Ma`asei (Acts) 8
8
1And Sha’ul was giving approval to his death. And on that day there was a great persecution against the assembly which was at Yerushalayim, and they were all scattered throughout the countries of Yehuḏah and Shomeron, except the emissaries.
2And dedicated men buried Stephanos, and made great lamentation over him.
3But Sha’ul was ravaging the assembly, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison.
4Then those who had been scattered went everywhere bringing the Good News: the Word!
5And going down to the city of Shomeron Philip proclaimed Messiah to them.
6And the crowds with one mind heeded what Philip said, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice, and many who were paralysed and lame were healed.
8And there came to be great joy in that city.
9Now there was a certain man called Shim‛on, who formerly was practising magic in the city and astonishing the people of Shomeron, claiming to be someone great,
10to whom they all were giving heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This one is the power of Elohim, which is great.”
11And they were giving heed to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.
12And when they believed Philip as he brought the Good News about the reign of Elohim and the Name of יהושע Messiah, both men and women were immersed.
13And Shim‛on himself also believed. And when he was immersed he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which took place.
14And when the emissaries who were at Yerushalayim heard that Shomeron had received the Word of Elohim, they sent Kĕpha and Yoḥanan to them,
15who, when they had come down, prayed for them to receive the Set-apart Spirit,
16for He had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been immersed in the Name of the Master יהושע.
17Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Set-apart Spirit.
18And Shim‛on, seeing that through the laying on of the hands of the emissaries the Set-apart Spirit was given, he offered them money,
19saying, “Give me this authority too, so that anyone I lay hands on shall receive the Set-apart Spirit.”
20But Kĕpha said to him, “Let your silver perish with you, because you thought to buy the gift of Elohim through money!
21“You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before Elohim.
22“Repent therefore of this evil of yours, and plead with Elohim to forgive you the intention of your heart.
23“For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by unrighteousness.
24But Shim‛on answering, said, “Plead with the Master for me, so that none of what you had said shall come upon me.”
25Then after they had earnestly witnessed and spoken the Word of יהוה, they returned to Yerushalayim, bringing the Good News in many villages of the Shomeronim.
26But a messenger of יהוה spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the way which goes down from Yerushalayim to Azzah.” This is desert.
27And he arose and went, and saw, a man of Kush, a eunuch of great authority under Kandake the sovereigness of the Kushites, who was in charge of all her treasury, and had come to Yerushalayim to worship,
28and was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Yeshayahu.
29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and join him in that chariot.”
30And running up, Philip heard him reading the prophet Yeshayahu, and said, “Do you know what you are reading?”
31And he said, “How am I able, unless someone guides me?” And he called Philip near, to come up and sit with him.
32And the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so He opened not His mouth.
33“In His humiliation He was deprived of right-ruling. And who shall declare His generation? Because His life was taken from the earth.”# Isa. 53:7, 8
34And the eunuch, answering Philip, said, “I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about some other?”
35And Philip opening his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, brought to him the Good News: יהושע!
36And as they were going on the way, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “Look, water! What hinders me from being immersed?”
37And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, it is permitted.” And he answering, said, “I believe the Son of Elohim#See Mat. 16:16 - Some manuscripts omit verse 8:37 to be יהושע the Messiah.”
38And he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he immersed him.
39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of יהוה caught Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went his way, rejoicing.
40Philip, however, was found at Ashdoḏ. And passing through, he brought the Good News in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
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Ma`asei (Acts) 8: TS2009
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Acts 8
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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