Acts 8
1 Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the church 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 there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
2 Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.
God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
3 But Saul ravaged the church, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around proclaiming the word.
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
5 And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.
Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
6 The crowds listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did.
The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.
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.
With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 There was great joy in that city.
So 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,
Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,
10 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is that power of God which is called Great."
and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.”
11 They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of 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 himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.
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 in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had 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;
On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
16 for he had not yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
19 saying, "Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit."
“Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands 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 replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask the Lord if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."
For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
24 Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me."
Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to 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 after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.
26 But 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."
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
27 And he arose and went. And look, there was a man from Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Kandake, the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge over all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship,
So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
28 and he was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go and join up with that chariot."
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
30 And running near, Philip heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he does not open his mouth.
The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
33 In his humiliation his justice was taken away. Who will declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth."
In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”
34 The eunuch answered Philip, "Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?"
“Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
35 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.
Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?"
As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”
37 And he said to him, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ 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 gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized 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.
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but 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 appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
