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 approving the killing of him. And on that day there developed a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him.
And devout men arranged to bury Stephen, and they made great lamentation over him.
3 But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.
But Saul was ravaging the church, entering from house to house. Dragging both men and women, he gave them over to prison.
4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.
Indeed therefore those who were scattered abroad passed through proclaiming the good news, the word.
5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
And Philip, who went down to a city of Samaria, proclaimed the Christ to them.
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 the multitudes unanimously heeded the things that were spoken by Philip during their listening and seeing the signs that he did.
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 of many of those who had unclean spirits, they came out, crying in a great voice. And many who were paralyzed, and who were lame, were healed.
8 There was great joy in that city.
And there became 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,
But a certain man in the city, Simon by name, was formerly practicing sorcery, and fascinating the nation of Samaria, saying himself to be some great man,
10 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.”
to whom they gave heed, from small to great, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
And they heeded him, because he fascinated them for a considerable time with the 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 believed Philip preaching good news, the things about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were immersed, 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 after being immersed, he was continuing with Philip. And seeing miracles and signs occurring, he was 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,
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria has received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
who, when they came down, prayed for them, so 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 it was not yet fallen upon any of them. They were only immersed in the name of the Christ Jesus.
17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Then they laid 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,
Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he brought money to them,
19 saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
saying, Give me also this power, so that on whomever I lay hands, 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!
But Peter said to him, Thy silver with thee, may it be for destruction, because thou thought to obtain the gift of God by money.
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
There is no part nor lot for thee in this matter, for thy heart is not straight in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
Repent therefore from this thine evil, and beg God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart will 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 are in the gall of bitterness and the bond of unrighteousness.
24 Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”
And having answered, Simon said, Beg ye to the Lord for me, so that none of which things ye have spoken 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.
Indeed therefore, having solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, and preached the good news 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 an agent of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desolate region.
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 after rising, he went. And behold a man, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a high official of Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.
28 He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
And he was returning, and sitting in his chariot, and reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”
And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and be joined to this chariot.
30 Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
And after running near, Philip heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. And he said, Do thou also really understand the things that thou read?
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, For how can I unless some man may guide me? And he encouraged Philip, after coming up, to 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 does not open his mouth.
Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: He was led as a sheep to slaughter, and as a lamb, mute before shearing him, thus he 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.”
In his lowly condition his justice was taken away. And who will describe his generation, because his life was taken from the earth?
34 The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”
And having answered, the eunuch said to Philip, I ask thee, about whom does the prophet say this, about himself, or about some other man?
35 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus.
And Philip having opened his mouth, and having begun from this scripture, he preached the good news to him-the man 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 went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch says, Look, water! What prevents me to be immersed?
[This verse in not in the majority of the Greek manuscripts.]
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 stand still. And they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he immersed him.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
And when they came up out of the water, Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more, for 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.
But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through all the cities he preached the good news until he came to Caesarea.
