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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© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
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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