Acts 8
1 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.
With these words he fell asleep. And Saul fully approved of his murder. On this very day there broke out a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostle were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
2 Then certaine men fearing God, caried Steuen amongs them, to be buried, and made great lamentation for him.
Devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentations over him.
3 But Saul made hauocke of the Church, and entred into euery house, and drewe out both men and women, and put them into prison.
But Saul was laying waste the church. He was wont to enter into every house, and to drag off men and women, and to commit them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad, went to and from preaching the worde.
So those who were scattered abroad were going everywhere preaching the word.
5 Then came Philip into the citie of Samaria, and preached Christ vnto them.
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and began to preach Christ there.
6 And the people gaue heed vnto those things which Philippe spake, with one accorde, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
The crowd with one accord were giving heed to what he said, when they heard and saw the signs that he did.
7 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.
For with a loud cry unclean spirits would come out of many possessed by them, and many that were palsied and lame were healed.
8 And there was great ioy in that citie.
There began to be great joy in that city.
9 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.
Now for some time a man named Simon had been practising sorcery in that city, and had amazed the people of Samaria. He gave himself out to be some great person.
10 To whome they gaue heede from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that great power of God.
Many from all classes would give heed to him, declaring, "This man is the Power of God, known as the Great Power."
11 And they gaue heed vnto him, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
They were giving heed to him because, for a long time, he had amazed them with his sorceries.
12 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.
But when they believed Philip, who was preaching glad tidings about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women.
13 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.
And Simon himself also believed, and after his baptism he remained with Philip, and was full of amazement as he beheld the signs and striking miracles which were performed.
14 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.
The apostle at Jerusalem, when they heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, sent to them Peter and John.
15 Which whe they were come downe, prayed for them, that they might receiue the holy Ghost.
Who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
16 (For as yet, hee was fallen downe on none of them, but they were baptized onely in the Name of the Lord Iesus.)
For he had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then layd they their handes on them, and they receiued the holy Ghost.
Then the apostles laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 And when Simon sawe, that through laying on of the Apostles hands the holy Ghost was giuen, he offred them money,
But when Simon perceived that, by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, the Spirit was given, he offered them money saying,
19 Saying, Giue mee also this power, that on whomsoeuer I lay the handes, he may receiue the holy Ghost.
"Give me, too, this power, so that on whomever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit."
20 Then saide Peter vnto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou thinkest that the gift of God may be obteined with money.
But Peter said to him. "Your money perish with you, because you have supposed that with money you can obtain God’s free gift!"
21 Thou hast neither part nor fellowship in this businesse: for thine heart is not right in the sight of God.
"You have no part or lot in this matter." Your heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickednes, and pray God, that if it be possible, the thought of thine heart may be forgiuen thee.
Repent then of this your wickedness, and beseech the Lord to forgive you this purpose of your heart.
23 For I see that thou art in the gall of bitternes, and in the bonde of iniquitie.
"For I perceive that you still stand in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of unrighteousness."
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye haue spoken, come vpon me.
And Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me, both of you, that nothing which you have said may happen to me."
25 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.
So the apostles, after bearing solemn witness, and declaring the message of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, evangelizing many Samaritan villages as they went.
26 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 an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go on your way south, along the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert way."
27 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:
So he arose and went. And behold an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, who was a high official (a chief treasurer) of Candace, the queen of Ethiopia, who had come to Jerusalem to worship
28 And as he returned sitting in his charet, he read Esaias the Prophet.
Was now on his way home, and was reading the Prophet Isaiah as he sat in his chariot.
29 Then the Spirit said vnto Philip, Goe neere and ioyne thy selfe to yonder charet.
And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join that chariot."
30 And Philip ranne thither, and heard him reade the Prophet Esaias, and said, But vnderstandest thou what thou readest?
So Philip ran up, and heard him reading Isaiah the Prophet, and said to him. "Do you understand what you are reading?"
31 And he saide, Howe can I, except I had a guide? And he desired Philip, that he would come vp and sit with him.
The eunuch answered, "Why, how can I unless someone shall show me the way?" And he begged Philip to get up and sit with him.
32 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.
Now the portion of Scripture which he was reading was as follows. He was led a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, So he opened not his mouth.
33 In his humilitie his iudgement hath bene exalted: but who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will declare his posterity? For his life is cut off from the earth.
34 Then the Eunuche answered Philippe, and saide, I pray thee of whome speaketh the Prophet this? of himselfe, or of some other man?
"Pray," asked the eunuch of Philip, "of whom is the prophet speaking? Of himself, or of some one else?"
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached vnto him Iesus.
Then Philip opened his lips, and beginning from that same scripture, he preached the gospel of Jesus to him.
36 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 as they were going on their way they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said. "See, here is water! What hinders my being baptized?"
37 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.
And Philip said, "If you believe with your whole heart, you may." The eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
38 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 he ordered the chariot to stop; and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39 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.
And when they had come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philippe was found at Azotus, and he walked to and from preaching in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.
Philip found himself at Ashdod. Then visiting town after town, he kept preaching the good news in all the cities until he reached Caesarea.
