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.
At that time a major persecution arose against the church that was in Jerusalem, so all, except the Apostles, were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.
2 Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.
(Devout men had buried Stephen and made a great lamentation over him.)
3 But Saul ravaged the church, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.
As for Saul, he was trying to destroy the Church; invading house after house and dragging away both men and women, he was putting them in prison.
4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around proclaiming the word.
So on their part those who were scattered abroad went about preaching the Word.
5 And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.
Now Philip, having gone down to a city of Samaria, was proclaiming the Christ to them;
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 the crowds gave heed with one accord to what Philip was saying, as they heard the words and saw the signs that he kept performing.
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.
Because unclean spirits came out screaming from many who had them, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 There was great joy in that city.
Yes, 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 a certain man named Simon was in the city first, practicing sorcery and astounding the people of Samaria, affirming himself to be someone great,
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 used to pay attention, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”
11 They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
They listened to him because he had amazed them with his sorceries for a long time.
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 believed Philip, as he proclaimed the good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name, Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
Even Simon himself believed, and having been baptized he stayed right with Philip; observing miracles and signs occurring, he was amazed.
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 in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
who upon coming down prayed about them, so that they might receive 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.
because He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the name of Jesus, the Christ.
17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Then they laid their hands upon them and they received Holy Spirit.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
Well, upon observing that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the Apostles' hands, Simon offered them money
19 saying, "Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit."
saying, “Give this power to me also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive 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 to him: “May your silver go with you into perdition, for thinking that the gift of God could be acquired with money!
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
You have neither part nor portion in this matter, 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.
Turn away therefore from this your wickedness and make petition to God, in case the intent of your heart may be forgiven you;
23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."
for I see you being into a gall of bitterness and a fetter of unrighteousness.”
24 Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me."
So in answer Simon said, “You make petition to the Lord on my behalf, so that nothing of what you have spoken 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 when they had both thoroughly testified and spoken the Word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem; they also evangelized many 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."
Then an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza; it is desolate.”
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,
So he got up and went; and there, a man, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court-official of Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury, who had come worshiping to Jerusalem
28 and he was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
—he was returning, sitting in his chariot and reading aloud the prophet Isaiah.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go and join up with that chariot."
And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go forward and join this chariot.”
30 And running near, Philip heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
So running up Philip heard him reading the prophet Isaiah and said, “Do you really understand what you are reading?”
31 He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
So he said, “Well how can I, unless someone guides me?” And he urged 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.
Now the portion of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He does not open 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 His justice was removed, and who will recount His generation? Because His life is removed from the earth.”
34 The eunuch answered Philip, "Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?"
So continuing the eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”
35 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.
So opening his mouth and beginning from this Scripture, Philip preached Jesus to him.
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?"
Now as they were going down the road they came upon some water, and the eunuch said: “Look, water! What is keeping me from 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 ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he 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.
Now when they came up out of the water, Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any more, because he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.
Philip was found at Azotus, and as he passed through he evangelized all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
