Acts 8

1 Saul agreed that the killing of Stephen was good.

On that day the church of Jerusalem began to be persecuted, and all the believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

Troubles for the Believers

2 And some religious people buried Stephen and cried loudly for him.3 Saul was also trying to destroy the church, going from house to house, dragging out men and women and putting them in jail.

4 And wherever they were scattered, they told people the Good News.

Philip Preaches in Samaria

5 Philip went to the city of Samaria and preached about the Christ.6 When the people there heard Philip and saw the miracles he was doing, they all listened carefully to what he said.7 Many of these people had evil spirits in them, but Philip made the evil spirits leave. The spirits made a loud noise when they came out. Philip also healed many weak and crippled people there.

8 So the people in that city were very happy.
9 But there was a man named Simon in that city. Before Philip came there, Simon had practiced magic and amazed all the people of Samaria. He bragged and called himself a great man.10 All the people—the least important and the most important—paid attention to Simon, saying, “This man has the power of God, called ‘the Great Power’!”11 Simon had amazed them with his magic so long that the people became his followers.12 But when Philip told them the Good News about the kingdom of God and the power of Jesus Christ, men and women believed Philip and were baptized.

13 Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized, he stayed very close to Philip. When he saw the miracles and the powerful things Philip did, Simon was amazed.
14 When the apostles who were still in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.15 When Peter and John arrived, they prayed that the Samaritan believers might receive the Holy Spirit.16 These people had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, but the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them.

17 Then, when the two apostles began laying their hands on the people, they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Simon saw that the Spirit was given to people when the apostles laid their hands on them. So he offered the apostles money,

19 saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands will receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter said to him, “You and your money should both be destroyed, because you thought you could buy God’s gift with money.21 You cannot share with us in this work since your heart is not right before God.22 Change your heart! Turn away from this evil thing you have done, and pray to the Lord. Maybe he will forgive you for thinking this.

23 I see that you are full of bitter jealousy and ruled by sin.”

24 Simon answered, “Both of you pray for me to the Lord so the things you have said will not happen to me.”

25 After Peter and John told the people what they had seen Jesus do and after they had spoken the message of the Lord, they went back to Jerusalem. On the way, they went through many Samaritan towns and preached the Good News to the people.

Philip Teaches an Ethiopian

26 An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get ready and go south to the road that leads down to Gaza from Jerusalem—the desert road.”27 So Philip got ready and went. On the road he saw a man from Ethiopia, a eunuch. He was an important officer in the service of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians; he was responsible for taking care of all her money. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship.28 Now, as he was on his way home, he was sitting in his chariot reading from the Book of Isaiah, the prophet.

29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

30 So when Philip ran toward the chariot, he heard the man reading from Isaiah the prophet. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 He answered, “How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?” Then he invited Philip to climb in and sit with him.

32 The portion of Scripture he was reading was this:
“He was like a sheep being led to be killed. He was quiet, as a lamb is quiet while its wool is being cut;
he never opened his mouth.

33 He was shamed and was treated unfairly.
He died without children to continue his family. His life on earth has ended.” t
34 The officer said to Philip, “Please tell me, who is the prophet talking about —himself or someone else?”

35 Philip began to speak, and starting with this same Scripture, he told the man the Good News about Jesus.
36 While they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The officer said, “Look, here is water. What is stopping me from being baptized?” [37 Philip answered, “If you believe with all your heart, you can.” The officer said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38 Then the officer commanded the chariot to stop. Both Philip and the officer went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away; the officer never saw him again. And the officer continued on his way home, full of joy.40 But Philip appeared in a city called Azotus and preached the Good News in all the towns on the way from Azotus to Caesarea.

Acts 8

1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.2 And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.3 But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.4 They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word.5 And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.6 And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did.7 For from many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed.8 And there was much joy in that city.9 But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.11 And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.12 But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.13 And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.14 Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:15 who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:16 for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.18 Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,19 saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.20 But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God.22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.23 For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.24 And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.25 They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.26 But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert.27 And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.29 And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.30 And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?31 And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other?35 And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus.36 And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.