Acts 8
8
Saul Persecutes the Church
1Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.
And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. 3But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
Philip in Samaria
4Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. 5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. 6The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. 7For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8So there was much rejoicing in that city.
9Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; 10and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” 11And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. 12But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. 13Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
14Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. 18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” 24But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
An Ethiopian Receives Christ
25So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
26But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) 27So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” 30Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
“He was led as a sheep to slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He does not open His mouth.
33In humiliation His judgment was taken away;
Who will relate His generation?
For His life is removed from the earth.”
34The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37[#Early mss do not contain this vAnd Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
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Acts 8: NASB1995
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Acts 8
8
1#Ac 7:58; 5:33And Saul was consenting to his death.
Saul Persecutes the Church
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2Devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. 3#1Co 15:9; Gal 1:13But Saul ravaged the church, entering house by house and dragging out both men and women and committing them to prison.
The Gospel Preached in Samaria
4#Ac 8:1Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5#Ac 6:5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miracles which he did, they listened in unity to what he said. 7#Mk 16:17–18For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed. And many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8So there was much joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer Believes
9#Ac 5:36; 13:6Now a man named Simon was previously in the city practicing sorcery and astonishing the nation of Samaria, saying he was someone great, 10#Ac 14:11; 28:6to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11#Gal 3:1They listened to him, because for a long time he had astonished them by his sorceries. 12#Ac 1:3; 2:38But when they believed Philip preaching about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13#Ac 8:6–7; 19:11Even Simon himself believed. And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and was amazed as he watched the miracles and signs which were done.
Samaritans Receive the Holy Spirit
14#Ac 8:1Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15#Ac 2:38When they came down, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16#Mt 28:19; Ac 2:38; 19:2for still He had come on none of them. They were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17#Ac 6:6; 9:17Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18When Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20#Da 5:17; Ac 2:38Peter said to him, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could purchase the gift of God with money! 21You have neither part nor share in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22#Da 4:27Therefore repent of your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23#Heb 12:15For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
24#Ex 8:8; Nu 21:7Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me that nothing you have spoken may come upon me.”
25When they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
26#Ac 5:19; 27:23; 12:23Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise up and go toward the south on the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27#Ps 68:31; 87:4So he rose up and went. And there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in command of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship. 28He was returning, sitting in his chariot and reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29#Ac 10:19; 11:12The Spirit said to Philip, “Go to this chariot and stay with it.”
30Then Philip ran to him, and heard him read the book of Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31#Ro 10:14He said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32#Isa 53:7–8The passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
“He was led as a sheep to slaughter;
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so He opened not His mouth.
33#Isa 53:8; 53:12 In His humiliation justice was denied Him;
who will speak of His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”
34The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet speak, of himself or of someone else?” 35#Lk 24:27; Ac 18:28Then Philip spoke, beginning with the same Scripture, and preached Jesus to him.
36#Ac 10:47As they went on their way, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38And he commanded the chariot to halt. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39#1Ki 18:12; 2Ki 2:16When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. And the eunuch saw him no more, and he went his way rejoicing. 40#Ac 10:1; 21:8But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached the gospel in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
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