Acts 8
Christian Standard Bible
Saul the Persecutor
8 Saul agreed with putting him to death.
On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria.(A) 2 Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3 Saul,(B) however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.(C)
Philip in Samaria
4 So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to a[a] city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.(D) 6 The crowds were all paying attention to what Philip said, as they listened and saw the signs he was performing. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.(E) 8 So there was great joy in that city.
The Response of Simon
9 A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and amazed the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great.(F) 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least of them to the greatest, and they said, “This man is called the Great Power of God.”[b](G) 11 They were attentive to him because he had amazed them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip, as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.(H) 13 Even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptized, he followed Philip everywhere and was amazed as he observed the signs and great miracles(I) that were being performed.
Simon’s Sin
14 When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.(J) 15 After they went down there, they prayed for them so that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit because he had not yet come down on any of them. 16 (They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(K)) 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit[c] was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter told him, “May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!(L) 21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God.(M) 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart’s intent may be forgiven. 23 For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by wickedness.”(N)
24 “Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon replied, “so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”(O)
25 So, after they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they traveled back to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
The Conversion of the Ethiopian Official
26 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road.[d](P)) 27 So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch(Q) and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem(R) 28 and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud.
29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”(S)
30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this:
He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb is silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will describe his generation?
For his life is taken from the earth.[e](T)
34 The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or someone else?” 35 Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.(U)
36 As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?” [f] 38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord(V) carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip appeared in[g] Azotus,[h] and he was traveling and preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.(W)
Footnotes
- 8:5 Other mss read the
- 8:10 Or “This is the power of God called Great
- 8:18 Other mss add Holy
- 8:26 Or is a desert place
- 8:32–33 Is 53:7–8
- 8:36 Some mss include v. 37: Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
- 8:40 Or Philip was found at, or Philip found himself in
- 8:40 Or Ashdod
Acts 8
Modern English Version
8 And Saul was consenting to his death.
Saul Persecutes the Church
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul ravaged the church, entering house by house and dragging out both men and women and committing them to prison.
The Gospel Preached in Samaria
4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miracles which he did, they listened in unity to what he said. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed. And many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer Believes
9 Now a man named Simon was previously in the city practicing sorcery and astonishing the nation of Samaria, saying he was someone great, 10 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 They listened to him, because for a long time he had astonished them by his sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Even Simon himself believed. And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and was amazed as he watched the miracles and signs which were done.
Samaritans Receive the Holy Spirit
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 When they came down, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for still He had come on none of them. They were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 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 whomever I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter said to him, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could purchase the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor share in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Therefore repent of your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me that nothing you have spoken may come upon me.”
25 When they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise up and go toward the south on the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he rose up and went. And there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in command of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship. 28 He was returning, sitting in his chariot and reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go to this chariot and stay with it.”
30 Then Philip ran to him, and heard him read the book of Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 He said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 The passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
“He was led as a sheep to slaughter;
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so He opened not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation justice was denied Him;
who will speak of His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”[a]
34 The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet speak, of himself or of someone else?” 35 Then Philip spoke, beginning with the same Scripture, and preached Jesus to him.
36 As they went on their way, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 And he commanded the chariot to halt. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. And the eunuch saw him no more, and he went his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached the gospel in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
Footnotes
Hechos 8
Nueva Biblia Viva
8 Y Saulo estaba de acuerdo en que asesinaran a Esteban.
La iglesia perseguida y dispersa
Aquel mismo día, una gran ola de persecución se levantó contra los creyentes y barrió la iglesia de Jerusalén. Todos, excepto los apóstoles, huyeron a Judea y Samaria. 2 Varios judíos piadosos, llenos de tristeza, enterraron a Esteban.
3 Saulo, por su parte, iba por todas partes persiguiendo a la iglesia. Entraba a las casas, arrastraba a hombres y mujeres y los metía en la cárcel.
Felipe en Samaria
4 Los creyentes que huyeron de Jerusalén continuaron predicando las buenas noticias por dondequiera que iban. 5 Felipe, por ejemplo, huyó a Samaria y se puso a hablarle del Mesías al pueblo. 6 Grandes multitudes lo escuchaban atentamente, al ver los milagros que realizaba. 7 Felipe echaba fuera demonios, que salían de sus víctimas dando gritos, y también sanaba paralíticos y cojos. 8 Y había gran gozo en la ciudad.
