Acts 8
1 Saul had pleasure in his deeth. And at yt tyme there was a great persecucion agaynst the congregacion which was at Ierusalem and they were all scattered abroade thorowout the regions of Iury 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 Then devout men dressed Steven aud made great lamentacion over him.
Some religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for him.
3 But Saul made havocke of the congregacion entrynge into every housse and drewe out bothe man and woman and thrust the into preson.
But Saul began to devastate the church; he entered house after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw them into prison.
4 They that were scattered abroade went every where preachyng the worde.
Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the good news.
5 Then came Philip into a cite of Samaria and preached Christ vnto them.
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ.
6 And the people gave hede vnto those thinges which Philip spake with one acorde in that they hearde and sawe the miracles which he dyd.
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 vnclene spretes cryinge with loude voyce came out of many that were possessed of them. And manye taken with palsies and many yt halted were healed
For there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them; and many who were paralyzed or lame were cured,
8 And ther was great ioye in that cite.
so that there was great rejoicing throughout that city.
9 And ther was a certayne man called Simon which before tyme in the same cite vsed witche crafte and bewitched the people of Samarie sayinge that he was a man yt coulde do greate thinges
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 Whom they regarded from ye lest to the greatest sayinge: this felow is the great power of God.
Everyone, high and low, paid attention to him. ‘This man,’ they used to say, ‘must be that power of God which people call “The Great Power.”’
11 And him they set moche by because of longe tyme with sorcery he had mocked the.
And they paid attention to him because they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts.
12 But assone as they beleved Philippes preachynge of the kyngdome of God and of the name of Iesu Christ they were baptised bothe men and wemen.
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 him selfe beleved also and was baptised and cotinued with Phillip and wondered beholdynge the miracles and signes which were shewed.
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 When ye Apostles which were at Ierusalem hearde saye that Samaria had receaved ye worde of God: they sent vnto the Peter and Iohn
When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God’s message, they sent Peter and John to them;
15 which when they were come prayed for the that they myght receave ye holy goost
and they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 For as yet he was come on none of them: But they were baptised only in the name of Christ Iesu.
(As yet the Spirit had not descended on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).
17 Then layde they their hondes on them and they receaved the holy goost.
Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simo sawe that thorowe layinge on of the Apostles hondes on them the holy goost was geven: he offered the 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 sayinge: Geve me also this power that on whom soever I put the hondes he maye receave the holy goost.
“Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands on anyone, he may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Then sayde Peter vnto him: thy monye perysh with the because thou wenest that the gifte of God maye be obteyned wt money.
“A curse on you and on your silver,” Peter exclaimed, “for thinking that God’s free gift can be bought with money!
21 Thou hast nether parte nor felloushippe in this busines. For thy hert is not ryght in the syght of God.
You have no share or part in our message, for your heart is not right with God.
22 Repent therfore of this thy wickednes and praye God that ye thought of thyne hert maye be forgeven the.
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 perceave that thou arte full of bitter gall and wrapped in iniquite.
for I see that you have fallen into the bitterness of envy and the fetters of sin.”
24 Then answered Simon and sayde: Praye ye to the lorde for me yt none of these thinges whiche ye have spoken fall on me.
“Pray to the Lord for me, all of you,” Simon answered, “so that none of the things you have spoken of may happen to me.”
25 And they whe they had testified and preached the worde of the lorde returned toward Ierusalem and preached the gospell in many cities of the Samaritas.
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 Then the angell of the lorde spake vnto Phillip sayinge: aryse and goo towardes mydde daye vnto ye waye yt goeth doune fro Ierusalem vnto Gaza which is in ye 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 wet on. And beholde a man of Ethiopia which was a chaberlayne and of grete auctorite wt Cadace quene of ye Ethiopias and had ye rule of all her treasure came to Ierusalem for to praye.
So Philip set out on a journey; and on his way he came on 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 And as he returned home agayne sittynge in his charet he rede Esay ye prophet
and was now on his way home, sitting in his carriage and reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 Then ye sprete sayde vnto Phillip: Goo neare and ioyne thy selfe to yonder charet.
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go up to the carriage over there and keep close to it.”
30 And Philip ranne to him and hearde him rede ye prophet Esayas and sayde: Vnderstondest thou what thou redest?
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 sayd: how can I except I had a gyde? And he desyred Philip that he wold come vp and sit wt him.
“How can I,” the other answered, “unless someone will explain it to me?” and he invited Philip to get up and sit by his side.
32 The tenoure of ye scripture which he redde was this. He was ledde as a shepe to be slayne: and lyke a lambe dome before his sherer 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 Because of his humblenes he was not estemed: who shall declare his generacio? for his lyfe is taken fro the erthe.
He was humiliated and justice was denied him. Who will tell the story of his generation? For his life is cut off from earth.’
34 The chamberlayne answered Philip and sayde: I praye the of whom speaketh the Prophet this? of him selfe or of some other man?
“Now,” said the Treasurer, addressing Philip, “tell me, of whom is the prophet speaking? Of himself, or of someone else?”
35 And Philip opened his mouth and beganne at ye same scripture and preached vnto him Iesus.
Then Philip began, and, taking this passage as his text, told him the good news about Jesus.
36 And as they went on their waye they came vnto a certayne water and the chamberlayne sayde: Se here is water what shall let me to be baptised?
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 Philip sayde vnto him: Yf thou beleve with all thyne hert thou mayst. He answered and sayde: I beleve that Iesus Christe is the sonne of God.
38 And he comaunded the charet to stonde still. And they went doune bothe into the water: bothe Philip and also the chamberlayne and he baptised 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 assone as they were come out of the water the sprete of the lorde caught awaye Philip yt the chamberlayne sawe him no moore. And he wet on his waye reioysinge:
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 founde at Azotus. And he walked thorow out ye countre preachynge in their cities tyll he came to Cesarea.
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, until he came to Caesarea.
