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.
Currently Selected:
Acts 8: LEB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2010 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
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 the Lord's followers, except the apostles, were scattered everywhere in Judea and Samaria. 3Saul started making a lot of trouble for the church. He went from house to house, arresting men and women and putting them in jail.#Ac 22.4,5; 26.9-11.
The good news in Judea and Samaria
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 perform miracles. 7Many people with evil spirits were healed, and the spirits went out of them with a shout. A lot of crippled 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 in the city of Samaria and had amazed the people. He practised 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 marvelled 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 the people would be given the Holy Spirit. 16Before this, the Holy Spirit had not been given to anyone in Samaria, 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 midday 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.
32The man was reading the passage that said,#Is 53.7,8 (LXX).
“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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012