Acts 8
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the Assembly which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and 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 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Some religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the Assembly, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to 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 every where preaching the word.
Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the Good News.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, 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 unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
For there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them;
8 And there was great joy in that city.
and many who were paralysed or lame were cured, so that there was great rejoicing throughout that city.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
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 whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
Every one, high and low, paid attention to him. ‘This man,’ they used to say, ‘must be that Power of God which men call “The Great Power.”’
11 And to him they had regard, 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 when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus 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 himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs 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 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God’s Message, they sent Peter and John to them;
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
and they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 ( For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
(As yet the Spirit had not descended upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the Faith of the Lord Jesus).
17 Then laid they their hands on 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 through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered 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, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
“Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands upon any one, he may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
“A curse upon you and upon your money,” Peter exclaimed, “for thinking that God’s free gift can be bought with gold!
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy 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 wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven 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 perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
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 have spoken come upon me.
“Pray to the Lord for me, all of you,” Simon answered, “so that none of the things you have spoken of may befall me.”
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages 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 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
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 he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
So Philip set out on a journey; and on his way he came upon 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 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the prophet.
and was now on his way home, sitting in his carriage and reading the Prophet Isaiah.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
The Spirit said to Philip: “Go up to the carriage yonder and keep close to it.”
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, Understandest 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 said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
“How can I,” the other answered, “unless some one will explain it to me?” and he invited Philip to get up and sit by his side.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb 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 humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
In his lowly condition justice was denied him. Who will tell the story of his generation? For his life is cut off from earth.’
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
“Now,” said the Treasurer, addressing Philip, “tell me, 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 unto him Jesus.
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 unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder 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 Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; 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 when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
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 Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.
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, till he came to Caesarea.
