Acts 8
8
Saul Attempts to Destroy the Church
1 And Saul was agreeing with his murder. Now there happened on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2And devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. 3But Saul was attempting to destroy the church. Entering house after house,#Literally “from house” to house he dragged off both men and women and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“dragged off”) has been translated as a finite verb delivered them#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation to prison.
Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria
4Now those who had been scattered went about proclaiming the good news of the word. 5And Philip came down to the city of Samaria and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came down”) has been translated as a finite verb began proclaiming#*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began proclaiming”) the Christ#Or “Messiah” to them. 6And the crowds with one mind were paying attention to what was being said by Philip, as they heard him#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation and saw the signs that he was performing. 7For many of those who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them,#*The words “of them” are supplied in the translation to indicate that the unclean spirits were coming out of the people crying out with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8And there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Magician
9Now a certain man named#Literally “by name” Simon had been in the city practicing magic and astonishing the people of Samaria, saying he was someone great. 10They were all paying attention to him,#Literally “whom” from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘Great.’ ” 11And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astonished them with his#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun magic. 12But when they believed Philip as he#*Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was proclaiming the good news”) which is understood as temporal was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being baptized. 13And Simon himself also believed, and after he#*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was baptized”) which is understood as temporal was baptized he was keeping close company with#Literally “attaching himself to” Philip. And when he#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal saw the signs and great miracles that were taking place, he was astonished.
14Now when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15who went down and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went down”) has been translated as a finite verb prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. 16(For he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized#Literally “but they were only having been baptized” in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then they placed their#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
18Now Simon, when he#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, offered them money, 19saying, “Give to me also this power, so that whomever I place my#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun hands on may receive the Holy Spirit!” 20But Peter said to him, “May your silver be destroyed along with you,#Literally “be for destruction with you” because you thought you could acquire#Literally “to acquire” the gift of God by means of money! 21You have no#Literally “there is for you no” part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God. 22Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and ask the Lord if perhaps the intent of your heart may be forgiven you!” 23For I see you are in a state of bitter envy#Literally “the gall of bitterness” and bound by unrighteousness.”#Literally “the fetter of unrighteousness” 24But Simon answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said, “You pray to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me.” 25So when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had solemnly testified”) which is understood as temporal they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they turned back toward Jerusalem, and were proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
26Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get up and go toward the south#Or “go about noon” on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) 27And he got up and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“got up”) has been translated as a finite verb went, and behold, there was a man, an Ethiopian eunuch (a court official of Candace,#Or “the Candace” (the title of the queen of Ethiopia) queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury) who had come to worship in Jerusalem 28and was returning and sitting in his chariot, and reading aloud the prophet Isaiah. 29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Approach and join this chariot.” 30So Philip ran up to it#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“ran up to”) has been translated as a finite verb heard him reading aloud Isaiah the prophet and said, “So then, do you understand what you are reading?” 31And he said, “So how could I, unless someone will guide me?” And he invited Philip to come up and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“come up”) has been translated as an infinitive sit with him. 32Now the passage of scripture that he was reading aloud was this:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33In his#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun humiliation justice was taken from him.
Who can describe his descendants?#Or perhaps “family history”; literally “generation”
For his life was taken away from the earth.”#A quotation from Isa 53:7–8
34And the eunuch answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said to Philip, “I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this—about himself or about someone else?” 35So Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this scripture, proclaimed the good news to him about Jesus. 36And as they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”#A few later manuscripts add v. 37, with minor variations: “He said to him, ‘If you believe with your whole heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ ” The verse is almost certainly not an original part of the text of Acts. 38And he ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water—Philip and the eunuch—and he baptized him. 39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer, for he went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he#*Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“passed through”) which is understood as temporal passed through, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
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Acts 8: LEB
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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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