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Acts 8
Legacy Standard Bible
Acts 8
Legacy Standard Bible
Saul Persecutes the Church
8 (A)Now Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.
And on that day a great persecution [a]began against (B)the church in Jerusalem, and they were all (C)scattered throughout the regions of Judea and (D)Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And some devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. 3 But (E)Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and (F)dragging off men and women, he was delivering them into prison.
Philip Preaches in Samaria
4 Therefore, those (G)who had been scattered went about, (H)proclaiming the good news of the word. 5 (I)Now Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began preaching [b]Christ to them. 6 And the crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was being said by Philip, as they heard and saw the [c]signs which he was doing. 7 For in the case of many who had (J)unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been (K)paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 So there was (L)great joy in that city.
9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing (M)magic in the city and astounding the people of Samaria, (N)claiming to be someone great; 10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “(O)This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” 11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astounded them with his (P)magic arts. 12 But when they believed Philip (Q)proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being (R)baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed (S)signs and (T)great miracles taking place, he was constantly astounded.
14 Now when (U)the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them (V)Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them (W)that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had (X)not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been (Y)baptized [d]in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they (Z)began laying their hands on them, and they were (AA)receiving the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit had been bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you supposed you could (AB)obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have (AC)no part or portion in this [e]matter, for your heart is not (AD)right before God. 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray earnestly to the Lord that, (AE)if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in (AF)the [f]bondage of unrighteousness.” 24 But Simon answered and said, “(AG)Pray earnestly to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
An Ethiopian Receives Christ
25 So, when they had solemnly (AH)borne witness and spoken (AI)the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were (AJ)proclaiming the gospel to many villages of the (AK)Samaritans.
26 But (AL)an angel of the [g]Lord spoke to (AM)Philip saying, “Rise up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to (AN)Gaza.” ([h]This is a desert road.) 27 So he rose up and went; and behold, (AO)there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he (AP)had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was returning and sitting in his [i]chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then (AQ)the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this [j]chariot.” 30 And Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
“(AR)As a sheep is led to slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He does not open His mouth.
33 (AS)In humiliation His judgment was taken away;
Who will [k]recount His [l]generation?
For His life is removed from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you earnestly, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” 35 Then Philip (AT)opened his mouth, and (AU)beginning from this Scripture he (AV)proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. 36 And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! (AW)What prevents me from being baptized?” 37 [m][And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38 And he ordered the [n]chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, (AX)the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch no longer saw him, [o]but went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip [p]found himself at [q](AY)Azotus, and as he passed through he (AZ)kept proclaiming the gospel to all the cities until he came to (BA)Caesarea.
Footnotes
- Acts 8:1 Lit occurred
- Acts 8:5 The Messiah
- Acts 8:6 Or attesting miracles
- Acts 8:16 Lit into
- Acts 8:21 Or teaching; lit word
- Acts 8:23 Lit bond
- Acts 8:26 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Gen 16:7
- Acts 8:26 Or This city is deserted
- Acts 8:28 Or carriage
- Acts 8:29 Or carriage
- Acts 8:33 Or describe
- Acts 8:33 Or family, origin
- Acts 8:37 Early mss omit this v
- Acts 8:38 Or carriage
- Acts 8:39 Lit for he was going
- Acts 8:40 Or was found
- Acts 8:40 In OT, Ashdod
Acts 8
International Children’s Bible
Acts 8
International Children’s Bible
8 Saul agreed that the killing of Stephen was a good thing.
Trouble for the Believers
2-3 Some religious men buried Stephen. They cried very loudly for him. On that day people began trying to hurt the church in Jerusalem and make it suffer. Saul was also trying to destroy the church. He went from house to house. He dragged out men and women and put them in jail. All the believers, except the apostles, went to different places in Judea and Samaria. 4 And everywhere the believers were scattered, they told people the Good News.
