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Now de Saul Saulos was eimi in agreement syneudokeō with ho his autos execution anairesis. There arose ginomai · de on en that ekeinos · ho day hēmera a great megas persecution diōgmos against epi the ho church ekklēsia · ho in en Jerusalem Hierosolyma, and de they were all pas scattered diaspeirō throughout kata the ho regions chōra of ho Judea Ioudaia and kai Samaria Samareia, except plēn the ho apostles apostolos. Devout eulabēs men anēr buried synkomizō · de · ho Stephen Stephanos and kai made poieō great megas lamentation kopetos over epi him autos. But de Saul Saulos was making havoc lymainō of the ho church ekklēsia; entering eisporeuomai every kata · ho house oikos, he dragged syrō off both te men anēr and kai women gynē and put paradidōmi them in eis prison phylakē.

Now oun those ho who were scattered diaspeirō went dierchomai from place to place preaching euangelizō the ho word logos. Philip Philippos · de went katerchomai down to eis the ho main city polis of ho Samaria Samareia and began proclaiming kēryssō to them autos the ho Christ Christos. And de with one accord homothumadon the ho crowds ochlos paid attention to prosechō what ho was being said legō by hypo · ho Philip Philippos as en · ho they autos heard akouō him and kai saw blepō the ho signs sēmeion that hos he was performing poieō. For gar many polys of those ho who had echō unclean akathartos spirits pneuma, crying boaō with a loud megas voice phōnē, came exerchomai out ; and de many polys paralyzed paralyō and kai lame chōlos were healed therapeuō. So de there was ginomai great polys joy chara in en · ho that ekeinos city polis.

Now de there was prouparchō a tis man anēr named onoma Simon Simōn, who had been practicing magic mageuō in en the ho city polis and kai amazing existēmi the ho people ethnos of ho Samaria Samareia, saying legō that he himself heautou was eimi someone tis great megas. 10 They prosechō all pas paid attention prosechō to him hos, from apo the least mikros to heōs the greatest megas, saying legō, “ This houtos man is eimi the ho power dynamis of ho God theos, which ho is called kaleō Great megas.” 11 And de they paid attention prosechō to him autos because dia · ho for a long hikanos time chronos he had amazed existēmi them autos by his ho magic mageia. 12 But de when hote they believed pisteuō · ho Philip Philippos as he preached euangelizō about peri the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos and kai the ho name onoma of Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos, they were baptized baptizō, both te men anēr and kai women gynē. 13 · ho · de Even kai Simon Simōn himself autos believed pisteuō, and kai after being baptized baptizō he stayed constantly with eimi · ho Philip Philippos. And te seeing theōreō signs sēmeion and kai great megas miracles dynamis happening ginomai, he was amazed existēmi.

14 Now de when akouō the ho apostles apostolos in en Jerusalem Hierosolyma heard akouō that hoti Samaria Samareia had received dechomai · ho the ho word logos of ho God theos, they sent apostellō to pros them autos Peter Petros and kai John Iōannēs, 15 who hostis went down katabainō and prayed proseuchomai for peri them autos that hopōs they might receive lambanō the Holy hagios Spirit pneuma, 16 for gar he had eimi not oudepō yet fallen epipiptō on epi any oudeis one of them autos, but de they had hyparchō simply monon been baptized baptizō in eis the ho name onoma of the ho Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous. 17 Then tote Peter and John laid epitithēmi · ho hands cheir on epi them autos and kai they received lambanō the Holy hagios Spirit pneuma. 18 But de when Simon Simōn saw · ho that hoti it was through dia the ho laying epithesis on of the ho hands cheir of the ho apostles apostolos that the ho Spirit pneuma was given didōmi, he offered prospherō them autos money chrēma, 19 saying legō, “ Give didōmi me kagō also · ho this houtos power exousia, that hina anyone on whom hos I lay epitithēmi · ho hands cheir may receive lambanō the Holy hagios Spirit pneuma.” 20 But de Peter Petros said legō to pros him autos, “ May eimi · ho your sy silver argyrion go eimi with syn you sy to eis destruction apōleia, because hoti you thought nomizō you could obtain ktaomai the ho gift dōrea of ho God theos with dia money chrēma! 21 There is eimi not ou for you sy a part meris or oude share klēros in en · ho this houtos matter logos, · ho for gar your sy heart kardia is eimi not ou upright before enanti · ho God theos. 22 Repent metanoeō, therefore oun, of apo · ho this houtos wickedness kakia of yours sy, and kai pray deomai to the ho Lord kyrios that, if ei possible ara, the ho intent epinoia of ho your sy heart kardia may be forgiven aphiēmi you sy. 23 For gar I see horaō that you sy are eimi in eis the gall cholē of bitterness pikria and kai in the bond syndesmos of unrighteousness adikia.” 24 And de answering apokrinomai, · ho Simon Simōn said legō, “ You hymeis pray deomai for hyper me egō to pros the ho Lord kyrios so hopōs that nothing mēdeis of what hos you have said legō may come eperchomai upon epi me egō.” 25 · ho Now oun after solemnly diamartyromai testifying and kai speaking laleō the ho word logos of the ho Lord kyrios, they returned hypostrephō to eis Jerusalem Hierosolyma, preaching the gospel to euangelizō many polys villages kōmē of the ho Samaritans Samaritēs.

