Acts 8
1 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.
And, Saul, was taking pleasure with them in his death. Moreover there arose, in that day, a great persecution against the assembly which was in Jerusalem; [and], all, were scattered abroad throughout the countries of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 A party of devout men, however, buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
Howbeit reverent men assisted at the burial of Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.
3 But Saul cruelly harassed the Church. He went into house after house, and, dragging off both men and women, threw them into prison.
But, Saul, went on to lay waste the assembly, along the houses, going in, and, dragging off both men and women, was
4 Those, however, who were scattered abroad went from place to place spreading the Good News of God's Message;
They, indeed, therefore, who were scattered abroad, passed through, telling the good-news of the word;
5 while Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ there.
And, Philip, going down unto the city of Samaria, proclaimed unto them the Christ.
6 Crowds of people, with one accord, gave attention to what they heard from him, listening, and witnessing the signs which he did.
And the multitudes began to give heed unto the things that were being spoken by Philip, with one accord, when they heard him, and saw the signs which he was working.
7 For, with a loud cry, foul spirits came out of many possessed by them, and many paralytics and lame persons were restored to health.
For, from many who had impure spirits, shouting with a loud voice, they were going out, and, many that were paralysed and lame, were cured.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
And there came to be great joy in that city.
9 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.
But, a certain man named Simon, was already in the city, practising magical arts, and astonishing the nation of Samaria, —saying that himself was someone great:
10 To him people of all classes paid attention, declaring, "This man is the Power of God, known as the great Power."
Unto whom all were giving heed, from small even to great, saying—This, is the Power of God, which is called Great.
11 His influence over them arose from their having been, for a long time, bewildered by his sorceries.
And they were giving heed to him, because that, for a considerable time, with his magical arts, he had astonished them.
12 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.
But, when they believed Philip telling the good news concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they proceeded to be immersed, both men and women.
13 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.
And, Simon himself also, believed; and, having been immersed, was in constant attendance on Philip, —and, beholding signs and great works of power coming to pass, was astonished.
14 When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John to visit them.
And the Apostles who were in Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria had welcomed the word of God, sent out unto them Peter and John;
15 They, when they came down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
Who, indeed, going down, prayed for them, that they might receive Holy Spirit; —
16 for He had not as yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
For, not yet, had it, upon any one of them, fallen, but, only, to begin with, they had been immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then the Apostles placed their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Then, proceeded they to lay their hands upon them, and they were receiving Holy Spirit.
18 When, however, Simon saw that it was through the laying on of the Apostles' hands that the Spirit was bestowed, he offered them money.
But Simon, seeing that, through means of the laying on of the hands of the Apostles, the Spirit was being given, offered unto them money,
19 "Give me too," he said, "that power, so that every one on whom I place my hands will receive the Holy Spirit."
Saying—Give unto me also this authority, —in order that, on whomsoever may lay my hands, he may receive Holy Spirit.
20 "Perish your money and yourself," replied Peter, "because you have imagined that you can obtain God's free gift with money!
And Peter said unto him—Thy silver, with thee, go to destruction! Because, the free-gift of God, thou didst suppose could, with money, be obtained!
21 No part or lot have you in this matter, for your heart is not right in God's sight.
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter; for, thy heart, is not upright before God.
22 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.
Repent, therefore, from this thy baseness, and entreat of the Lord—whether, after all, the purpose of thy heart shall be forgiven thee;
23 For I perceive that you have fallen into the bitterest bondage of unrighteousness."
For see that thou servest as a gall-root of bitterness, and a bond of unrighteousness.
24 "Pray, both of you, to the Lord for me," answered Simon, "that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
And Simon, answering, said—Entreat ye, in my behalf, unto the Lord; that, nothing, may come upon me, of the things whereof ye have spoken!
25 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.
They, therefore, having fully borne witness, and spoken the word of the Lord, began their return unto Jerusalem, and, unto many villages of the Samaritans, were they telling the glad tidings.
26 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."
And, a messenger of the Lord, spake unto Philip, saying—Arise, and be journeying along southward, unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, —the same, is desert.
27 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,
And, arising, he journeyed. And lo! a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, one in power under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure [who] had come to worship in Jerusalem;
28 and was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the Prophet Isaiah.
And was returning, and, sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go and enter that chariot."
And the Spirit said unto Philip—Go near, and join thyself unto this chariot!
30 So Philip ran up and heard the eunuch reading the Prophet Isaiah. "Do you understand what you are reading?" he asked.
And, running near, Philip heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said—Dost thou, then, understand what thou art reading?
31 "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.
And, he, said—How indeed should be able—unless someone shall guide me? And he called upon Philip, to come up and sit with him.
32 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.
Now, the passage of Scripture which he was reading, was, this: —As a sheep, unto slaughter, was he led, and, as a lamb, before him that sheareth it, is dumb, so, he openeth not his mouth.
33 In His humiliation justice was denied Him. Who will make known His posterity? For He is destroyed from among men."
In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away, —his generation, who shall describe? because, his life, is taken away from the earth.
34 "Pray, of whom is the Prophet speaking?" inquired the eunuch; "of himself or of some one else?"
And the eunuch, making answer unto Philip, said—I pray thee! Of whom, is the prophet saying this? of himself, or, of some different person?
35 Then Philip began to speak, and, commencing with that same portion of Scripture, told him the Good News about Jesus.
And Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, told him the glad tidings of Jesus.
36 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?"
And, as they were journeying along the way, they came unto a certain water, —and the eunuch saith—Lo! water! What doth hinder my being immersed?
38 So he stopped the chariot; and both of them--Philip and the eunuch--went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down, both, into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, —and he immersed him.
39 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;
But, when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more; for he was going on his way rejoicing.
40 but Philip found himself at Ashdod. Then visiting town after town he everywhere made known the Good News until he reached Caesarea.
Now Philip was found at Azotus; and, passing through, he was telling the glad tidings unto all the cities, until he came unto Caesarea.