Philip Preaches in Samaria
5 Philip[a] went to the city[b] of Samaria and preached about the Christ. 6 The people there heard Philip and saw the miracles he was doing. They all listened carefully to the things he said. 7 Many of these people had evil spirits in them. But Philip made the evil spirits leave them. The spirits made a loud noise when they came out. There were also many weak and crippled people there. Philip healed them, too. 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. He amazed all the people of Samaria with his magic. He bragged and called himself a great man. 10 All the people—the least important and the most important—paid attention to what Simon said. They said, “This man has the power of God, called ‘the Great Power’!” 11 Simon had amazed them with his magic tricks so long that the people became his followers. 12 But 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 was baptized. He stayed very close to Philip. When he saw the miracles and the very powerful things that Philip did, Simon was amazed.
14 The apostles were still in Jerusalem. They heard that the people of Samaria had accepted the word of God. So 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 entered any of them. 17 Then, when the two apostles began laying their hands on[c] 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 He said, “Give me also this power so that when I lay my hands on a person, he will receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter said to him, “You and your money should both be destroyed! You thought you could buy God’s gift with money. 21 You cannot share with us in this work. Your heart is not right before God. 22 Change your heart! Turn away from this evil thing you have done. 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. Pray that the things you have said will not happen to me!”
25 Then the two apostles told the people the things they had seen Jesus do. And after the apostles had given 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 spoke to Philip.[d] The angel said, “Get ready and go south. Go 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, and 28 now he was on his way home. He was sitting in his chariot and reading from the book of Isaiah, the prophet. 29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 So 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? I need someone to explain it to me!” Then he invited Philip to climb in and sit with him. 32 The verse of Scripture that he was reading was this:
“He was like a sheep being led to be killed.
He was quiet, as a sheep is quiet while its wool is being cut.
He said nothing.
33 He was shamed and was treated unfairly.
He died without children to continue his family.
His life on earth has ended.” Isaiah 53:7-8
34 The officer said to Philip, “Please tell me, who is the prophet talking about? Is he talking about himself or about someone else?” 35 Philip began to speak. He started with this same Scripture and 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.”][e] 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. 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.
Footnotes
- 8:5 Philip Not the apostle named Philip.
- 8:5 the city Some Greek copies read “a city.”
- 8:17 laying their hands on Here, doing this showed that these men were given a special work of God.
- 8:26 Philip Not the apostle named Philip.
- 8:37 Philip . . . God. Some Greek copies do not contain the bracketed text.
Acts 8
New International Version
Acts 8
New International Version
8 And Saul(A) approved of their killing him.
The Church Persecuted and Scattered
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered(B) throughout Judea and Samaria.(C) 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul(D) began to destroy the church.(E) Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Philip in Samaria
4 Those who had been scattered(F) preached the word wherever they went.(G) 5 Philip(H) went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many,(I) and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.(J) 8 So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery(K) in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,(L) 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.”(M) 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God(N) and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,(O) both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles(P) he saw.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria(Q) had accepted the word of God,(R) they sent Peter and John(S) to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,(T) 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them;(U) they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(V) 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them,(W) and they received the Holy Spirit.(X)
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!(Y) 21 You have no part or share(Z) in this ministry, because your heart is not right(AA) before God. 22 Repent(AB) of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me(AC) so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord(AD) and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.(AE)
Philip and the Ethiopian
26 Now an angel(AF) of the Lord said to Philip,(AG) “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a](AH) eunuch,(AI) an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,(AJ) 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told(AK) Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”[b](AL)
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began(AM) with that very passage of Scripture(AN) and told him the good news(AO) about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”(AP) [37] [c] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away,(AQ) and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns(AR) until he reached Caesarea.(AS)
Acts 8
1599 Geneva Bible
Acts 8
1599 Geneva Bible
8 2 The godly make lamentation for Stephen. 3 Saul maketh havoc of the Church. 5 Philip preacheth Christ at Samaria. 9 Simon Magus, 13 his covetousness reproved. 26 Philip 27 cometh to the Ethiopian Eunuch, 38 and baptizeth him.
1 And [a]Saul consented to his death. And at that time, there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and of Samaria, except the Apostles.
2 [b]Then certain men fearing God, [c]carried Stephen among them, to be buried, and made great lamentation for him.
