Acts 8
8
1-2Saul approved the stoning of Stephen. Some faithful followers of the Lord buried Stephen and mourned very much for him.
Saul Makes Trouble for the Church
At that time the church in Jerusalem suffered terribly. All of the Lord's followers, except the apostles, were scattered everywhere in Judea and Samaria. 3#Ac 22.4,5; 26.9-11. Saul started making a lot of trouble for the church. He went from house to house, arresting men and women and putting them in jail.
The Good News Is Preached in Samaria
4The Lord's followers who had been scattered went from place to place, telling the good news. 5Philip went to the city of Samaria and told the people about Christ. 6They crowded around Philip because they were eager to hear what he was saying and to see him work miracles. 7Many people with evil spirits were healed, and the spirits went out of them with a shout. A lot of paralyzed and lame people were also healed. 8Everyone in that city was very glad because of what was happening.
9For some time a man named Simon had lived there and had amazed the people of Samaria. He practiced witchcraft and claimed to be somebody great. 10Everyone, rich and poor, crowded around him. They said, “This man is the power of God called ‘The Great Power.’ ”
11For a long time, Simon had used witchcraft to amaze the people, and they kept crowding around him. 12But when they believed what Philip was saying about God's kingdom and about the name of Jesus Christ, they were all baptized. 13Even Simon believed and was baptized. He stayed close to Philip, because he marveled at all the miracles and wonders.
14The apostles in Jerusalem heard that some people in Samaria had accepted God's message, and they sent Peter and John. 15When the two apostles arrived, they prayed that these people would be given the Holy Spirit. 16Before this, the Holy Spirit had not been given to any of them, though some of them had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Peter and John then placed their hands on everyone who had faith in the Lord, and they were given the Holy Spirit.
18Simon noticed that the Spirit was given only when the apostles placed their hands on the people. So he brought money 19and said to Peter and John, “Let me have this power too! Then anyone I place my hands on will also be given the Holy Spirit.”
20Peter said to him, “You and your money will both end up in hell if you think you can buy God's gift! 21You don't have any part in this, and God sees that your heart isn't right. 22Get rid of these evil thoughts and ask God to forgive you. 23I can see that you are jealous and bound by your evil ways.”
24Simon said, “Please pray to the Lord, so that what you said won't happen to me.”
25After Peter and John had preached about the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem. On their way they told the good news in many villages of Samaria.
Philip and an Ethiopian Official
26The Lord's angel said to Philip, “Go south#8.26 Go south: Or “About noon go.” along the desert road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza.”#8.26 the desert road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza: Or “the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza in the desert.” 27So Philip left.
An important Ethiopian official happened to be going along that road in his chariot. He was the chief treasurer for Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia. The official had gone to Jerusalem to worship 28and was now on his way home. He was sitting in his chariot, reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.
29The Spirit told Philip to catch up with the chariot. 30Philip ran up close and heard the man reading aloud from the book of Isaiah. Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31The official answered, “How can I understand unless someone helps me?” He then invited Philip to come up and sit beside him.
32 # Is 53.7,8 (LXX). The man was reading the passage that said,
“He was led like a sheep
on its way to be killed.
He was silent as a lamb
whose wool
is being cut off,
and he did not say
a word.
33He was treated like a nobody
and did not receive
a fair trial.
How can he have children,
if his life
is snatched away?”
34The official said to Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or about someone else?” 35So Philip began at this place in the Scriptures and explained the good news about Jesus.
36-37As they were going along the road, they came to a place where there was some water. The official said, “Look! Here is some water. Why can't I be baptized?”#8.36,37 Why can't I be baptized: Some manuscripts add, “Philip replied, ‘You can, if you believe with all your heart.’ The official answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ ” 38He ordered the chariot to stop. Then they both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39After they had come out of the water, the Lord's Spirit took Philip away. The official never saw him again, but he was very happy as he went on his way.
40Philip later appeared in Azotus. He went from town to town, all the way to Caesarea, telling people about Jesus.
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Acts 8: CEV
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
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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