Acts 8
1 Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly 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 was consenting and participating in his death. And there was, in that day, a great persecution against the church that was at Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed, except the legates, among the villages of Judaea and likewise among the Samaritans.
2 Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him.
And believing men gathered up and buried Stephen. And they lamented over him greatly.
3 But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.
And Saul persecuted the church of God, entering houses, and dragging forth men and women and committing them to prison.
4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.
And they who were dispersed, travelled about and preached the word of God.
5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
And Philip went down to a city of the Samaritans, and preached concerning the Messiah.
6 The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip when they heard and saw the signs which he did.
And when the people who were there heard his discourse, they gave ear to him, and acquiesced in all that he said; because they saw the signs which he wrought.
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 many who were possessed by unclean spirits, cried with a loud voice, and came out of them: and others, who were paralytic and lame, were healed.
8 There was great joy in that city.
And 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,
And there was a certain man there, whose name was Simon, who had resided in that city a long time, and who seduced the people of the Samaritans by his sorceries, magnifying himself, and saying, I am a great personage.
10 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.”
And they all inclined towards him, great and small; and they said, This is the mighty power of God.
11 They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
And they acquiesced in him, because for a long time he had astonished them by his sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
But when they gave credence to Philip, as he preached the kingdom of God, in the name of our Lord Jesus Messiah; 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.
And Simon himself also believed, and was baptized, and adhered to Philip. And when he saw the signs and mighty deeds which were wrought by his hand, he was surprised and astonished.
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,
And when the legates at Jerusalem, heard that the people of the Samaritans had received the word of God, they sent out to them Simon Cephas and John.
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
And they went down, and prayed over them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.
For he was not yet on any one of them; and they had only been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Then they laid the hand on them; and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
And when Simon saw that, by the imposition of a hand of the legates, the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
saying: Give me also this prerogative, that he on whom I impose a hand, may receive 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!
Simon Cephas said to him: Thy money go with thee to perdition! because thou hast supposed, that the gift of God may be purchased by a worldly substance.
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God.
Thou hast no part nor lot in this faith; because thy heart is not right before God.
22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
Nevertheless, repent of this thy wickedness, and entreat of God, if perhaps the guile of thy heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
For I perceive that thou art in the bitter gall and in the bonds of iniquity.
24 Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”
Simon answered and said: Intercede ye with God for me, that nothing of which ye have mentioned 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.
And Simon and John, when they had testified, and had taught them the word of God, returned to Jerusalem. And they had preached in many villages of the Samaritans.
26 Then 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.”
And the angel of the Lord spake with Philip, and said to him: Arise, go to the south, along the desert way that leadeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza.
27 He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.
And he arose and went. And there met him a eunuch, who had come from Cush, an officer of Candace, queen of the Cushites, who had charge of all her treasure; and he had come to worship at Jerusalem.
28 He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
And as he turned to go, he was sitting in his chariot, and was reading in Isaiah the prophet.
29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”
And the Holy Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to the chariot.
30 Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
And when he came near, he heard him reading in Isaiah the prophet; and he said to him: Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.
And he said: How can I understand, unless some one instruct me? And he requested of Philip, that he would come up and sit with him.
32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth.
And the section of scripture in which he was reading, was this: As a lamb to the slaughter he was led away, and as a sheep before the shearer is silent, so also he in his humility opened not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”
From prison and from judgment he was carried: and his generation, who will declare? for his life is taken away from the earth.
34 The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”
And the eunuch said to Philip: I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other person?
35 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus.
Then Philip opened his mouth and, from that scripture, began to preach to him concerning our Lord Jesus.
36 As they went on the way, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”
And as they proceeded on the way, they came to a certain place in which there was water. And the eunuch said: Lo, here is water; what doth forbid, that I should be baptized?
And Philip said: If thou believest with all thy heart, it is allowable. And he answered, and said: I believe that Jesus Messiah 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 commanded the chariot to stop; and they both went down to the water, and Philip baptized the eunuch.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
And when they came up from the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more; but 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.
And Philip was found at Azotus; and from there he travelled about, and preached in all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.