26 Now de an angel angelos of the Lord kyrios spoke laleō to pros Philip Philippos, saying legō, “ Rise anistēmi and kai go poreuō toward kata the south mesēmbria on epi the ho road hodos that ho goes katabainō down from apo Jerusalem Ierousalēm to eis Gaza Gaza.” This houtos is eimi a desert erēmos place . 27 And kai he rose anistēmi and went poreuō. And kai there was idou an Ethiopian anēr Aithiops, a eunuch eunouchos, a court dynastēs official of Candace Kandakē, queen basilissa of the Ethiopians Aithiops, who hos was eimi in epi charge of all pas · ho her autos treasure gaza, who hos had come erchomai to eis Jerusalem Ierousalēm to worship proskyneō 28 and te was eimi returning hypostrephō, · kai seated kathēmai in epi · ho his autos carriage harma, and kai he was reading anaginōskō the ho prophet prophētēs Isaiah ēsaias. 29 And de the ho Spirit pneuma said legō to ho Philip Philippos, “ Go proserchomai over and kai join kollaō · ho this houtos carriage harma.” 30 So de Philip Philippos ran prostrechō to · ho him and heard akouō him autos reading anaginōskō Isaiah ēsaias the ho prophet prophētēs and kai he said legō, “ Do you understand ginōskō what hos you are reading anaginōskō?” 31 And de he ho said legō, “ How pōs could an I unless ean mē someone tis guide hodēgeō me egō?” And te he invited parakaleō · ho Philip Philippos to come anabainō up and sit kathizō with syn him autos. 32 Now de the ho passage periochē of ho scripture graphē the man was reading anaginōskō was eimi this houtos: “ As hōs a sheep probaton to epi the slaughter sphagē he was led agō, and kai as hōs a lamb amnos dumb aphōnos before enantion · ho its autos shearer keirō, so houtōs he opens anoigō not ou · ho his autos mouth stoma. 33 In en · ho humiliation tapeinōsis · ho justice krisis was taken airō from him autos. · ho His autos family genea history who tis will declare diēgeomai? For hoti his autos life zōē is taken airō away from apo the ho earth .” · ho

34 And de in answer apokrinomai the ho eunuch eunouchos said legō to ho Philip Philippos, “ I ask deomai you sy, about peri whom tis does the ho prophet prophētēs say legō this houtos, about peri himself heautou or ē about peri someone tis else heteros?” 35 Then de Philip Philippos opened anoigō · ho · ho his autos mouth stoma, and kai beginning archō from apo · ho this houtos Scripture graphē he announced euangelizō the good news to him autos, · ho Jesus Iēsous. 36 And de as hōs they traveled poreuō along kata the ho road hodos they came erchomai to epi some tis water hydōr; and kai the ho eunuch eunouchos said phēmi, “ Look idou! Water hydōr! What tis prevents kōlyō me egō from being baptized baptizō?” 38 And kai he ordered keleuō the ho carriage harma to stop histēmi, and kai they both amphoteroi went down katabainō into eis the ho water hydōr, · ho both te Philip Philippos and kai the ho eunuch eunouchos; and kai he baptized baptizō him autos. 39 And de when hote they came anabainō up out ek of the ho water hydōr, the Spirit pneuma of the Lord kyrios suddenly took harpazō · ho Philip Philippos away , and kai the ho eunuch eunouchos saw him autos no more ouketi, but gar went poreuō on · ho his autos way hodos rejoicing chairō. 40 But de Philip Philippos was found heuriskō at eis Azotus Azōtos; and kai as he traveled dierchomai through the area he announced euangelizō the good news to all pas the ho towns polis, until heōs · ho he autos came erchomai to eis Caesarea Kaisareia.

Saul ·agreed that the killing of Stephen was good [L approved of his execution/death].

Troubles for the Believers

On that day the church of Jerusalem began to be persecuted, and all the believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout [L the countryside/regions of] Judea and Samaria [C the southern and central regions of Israel].

And some ·religious [devout; pious; godly] ·people [or men] buried Stephen and ·cried loudly [or mourned deeply] for him. [L But] Saul ·was also trying to destroy [or began harassing/mistreating/doing harm to] the church, going from house to house, dragging ·out [or off] men and women and putting them in ·jail [prison]. But wherever the believers were scattered, they told people the ·Good News [Gospel].

