Acts 8
1 Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the church which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for 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 Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.
A party of devout men, however, buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
3 But Saul ravaged the church, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off 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 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around proclaiming the word.
Those, however, who were scattered abroad went from place to place spreading the Good News of God's Message;
5 And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.
while Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ there.
6 The crowds listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs 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 unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.
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 There was great joy in that city.
And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be 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 listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is that 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 They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
His influence over them arose from their having been, for a long time, bewildered by his sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news concerning the kingdom of God and 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 Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
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 at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
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 had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
They, when they came down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
16 for he had not yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been 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 on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Then the Apostles placed their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, 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 whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit."
"Give me too," he said, "that power, so that every one on whom I place my hands will receive the Holy Spirit."
20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money.
"Perish your money and yourself," replied Peter, "because you have imagined that you can obtain God's free gift with money!
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
No part or lot have you in this matter, for your heart is not right in God's sight.
22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask the Lord if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
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 that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."
For I perceive that you have fallen into the bitterest bondage of unrighteousness."
24 Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me."
"Pray, both of you, to the Lord for me," answered Simon, "that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
25 They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages 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 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a 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 he arose and went. And look, there was a man from Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Kandake, the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge over all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship,
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. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
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 and join up with that chariot."
Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go and enter that chariot."
30 And running near, Philip heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
So Philip ran up and heard the eunuch reading the Prophet Isaiah. "Do you understand what you are reading?" he asked.
31 He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to 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 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he does not open 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 his humiliation his justice was taken away. Who will declare his generation? For his life is 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 The eunuch answered Philip, "Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?"
"Pray, of whom is the Prophet speaking?" inquired the eunuch; "of himself or of some one else?"
35 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.
Then Philip began to speak, and, commencing with that same portion of Scripture, told him the Good News about Jesus.
36 As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. What is keeping 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 he said to him, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
38 He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both 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 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any more, for 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 at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities, until 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.
