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.
Saul approved of his being put to death. On that very day a great persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and its members, with the exception of the apostles, were all scattered over the districts of Judea and Samaria.
2 Then certaine men fearing God, caried Steuen amongs them, to be buried, and made great lamentation for him.
Some religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for 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 began to devastate the church; he entered house after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw them into prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad, went to and from preaching the worde.
Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the good news.
5 Then came Philip into the citie of Samaria, and preached Christ vnto them.
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ.
6 And the people gaue heed vnto those things which Philippe spake, with one accorde, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
The people, one and all, listened attentively to what Philip told them, when they heard of, and saw, the miracles which he was working.
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 there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them; and many who were paralysed or lame were cured,
8 And there was great ioy in that citie.
so that there was great rejoicing throughout 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.
There was staying in the city a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic there and mystifying the Samaritan people, giving himself out to be some great being.
10 To whome they gaue heede from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that great power of God.
Everyone, high and low, paid attention to him. “This man,” they used to say, “must be that power of God which people call ‘The Great Power.’”
11 And they gaue heed vnto him, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
And they paid attention to him because they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts.
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.
However, when they came to believe Philip, as he told them the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were 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.
Even Simon believed, and after his baptism attached himself to Philip, and was in his turn mystified at seeing signs and great miracles constantly occurring.
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.
When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God’s message, they sent Peter and John to them;
15 Which whe they were come downe, prayed for them, that they might receiue the holy Ghost.
and they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans 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.)
(As yet the Spirit had not descended on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).
17 Then layd they their handes on them, and they receiued the holy Ghost.
Then Peter and John placed their hands on 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,
When Simon saw that it was through the placing of the apostles’ hands on them that the Spirit was given, he brought them a sum of money and said,
19 Saying, Giue mee also this power, that on whomsoeuer I lay the handes, he may receiue the holy Ghost.
‘Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands on anyone, 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.
‘A curse on you and on your silver,’ Peter exclaimed, ‘for thinking that God’s free gift can be bought with money!
21 Thou hast neither part nor fellowship in this businesse: for thine heart is not right in the sight of God.
You have no share or part in our message, for your heart is not right with 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.
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that, if possible, you may be forgiven for such a thought;
23 For I see that thou art in the gall of bitternes, and in the bonde of iniquitie.
for I see that you have fallen into the bitterness of envy and the fetters of sin.’
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.
‘Pray to the Lord for me, all of you,’ Simon answered, ‘so that none of the things you have spoken of 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.
Peter and John, having borne their testimony and delivered the Lord’s message, returned to Jerusalem, telling the good news, as they went, in many Samaritan villages.
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.
Meanwhile an angel of the Lord had said to Philip, ‘Set out on a journey southwards, along the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (It is now deserted).
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 Philip set out on a journey; and on his way he came on an official of high rank, in the service of Candace, Queen of the Abyssinians. He was her treasurer, and had been to Jerusalem to worship,
28 And as he returned sitting in his charet, he read Esaias the Prophet.
and was now on his way home, sitting in his carriage and reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 Then the Spirit said vnto Philip, Goe neere and ioyne thy selfe to yonder charet.
The Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go up to the carriage over there and keep close to it.’
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 he heard the Abyssinian reading the prophet Isaiah. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ he asked.
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.
‘How can I,’ the other answered, ‘unless someone will explain it to me?’ and he invited Philip to get up and sit by his side.
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.
The passage of scripture which he was reading was this – “Like a sheep, he was led away to slaughter, and as a lamb is dumb in the hands of its shearer, so he refrains from opening his lips.
33 In his humilitie his iudgement hath bene exalted: but who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
He was humiliated and justice was denied him. Who will tell the story of his generation? For his life is cut off from 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?
‘Now,’ said the Treasurer, addressing Philip, ‘tell me, of whom is the prophet speaking? Of himself, or of someone else?’
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached vnto him Iesus.
Then Philip began, and, taking this passage as his text, told him the good news about Jesus.
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?
Presently, as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the Treasurer exclaimed, ‘Look! Here is water; what is to prevent 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.
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.
So he ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water – both Philip and the Treasurer – 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.
But, when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the Treasurer saw no more of him; for he continued his journey with a joyful heart.
40 But Philippe was found at Azotus, and he walked to and from preaching in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.
But Philip was found at Ashdod, and, as he went on his way, he told the good news in all the towns through which he passed, until he came to Caesarea.
