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.
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 Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him.
Some religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for him.
3 But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.
But Saul began to devastate the Church; he entered house after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw them into prison.
4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.
Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the Good News.
5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ.
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.
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 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 there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them;
8 There was great joy in that city.
and many who were paralysed or lame were cured, so that there was great rejoicing throughout 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,
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 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.”
Every one, high and low, paid attention to him. ‘This man,’ they used to say, ‘must be that Power of God which men call “The Great Power.”’
11 They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
And they paid attention to him because they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts.
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.
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 Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
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 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God’s Message, they sent Peter and John to them;
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
and they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans 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.
(As yet the Spirit had not descended upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the Faith of the Lord Jesus).
17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Then Peter and John placed their hands 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,
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 saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
“Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands upon any one, he 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!
“A curse upon you and upon your money,” Peter exclaimed, “for thinking that God’s free gift can be bought with gold!
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God.
You have no share or part in our Message, for your ‘heart is not right with God.’
22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
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 see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
for I see that you have fallen into the ‘bitterness of envy’ and the ‘fetters of sin.’”
24 Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”
“Pray to the Lord for me, all of you,” Simon answered, “so that none of the things you have spoken of may befall 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.
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 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.”
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 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.
So Philip set out on a journey; and on his way he came upon 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 He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
and was now on his way home, sitting in his carriage and reading the Prophet Isaiah.
29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”
The Spirit said to Philip: “Go up to the carriage yonder and keep close to it.”
30 Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
So Philip ran up, and he heard the Abyssinian reading the Prophet Isaiah. “Do you understand what you are reading?” he asked.
31 He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.
“How can I,” the other answered, “unless some one will explain it to me?” and he invited Philip to get up and sit by his side.
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.
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 In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”
In his lowly condition justice was denied him. Who will tell the story of his generation? For his life is cut off from earth.’
34 The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”
“Now,” said the Treasurer, addressing Philip, “tell me, of whom is the Prophet speaking? Of himself, or of some one else?”
35 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus.
Then Philip began, and, taking this passage as his text, told him the Good News about 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?”
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?”
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 carriage to stop, and they went down into the water — both Philip and the Treasurer — and Philip baptized him.
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.
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 found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
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, till he came to Caesarea.
