Acts 8
1 And Saul gave approval to his death. Now at that time a violent attack was started against the church in Jerusalem; and all but the Apostles went away into all parts of Judaea and Samaria.
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.
2 And God-fearing men put Stephen's body in its last resting-place, making great weeping over him.
A party of devout men, however, buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
3 But Saul was burning with hate against the church, going into every house and taking men and women and putting them in prison.
But Saul cruelly harassed the Church. He went into house after house, and, dragging off both men and women, threw them into prison.
4 But those who had gone in flight went everywhere preaching the word.
Those, however, who were scattered abroad went from place to place spreading the Good News of God's Message;
5 And Philip went down to Samaria and was teaching them about Christ.
while Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ there.
6 And all the people gave attention to the words which Philip said, when they saw the signs which he did.
Crowds of people, with one accord, gave attention to what they heard from him, listening, and witnessing the signs which he did.
7 For unclean spirits came out from those who had them, crying with a loud voice; and a number of those who were ill and broken in body were made well.
For, with a loud cry, foul spirits came out of many possessed by them, and many paralytics and lame persons were restored to health.
8 And there was much joy in that town.
And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man named Simon, who in the past had been a wonder-worker and a cause of surprise to the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was a great man:
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.
10 To whom they all gave attention, from the smallest to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is named Great.
To him people of all classes paid attention, declaring, "This man is the Power of God, known as the great Power."
11 And they gave attention to him, because for a long time his wonder-working powers had kept them under his control.
His influence over them arose from their having been, for a long time, bewildered by his sorceries.
12 But when they had faith in the good news given by Philip about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, a number of men and women had baptism.
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.
13 And Simon himself had faith and, having had baptism, he went with Philip and, seeing the signs and the great wonders which he did, he was full of surprise.
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.
14 Now when the Apostles at Jerusalem had news that the people of Samaria had taken the word of God into their hearts, they sent to them Peter and John;
When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John to visit them.
15 Who, when they came there, made prayer for them, that the Holy Spirit might be given to them:
They, when they came down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
16 For up to that time he had not come on any of them; only baptism had been given to them in the name of the Lord Jesus.
for He had not as yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they put their hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them.
Then the Apostles placed their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the touch of the Apostles' hands, he made them an offering of money, saying,
When, however, Simon saw that it was through the laying on of the Apostles' hands that the Spirit was bestowed, he offered them money.
19 Give me this power, so that when I put my hands on anyone he may get the Holy Spirit.
"Give me too," he said, "that power, so that every one on whom I place my hands will receive the Holy Spirit."
20 But Peter said, May your money come to destruction with you, because you had the idea that what is freely given by God may be got for a price.
"Perish your money and yourself," replied Peter, "because you have imagined that you can obtain God's free gift with money!
21 You have no part in this business, because your heart is not right before God.
No part or lot have you in this matter, for your heart is not right in God's sight.
22 Let your heart be changed, and make prayer to God that you may have forgiveness for your evil thoughts.
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.
23 For I see that you are prisoned in bitter envy and the chains of sin.
For I perceive that you have fallen into the bitterest bondage of unrighteousness."
24 And Simon, answering, said, Make prayer for me to the Lord, so that these things which you have said may not come on me.
"Pray, both of you, to the Lord for me," answered Simon, "that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
25 So they, having given their witness and made clear the word of the Lord, went back to Jerusalem, giving the good news on their way in a number of the small towns of Samaria.
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.
26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Get up, and go to the south, to the road which goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, through the waste land.
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."
27 And he went and there was a man of Ethiopia, a servant of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, and controller of all her property, who had come up to Jerusalem for worship;
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,
28 He was going back, seated in his carriage, and was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.
and was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the Prophet Isaiah.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and get on his carriage.
Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go and enter that chariot."
30 And Philip, running up to him, saw that he was reading Isaiah the prophet, and said to him, Is the sense of what you are reading clear to you?
So Philip ran up and heard the eunuch reading the Prophet Isaiah. "Do you understand what you are reading?" he asked.
31 And he said, How is that possible when I have no guide? And he made Philip get up by his side.
"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.
32 Now the place in the book where he was reading was this: He was taken, like a sheep, to be put to death; and as a lamb is quiet when its wool is being cut, so he made no sound:
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.
33 Being of low degree, his cause was not given a hearing: who has knowledge of his family? for his life is cut off from the earth.
In His humiliation justice was denied Him. Who will make known His posterity? For He is destroyed from among men."
34 And the Ethiopian said to Philip, About whom are these words said by the prophet? about himself, or some other?
"Pray, of whom is the Prophet speaking?" inquired the eunuch; "of himself or of some one else?"
35 So Philip, starting from this writing, gave him the good news about Jesus.
Then Philip began to speak, and, commencing with that same portion of Scripture, told him the Good News about Jesus.
36 And while they were going on their way, they came to some water, and the Ethiopian said, See, here is water; why may I not have baptism?
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?"
38 And he gave orders for the carriage to be stopped, and the two of them went down into the water, and Philip gave him baptism.
So he stopped the chariot; and both of them--Philip and the eunuch--went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away; and the Ethiopian saw him no more, for he went on his way full of joy.
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;
40 But Philip came to Azotus, and went through all the towns, preaching the good news, till he came to Caesarea.
but Philip found himself at Ashdod. Then visiting town after town he everywhere made known the Good News until he reached Caesarea.
