Acts of Emissaries of Yeshua (Act) 8

1and Sha’ul gave his approval to his murder.

Starting with that day, there arose intense persecution against the Messianic Community in Yerushalayim; all but the emissaries were scattered throughout the regions of Y’hudah and Shomron. 2Some godly men buried Stephen and mourned him deeply. 3But Sha’ul set out to destroy the Messianic Community — entering house after house, he dragged off both men and women and handed them over to be put in prison. 4However, those who were scattered announced the Good News of the Word wherever they went.

5Now Philip went down to a city in Shomron and was proclaiming the Messiah to them; 6and the crowds were paying close attention to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the miraculous signs he was doing. 7For many people were having unclean spirits driven out of them, shrieking; also many paralytics and crippled persons were being healed; 8so that there was great joy in that city.

9But there was a man named Shim‘on in the city who for some time had been practicing magic and astonishing the nation of Shomron, claiming to be somebody great. 10Everyone gave heed to him, from the lowest to the highest, saying, “This man is the power of God called ‘The Great Power’.” 11They followed him because for a considerable time he had amazed them with his magic.

12But when they came to believe Philip, as he announced the Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Yeshua the Messiah, they were immersed, both men and women. 13Moreover, Shim‘on himself came to believe; and after being immersed, he attached himself closely to Philip; and he was amazed as he saw the miraculous signs and great works of power that kept taking place.

14When the emissaries in Yerushalayim heard that Shomron had received the Word of God, they sent them Kefa and Yochanan, 15who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Ruach HaKodesh. 16For until then he had not come upon any of them; they had only been immersed into the name of the Lord Yeshua. 17Then, as Kefa and Yochanan placed their hands on them, they received the Ruach HaKodesh.

18Shim‘on saw that the Spirit was given when the emissaries placed their hands on them, and he offered them money. 19“Give this power to me, too,” he said, “so that whoever I place my hands on will receive the Ruach HaKodesh.” 20But Kefa said to him, “Your silver go to ruin — and you with it, for thinking the free gift of God can be bought! 21You have no part at all in this matter; because in the eyes of God, your heart is crooked. 22So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps you will yet be forgiven for holding such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are extremely bitter and completely under the control of sin!” 24Shim‘on answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that none of the things you have spoken about will happen to me.”

25Then, after giving a thorough witness and speaking the Word of the Lord, Kefa and Yochanan started back to Yerushalayim, announcing the Good News to many villages in Shomron.

26An angel of Adonai said to Philip, “Get up, and go southward on the road that goes down from Yerushalayim to ‘Azah, the desert road.” 27So he got up and went. On his way, he caught sight of an Ethiopian, a eunuch who was minister in charge of all the treasure of the Kandake, or queen, of Ethiopia. He had been to Yerushalayim to worship; 28and now, as he was returning home, he was sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet Yesha‘yahu. 29The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot, and stay close to it.” 30As Philip ran up, he heard the Ethiopian reading from Yesha‘yahu the prophet. “Do you understand what you’re reading?” he asked. 31“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” And he invited Philip to climb up and sit with him.

32Now the portion of the Tanakh that he was reading was this:

“He was like a sheep led to be slaughtered;

like a lamb silent before the shearer, he does not open his mouth.

33He was humiliated and denied justice.

Who will tell about his descendants,

since his life has been taken from the earth?”

34The eunuch said to Philip, “Here’s my question to you — is the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” 35Then Philip started to speak — beginning with that passage, he went on to tell him the Good News about Yeshua.

36As they were going down the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Here’s some water! Is there any reason why I shouldn’t be immersed?” 37 38He ordered the chariot to stop; then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip immersed him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch saw no more of him, because he continued on his way — full of joy. 40But Philip showed up at Ashdod and continued proclaiming the Good News as he went through all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

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Acts of Emissaries of Yeshua (Act) 8: CJB

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Acts 8

1And Saul had agreed with the Sanhedrin that Stephen should die.

The Church Is Treated Badly and Scattered

On that day the church in Jerusalem began to be attacked and treated badly. All except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly Jews buried Stephen. They mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. He went from house to house. He dragged away men and women and put them in prison.

Philip Goes to Samaria

4The believers who had been scattered preached the word everywhere they went. 5Philip went down to a city in Samaria. There he preached about the Messiah. 6The crowds listened to Philip and saw the signs he did. All of them paid close attention to what he said. 7Evil spirits screamed and came out of many people. Many people who were disabled or who couldn’t walk were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Evil Magician

9A man named Simon lived in the city. For quite a while he had practiced evil magic there. He amazed all the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great. 10And all the people listened to him, from the least important of them to the most important. They exclaimed, “It is right to call this man the Great Power of God!” 11He had amazed them for a long time with his evil magic. So they followed him. 12But Philip announced the good news of God’s kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ. So men and women believed and were baptized. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip everywhere. He was amazed by the great signs and miracles he saw.

14The apostles in Jerusalem heard that people in Samaria had accepted God’s word. So they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15When they arrived there, they prayed for the new believers. They prayed that they would receive the Holy Spirit. 16The Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them. And they received the Holy Spirit.

18Simon watched as the apostles placed their hands on them. He saw that the Spirit was given to them. So he offered money to Peter and John. 19He said, “Give me this power too. Then everyone I place my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit.”

20Peter answered, “May your money be destroyed with you! Do you think you can buy God’s gift with money? 21You have no part or share in this holy work. Your heart is not right with God. 22Turn away from this evil sin of yours. Pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23I see that you are very bitter. You are a prisoner of sin.”

24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me. Pray that nothing you have said will happen to me.”

25Peter and John continued to preach the word of the Lord and tell people about Jesus. Then they returned to Jerusalem. On the way they preached the good news in many villages in Samaria.

Philip and the Man From Ethiopia

26An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip. “Go south to the desert road,” he said. “It’s the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27So Philip started out. On his way he met an Ethiopian official. The man had an important position in charge of all the wealth of the Kandake. Kandake means queen of Ethiopia. This official had gone to Jerusalem to worship. 28On his way home he was sitting in his chariot. He was reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29The Holy Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot. Stay near it.”

30So Philip ran up to the chariot. He heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you’re reading?” Philip asked.

31“How can I?” he said. “I need someone to explain it to me.” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32Here is the part of Scripture the official was reading. It says,

“He was led like a sheep to be killed.

Just as lambs are silent while their wool is being cut off,

he did not open his mouth.

33When he was treated badly, he was refused a fair trial.

Who can say anything about his children?

His life was cut off from the earth.” (Isaiah 53:7,8)

34The official said to Philip, “Tell me, please. Who is the prophet talking about? Himself, or someone else?” 35Then Philip began with that same part of Scripture. He told him the good news about Jesus.

36-37As they traveled along the road, they came to some water. The official said, “Look! Here is water! What can stop me from being baptized?” 38He gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the official went down into the water. Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away. The official did not see him again. He went on his way full of joy. 40Philip was seen next at Azotus. From there he traveled all around. He preached the good news in all the towns. Finally he arrived in Caesarea.

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