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.
And Saul fully approved of his murder. At this time a great persecution broke out against the Church in Jerusalem, and all except the Apostles were scattered throughout Judaea and Samaria.
2 And devout men took order for Stephen’s funeral, and made great mourning over him.
A party of devout men, however, buried Stephen, and made loud 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 cruelly harassed the Church. He went into house after house, and, dragging off both men and women, threw them into prison.
4 They therefore that were dispersed, went about preaching the word of God.
Those, however, who were scattered abroad went from place to place spreading the Good News of God's Message;
5 And Philip going down to the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them.
while Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ there.
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.
Crowds of people, with one accord, gave attention to what they heard from him, listening, and witnessing the signs which he did.
7 For many of them who had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out.
For, with a loud cry, foul spirits came out of many possessed by them, and many paralytics and lame persons were restored to health.
8 And many, taken with the palsy, and that were lame, were healed.
And there was great 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:
Now for some time past there had been a man named Simon living there, who had been practising magic and astonishing the Samaritans, pretending that he was more than human.
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.
To him people of all classes paid attention, declaring, "This man is the Power of God, known as the great Power."
11 And they were attentive to him, because, for a long time, he had bewitched them with his magical practices.
His influence over them arose from their having been, for a long time, bewildered by 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 Philip began to tell the Good News about the Kingdom of God and about the Name of Jesus Christ, and they embraced the faith, they were baptized, men and women alike.
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.
Simon himself also believed, and after being baptized remained in close attendance on Philip, and was full of amazement at seeing such signs and such great miracles performed.
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.
When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John to visit them.
15 Who, when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.
They, when they came down, 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 He had not as yet fallen 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 the Apostles placed their hands upon 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,
When, however, Simon saw that it was through the laying on of the Apostles' hands that the Spirit was bestowed, 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:
"Give me too," he said, "that power, so that every one on whom I place my hands will 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.
"Perish your money and yourself," replied Peter, "because you have imagined that you can obtain God's free gift with money!
21 Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter. For thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
No part or lot have you in this matter, for your heart is not right in God's sight.
22 Do penance therefore for this thy wickedness; and pray to God, that perhaps this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.
Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, in the hope that the purpose which is in your heart may perhaps be forgiven you.
23 For I see thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity.
For I perceive that you have fallen into the bitterest bondage of unrighteousness."
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.
"Pray, both of you, to the Lord for me," answered Simon, "that nothing of what you have said may come upon 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.
So the Apostles, after giving a solemn charge and delivering the Lord's Message, travelled back to Jerusalem, making known the Good News also in many of the Samaritan villages.
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.
And an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and proceed south to the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza, crossing the 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.
Upon this he rose and went. Now, as it happened, an Ethiopian eunuch who was in a position of high authority with Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, as her treasurer, had visited Jerusalem to worship there,
28 And he was returning, sitting in this chariot, and reading Isaias the prophet.
and was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the Prophet Isaiah.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go and enter that 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 up and heard the eunuch reading the Prophet Isaiah. "Do you understand what you are reading?" he asked.
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.
"Why, how can I," replied the eunuch, "unless some one explains it to me?" And he earnestly invited Philip to come up 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.
The passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "Like a sheep He was led to slaughter, and just as a lamb before its shearer is dumb so He opened not 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 denied Him. Who will make known His posterity? For He is destroyed from among men."
34 And the eunuch answering Philip, said: I beseech thee, of whom doth the prophet speak this? of himself, or of some other man?
"Pray, of whom is the Prophet speaking?" inquired the eunuch; "of himself or of some one else?"
35 Then Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached unto him Jesus.
Then Philip began to speak, and, commencing with that same portion of Scripture, told him the Good News about Jesus.
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?
So they proceeded on their way till they came to some water; and the eunuch exclaimed, "See, here is water; what is there to prevent my 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 he stopped the chariot; and both of them--Philip and the eunuch--went down into the water, 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.
But no sooner had they come up out of the water than the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again. With a glad heart he resumed his journey;
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 found himself at Ashdod. Then visiting town after town he everywhere made known the Good News until he reached Caesarea.
