Acts 8
1 And Saul was consenting to his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and all were scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except 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 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation 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 house after house, and dragging both men and women, committed them 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 Now those that had been scattered abroad went through the country preaching the word.
But those who had gone in flight went everywhere preaching the word.
5 And Philip went down to a city of Samaria, and preached to them the Christ.
And Philip went down to Samaria and was teaching them about Christ.
6 And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to the things spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he wrought.
And all the people gave attention to the words which Philip said, when they saw the signs which he did.
7 For from many that had unclean spirits came they out crying with a loud voice; and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were cured.
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 And there was great joy in that city.
And there was much joy in that town.
9 But before their arrival a certain man, named Simon, was in the city, a man practising sorcery, and amazing the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was some great person;
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 gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the 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 And to him they gave heed, because they had for a long time been amazed by 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, publishing the glad tidings 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 And Simon himself also believed, and having been baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed when he beheld the miracles and signs which were wrought.
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 And the apostles at Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria had received the word of God, sent to them Peter and John;
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, having 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 it had not yet fallen upon any of them; but they had only been baptized into 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 But Simon, seeing that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, 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 on whomever I lay my hands, he 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, Thy money perish with thee! because thou didst think to 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 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter; for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
You have no part in this business, because your heart is not right before God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if haply the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.
Let your heart be changed, and make prayer to God that you may have forgiveness for your evil thoughts.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
For I see that you are prisoned in bitter envy and the chains of sin.
24 And Simon answering said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of the things which ye have spoken may come upon 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 then, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, were returning to Jerusalem, and publishing the glad tidings in 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 towards the south, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert way.
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 lo! a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, a high officer of Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and 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 was returning and sitting in his chariot; and 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 near and join thyself to this chariot.
And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and get on his carriage.
30 And Philip ran up, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Well, but dost thou understand what thou art 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 And he said, How can I, unless some one shall guide me? And 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 And the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so he openeth not 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 judgment was refused him; and who shall describe his generation? for his life is taken away 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 And the eunuch answering said, I pray thee, of whom doth the prophet say this? Of himself, or of some other man?
And the Ethiopian said to Philip, About whom are these words said by the prophet? about himself, or some other?
35 And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture declared to him the glad tidings concerning Jesus.
So Philip, starting from this writing, gave him the good news about Jesus.
36 And as they went along the road, they came to a certain water; and the eunuch saith, See, here is water; what is there to hinder my 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?
38 And he commanded that the chariot should stop; 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 But when they had come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no 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; and passing through, he published the glad tidings in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
But Philip came to Azotus, and went through all the towns, preaching the good news, till he came to Caesarea.
