the palsy, and that were lame, were healed.
So there was much joy in that city.
9 There was therefore great joy in that city. Now there was a certain man named Simon, who before had been a magician in that city, seducing the people of Samaria, giving out that he was some great one:
But there was a certain man in the city named Simon, who had earlier been practicing sorcery; he used to astonish the people of Samaria, while claiming that he was an important person.
10 To whom they all gave ear, from the least to the greatest, saying: This man is the power of God, which is called great.
All the Samaritans, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him; they said, “This man is that power of God which is called Great.”
11 And they were attentive to him, because, for a long time, he had bewitched them with his magical practices.
They listened to him, because he had astonished them for a long time with his sorceries.
12 But when they had believed Philip preaching of the kingdom of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also; and being baptized, he adhered to Philip. And being astonished, wondered to see the signs and exceeding great miracles which were done.
Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized he stayed with Philip constantly. When he saw signs and mighty deeds taking place, he was amazed.
14 Now when the apostles, who were in Jerusalem, had heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.
Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John.
15 Who, when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.
When they had come down, they prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 For he was not as yet come upon any of them; but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
For until that time, the Holy Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 And when Simon saw, that by the imposition of the hands of the apostles, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money.
19 Saying: Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I shall lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said to him:
He said, “Give me this power, too, that whoever I place my hands on might receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Keep thy money to thyself, to perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish along with you, because you thought to obtain the gift of God with money.
21 Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter. For thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right with God.
22 Do penance therefore for this thy wickedness; and pray to God, that perhaps this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, so that he might perhaps forgive you for the intention of your heart.
23 For I see thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity.
For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bonds of sin.”
24 Then Simon answering, said: Pray you for me to the Lord, that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me.
Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25 And they indeed having testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many countries of the Samaritans.
When they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise, go towards the south, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem into Gaza: this is desert.
Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip and said, “Arise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This road is in a desert.)
27 And rising up, he went. And behold a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch, of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge over all her treasures, had come to Jerusalem to adore.
He arose and went. Behold, there was a man from Cush, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Cushites. He was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship.
28 And he was returning, sitting in this chariot, and reading Isaias the prophet.
He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and stay close to this chariot.”
30 And Philip running thither, heard him reading the prophet Isaias. And he said: Thinkest thou that thou understandest what thou readest?
So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 Who said: And how can I, unless some man shew me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
The Cushite said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” He begged Philip to come up into the chariot and sit with him.
32 And the place of the scripture which he was reading was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb without voice before his shearer, so openeth he not his mouth.
Now the passage of the scripture which the Ethiopian was reading was this, “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
33 In humility his judgment was taken away. His generation who shall declare, for his life shall be taken from the earth?
In his humiliation justice was taken away from him. Who can fully describe his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch answering Philip, said: I beseech thee, of whom doth the prophet speak this? of himself, or of some other man?
So the eunuch asked Philip, and said, “I beg you, who is the prophet speaking about, himself, or someone else?”
35 Then Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached unto him Jesus.
Philip began to speak, and beginning with this scripture he proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him.
36 And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water; and the eunuch said: See, here is water: what doth hinder me from being baptized?
As they went on the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water here. What prevents me from being baptized?”
37 And Philip said: If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answering, said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch: and he baptized him.
So the Ethiopian commanded the chariot to stop. They went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and Philip baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more. And he went on his way rejoicing.
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found in Azotus; and passing through, he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
But Philip appeared at Azotus and he went through that region, proclaiming the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
