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 gave approval to his death. Now at that time a violent attack was started against the church in Jerusalem; and all but the Apostles went away into all parts of Judaea and Samaria.
2 Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.
And God-fearing men put Stephen's body in its last resting-place, making great weeping over him.
3 But Saul ravaged the church, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.
But Saul was burning with hate against the church, going into every house and taking men and women and putting them in prison.
4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around proclaiming the word.
But those who had gone in flight went everywhere preaching the word.
5 And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.
And Philip went down to Samaria and was teaching them about Christ.
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.
And all the people gave attention to the words which Philip said, when they saw 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 unclean spirits came out from those who had them, crying with a loud voice; and a number of those who were ill and broken in body were made well.
8 There was great joy in that city.
And there was much joy in that town.
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,
But there was a certain man named Simon, who in the past had been a wonder-worker and a cause of surprise to the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was a great man:
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 whom they all gave attention, from the smallest to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is named Great.
11 They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
And they gave attention to him, because for a long time his wonder-working powers had kept them under his control.
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 they had faith in the good news given by Philip about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, a number of men and women had baptism.
13 Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
And Simon himself had faith and, having had baptism, he went with Philip and, seeing the signs and the great wonders which he did, he was full of surprise.
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,
Now when the Apostles at Jerusalem had news that the people of Samaria had taken the word of God into their hearts, they sent to them Peter and John;
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
Who, when they came there, made prayer for them, that the Holy Spirit might be given to them:
16 for he had not yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
For up to that time he had not come on any of them; only baptism had been given to them in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Then they put their hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the touch of the Apostles' hands, he made them an offering of money, saying,
19 saying, "Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit."
Give me this power, so that when I put my hands on anyone he may get 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.
But Peter said, May your money come to destruction with you, because you had the idea that what is freely given by God may be got for a price.
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
You have no part in this business, because your heart is not right before God.
22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask the Lord if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
Let your heart be changed, and make prayer to God that you may have forgiveness for your evil thoughts.
23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."
For I see that you are prisoned in bitter envy and the chains of sin.
24 Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me."
And Simon, answering, said, Make prayer for me to the Lord, so that these things which you have said may not come on 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 they, having given their witness and made clear the word of the Lord, went back to Jerusalem, giving the good news on their way in a number of the small towns of Samaria.
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."
But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Get up, and go to the south, to the road which goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, through the waste land.
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,
And he went and there was a man of Ethiopia, a servant of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, and controller of all her property, who had come up to Jerusalem for worship;
28 and he was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
He was going back, seated in his carriage, and was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go and join up with that chariot."
And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and get on his carriage.
30 And running near, Philip heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
And Philip, running up to him, saw that he was reading Isaiah the prophet, and said to him, Is the sense of what you are reading clear to you?
31 He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
And he said, How is that possible when I have no guide? And he made Philip get up by his side.
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.
Now the place in the book where he was reading was this: He was taken, like a sheep, to be put to death; and as a lamb is quiet when its wool is being cut, so he made no sound:
33 In his humiliation his justice was taken away. Who will declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth."
Being of low degree, his cause was not given a hearing: who has knowledge of his family? for his life is cut off from the earth.
34 The eunuch answered Philip, "Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?"
And the Ethiopian said to Philip, About whom are these words said by the prophet? about himself, or some other?
35 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.
So Philip, starting from this writing, gave 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?"
And while they were going on their way, they came to some water, and the Ethiopian said, See, here is water; why may I not have baptism?
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.
And he gave orders for the carriage to be stopped, and the two of them went down into the water, and Philip gave him baptism.
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.
And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away; and the Ethiopian saw him no more, for he went on his way full of joy.
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 came to Azotus, and went through all the towns, preaching the good news, till he came to Caesarea.