Philip Preaches in Samaria

Philip [C one of the seven leaders chosen to serve; 6:5; 21:8] went to ·the city[a] [or a city; or the main city] of Samaria [C perhaps the city of Sebaste, known in ancient times as Samaria] and ·preached about [proclaimed] the ·Christ [Messiah]. When the ·people [L crowds] there heard Philip and saw the ·miracles [signs] he was doing, they all [L with one accord/mind] listened carefully to what he said. Many of these people had ·evil [L unclean; 5:16] spirits in them, but Philip made the evil spirits ·leave [come out]. The spirits made a loud ·noise [cry] when they came out. Philip also healed many ·weak [paralyzed] and ·crippled [lame] people there. So the people in that city were ·very happy [joyful; greatly rejoicing].

But there was a man named Simon in that city. ·Before Philip came there, [L Previously] Simon had practiced ·magic [sorcery] and amazed all the people of Samaria. He ·bragged and called himself [L said he was] a great man. 10 All the people—·the least important and the most important [L from the smallest to the greatest]—paid attention to Simon, saying, “This man has the power of God, called ‘·the Great Power [L Great]’!” 11 Simon had amazed them with his ·magic [sorcery] so long that the people ·became his followers [L paid attention to him]. 12 But when Philip told them the ·Good News [Gospel] about the kingdom of God and the ·power [L name] 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 [signs] and the powerful things Philip did, Simon was amazed.

14 When the apostles who were still in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria [8:1] had ·accepted [received] 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 [L only] been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, but the Holy Spirit had not yet ·come [L fallen] upon any of them. 17 Then, when ·the two apostles [L they] began ·laying [placing] their hands on the people [C a ritual of blessing and/or conferring of authority], they received the Holy Spirit.

18 Simon saw that the Spirit was given to people when the apostles ·laid [placed] their hands on them. So he offered the apostles money, 19 saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I ·lay [place] my hands will receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 Peter said to him, “·You and your money should both be destroyed [L May your silver perish with you], because you thought you could ·buy [get; obtain] God’s gift with money. 21 You ·cannot [L have no part or] share with us in this ·work [ministry; L thing; word] since your heart is not right before God. 22 ·Change your heart! Turn away from [L Repent of] this evil thing you have done, and pray to the Lord. Maybe he will forgive you for ·thinking this [L the intent of your heart]. 23 [L For] I see that you are full of ·bitter jealousy [L the gall/bile of bitterness; C a metaphor; gall is a bitter fluid; Deut. 29:18] and ·ruled by sin [L in bondage to wickedness/unrighteousness].”

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 [L they] ·told the people what they had seen Jesus do [L testified; bore witness] and after they had spoken the ·message [word] of the Lord, they went back to Jerusalem. On the way, they went through many Samaritan ·towns [villages] and preached the ·Good News [Gospel] to the people.

Philip Teaches an Ethiopian

26 An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get ·ready [up] and go ·south [or at about noon] to the road that leads down to Gaza from Jerusalem [C a distance of about fifty miles]—the ·desert [wilderness] road.” 27 So Philip got ·ready [up] and went. On the road he saw a man from Ethiopia [C not present-day Ethiopia (Abyssinia), but Nubia in northern Sudan], a eunuch [or court official; C royal servants were sometimes made eunuchs (castrated males), especially if they served in the presence of females]. He was an important officer in the service of ·Candace [or the Kandáke; C a title, not a name, meaning “queen”], the queen of the Ethiopians; he was responsible for ·taking care of all her money [her entire treasury]. 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 [L the prophet Isaiah]. 29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go to that chariot and ·stay near [join] it.”

30 So when Philip ran toward the chariot, he heard the man reading from Isaiah the prophet [C ancient peoples generally read aloud]. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 He answered, “How can I understand unless someone ·explains it to [guides; directs] me?” Then he ·invited [urged] 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 [L the slaughter].
    He was quiet, as a lamb is quiet ·while its wool is being cut [L before its shearer];
he never opened his mouth.
33     He was shamed and was treated ·unfairly [unjustly].
·He died without children to continue his family [L Who can describe his generation?; C having no descendants was a mark of shame and failure].
    [L For] His life on earth ·has ended [was taken away; Is. 53:7–8].”

34 The ·officer [L eunuch] said to Philip, “Please tell me, who is the prophet talking about—himself or someone else [C the idea of a suffering messiah was not commonly understood in Judaism]?” 35 Philip ·began to speak [L opened his mouth], and starting with this same Scripture, he told the man the ·Good News [Gospel] about Jesus.

36 While they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The ·officer [L eunuch] said, “Look, here is water. What is ·stopping [preventing] 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.”|[b] 38 Then the officer commanded the chariot to stop. Both Philip and the ·officer [L eunuch] went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord ·took [snatched; carried] Philip away; the officer ·never [or no longer] saw him again. And the ·officer [L eunuch] continued on his way home, ·full of joy [rejoicing]. 40 But Philip ·appeared [or found himself; L was found] in a city called Azotus [C another name for Ashdod, just to the north of Gaza] and ·preached [proclaimed] the ·Good News [Gospel] in all the towns on the way from Azotus to Caesarea [C a city further north up the coast].

Footnotes

  1. Acts 8:5 a city Some Greek copies read “a city.”
  2. Acts 8:37 Philip … God.” Some Greek copies do not contain the bracketed text.