Simón el hechicero
9 Vivía en Samaria un tal Simón, que había ejercido la magia durante muchos años, y tenía asombrada a la gente haciéndose pasar por alguien muy grande.
10 Todos, desde el más pequeño hasta el más importante, le prestaban atención y decían: «Este es al que llaman el Gran Poder de Dios». 11 La gente le hacía caso, porque por mucho tiempo las había engañado con su magia.
12 Cuando los samaritanos creyeron el mensaje de Felipe, que afirmaba que Jesús era el Mesías y hablaba del reino de Dios, se bautizaron muchos hombres y mujeres. 13 Simón también creyó, recibió el bautismo y se dedicó a seguir a Felipe a dondequiera que este iba, maravillado por los milagros que realizaba.
14 Cuando los apóstoles que estaban en Jerusalén se enteraron de que el pueblo de Samaria había aceptado el mensaje de Dios, enviaron allá a Pedro y a Juan. 15 Tan pronto llegaron, comenzaron a orar para que recibieran el Espíritu Santo, 16 que todavía no había descendido sobre ellos y sólo estaban bautizados en el nombre del Señor Jesús. 17 Entonces Pedro y Juan pusieron las manos sobre los creyentes y ellos recibieron el Espíritu Santo.
18 Al ver Simón que el Espíritu Santo descendía sobre aquellos a quienes los apóstoles les ponían las manos, les hizo una oferta de dinero.
19 ―Este dinero es para que me permitan obtener ese poder —les dijo—. Quiero que al imponer las manos sobre la gente, reciban el Espíritu Santo.
20 ―Que tu dinero perezca contigo —le contestó Pedro—, que piensas que los dones de Dios se pueden comprar. 21 Tú no puedes tener parte en esto, porque tu corazón no es recto ante Dios. 22 Arrepiéntete de esta maldad y ora. Quizás Dios te perdone los malos pensamientos, 23 porque veo que tienes el corazón lleno de envidia y de pecado.
24 ―Oren por mí —suplicó Simón—. No quiero que eso tan horrible me suceda.
25 Tras testificar y predicar en Samaria, Pedro y Juan regresaron a Jerusalén. A lo largo del camino fueron deteniéndose en los pueblos samaritanos, para predicar las buenas noticias.
Felipe y el etíope
26 Un ángel del Señor le dijo a Felipe: «Ve hacia el sur por el camino desierto que va de Jerusalén a Gaza». 27 Así lo hizo. Y por el camino se encontró con un etíope eunuco, el tesorero de Etiopía, funcionario poderoso de la reina Candace. El etíope había ido a Jerusalén a adorar en el templo. 28 En el viaje de regreso, el funcionario iba en su carroza leyendo el libro del profeta Isaías.
29 «Da alcance a esa carroza —le dijo el Espíritu Santo a Felipe—, y acércate a ella».
30 Felipe obedeció presuroso y, al acercarse, escuchó lo que el funcionario iba leyendo.
―¿Entiendes eso que lees? —le preguntó.
31 ―¿Cómo lo voy a entender si nadie me lo ha explicado? —contestó.
Entonces invitó a Felipe a que subiera a la carroza y se sentara con él.
32 El pasaje de las Escrituras que estaba leyendo era el siguiente:
«Como oveja a la muerte lo llevaron, y como cordero mudo ante los que lo trasquilan, no abrió la boca. 33 En su humillación, no se le hizo justicia. ¿Quién podrá hablar de su descendencia? porque arrancaron su vida de esta tierra».
34 ―¿Hablaba el profeta de sí mismo o de otra persona? —le preguntó el eunuco a Felipe.
35 Y Felipe, comenzando con ese mismo pasaje de la Escritura, se puso a hablarle de las buenas noticias acerca de Jesús.
36 A un lado del camino encontraron agua.
―¡Mira! ¡Aquí hay agua! —exclamó el funcionario—. ¿Por qué no me bautizas?
37 ―Siempre y cuando creas de corazón, no hay nada que lo impida —le dijo Felipe.
―Creo que Jesucristo es el Hijo de Dios —respondió el eunuco.
38 Detuvieron entonces la carroza, bajaron ambos al agua y Felipe lo bautizó.
39 Al salir del agua, el Espíritu del Señor se llevó a Felipe y el funcionario ya no lo vio: Pero a pesar de esto, siguió gozoso su camino.
40 Mientras tanto, Felipe estaba en Azoto, y allí, como en cada una de las ciudades que encontró en el viaje a Cesarea, predicó las buenas noticias.
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