| Chapter 8 |
1 |
Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. |
2 |
Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him. |
3 |
But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison. |
4 |
Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word. |
5 |
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. |
6 |
The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. |
7 |
For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. |
8 |
There was great joy in that city. |
9 |
But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who had used sorcery in the city before, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, |
10 |
to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is that great power of God." |
11 |
They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. |
12 |
But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. |
13 |
Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles done, he was amazed. |
14 |
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, |
15 |
who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; |
16 |
for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. |
17 |
Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. |
18 |
Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles` hands, he offered them money, |
19 |
saying, "Give me also this power, that whoever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit." |
20 |
But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! |
21 |
You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn`t right before God. |
22 |
Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. |
23 |
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity." |
24 |
Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken come on 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 spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert." |
27 |
He arose and went. Behold, there was 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 |
He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. |
29 |
The Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot." |
30 |
Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand you what you are reading?" |
31 |
He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He begged 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. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, So he doesn`t open his mouth. |
33 |
In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generations? For his life is taken from the earth." |
34 |
The eunuch answered Philip, "Please tell who the prophet is talking about: about himself, or about some other?" |
35 |
Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus. |
36 |
As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?" |
38 |
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 |
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn`t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing. |
40 |
But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the gospel to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea. |