3 [d]But Saul made havoc of the Church, and entered into every house, and drew out both men and women, and put them into prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad, went to and fro preaching the word.
5 ¶ [e]Then came Philip into the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, with one accord, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits crying with a loud voice, came out of many that were possessed of them: and many taken with palsies, and that halted, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 [f]And there was before in the city, a certain man called Simon, which used [g]witchcraft, and [h]bewitched the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was some great man,
10 To whom they gave heed from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that great power of God.
11 And they gave heed unto him, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But as soon as they believed Philip, which preached the things that concerned the kingdom of God, and the Name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women.
13 [i]Then Simon himself believed also, and was baptized, and continued with Philip, and wondered, when he saw the signs and great miracles which were done.
14 ¶ [j]Now when the Apostles, which were at Jerusalem, heard say, that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.
15 Which when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the [k]holy Ghost.
16 (For as yet he was fallen down on none of them, but they were baptized only in the Name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the holy Ghost.
18 [l]And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles’ hands the holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay the hands, he may receive the holy Ghost.
20 [m]Then said Peter unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou thinkest that the gift of God may be obtained with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor fellowship in this [n]business: for thine heart is not [o]right in the sight of God.
22 [p]Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, that if it be possible, the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I see that thou art in the [q]gall of bitterness, and in the [r]bond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken, come upon me.
25 ¶ So they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Gospel in many towns of the Samaritans.
26 [s]Then the Angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the South unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is waste.
27 And he arose and went on: and behold, a certain Eunuch of Ethiopia, Candace the Queen of the Ethiopians’ [t]chief Governor, who had the rule of all her treasure, and came to Jerusalem to worship.
28 And as he returned sitting in his chariot, he read Isaiah the Prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near and join thyself to yonder chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither, and heard him read the Prophet Isaiah, and said, But understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except I had [u]a guide? And he desired Philip, that he would come up and sit with him.
32 [v]Now the place of the Scripture which he read, was this, (A)He was lead as a sheep to the slaughter: and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.
33 In his [w]humility his judgment hath been exalted: but who shall declare his [x]generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 Then the Eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the Prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water, and the Eunuch said, See, here is water: what doth let me to be baptized?
37 [y]And Philip said unto him, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. Then he answered, and said, [z]I believe that that Jesus Christ is that Son of God.
38 Then he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch, and he baptized him.
39 And as soon as they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the Eunuch saw him no more: so he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus, and he walked to and fro preaching in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Footnotes
- Acts 8:1 Christ useth the rage of his enemies to the spreading forth and enlarging of his kingdom.
- Acts 8:2 The godly mourn for Stephen after his death, and bury him, showing therein an example of singular faith and charity: but no man prayeth to him.
- Acts 8:2 Amongst all the duties of charity which the godly use, there is no mention made of shrining up of relics.
- Acts 8:3 The dispersion or scattering abroad of the faithful, is the joining together of Churches.
- Acts 8:5 Philip, who was before a Deacon in Jerusalem, is made of God extraordinarily an Evangelist.
- Acts 8:9 Christ overcometh Satan so oft as he listeth, and carrieth him about as it were in a triumph in the sight of them, whom he deceived and bewitched.
- Acts 8:9 The word which is used in this place was at the first taken in good part, and is borrowed out of the Persians’ language, who call their wise men by that name, but afterward it was taken in evil part.
- Acts 8:9 He had so allured the Samaritans with his witchcrafts, that as blind and mad harebrains they were wholly addicted to him.
- Acts 8:13 The wicked and the very reprobate are constrained oftentimes to taste of the good gift of God, but they cast it up again forthwith.
- Acts 8:14 Peter not chief, but as an ambassador sent from the whole company of the Apostles, and John his companion according to the authority which was committed unto them, confirm and build up the Churches of Samaria, whose foundation had been laid afore by Philip.
- Acts 8:15 Those excellent gifts, which are necessary, especially for them that were to be appointed rulers and governors of the Church.
- Acts 8:18 Ambition and covetousness do at length pluck the hypocrites out of their dens.
- Acts 8:20 They are the successors of Simon Magus, and not of Simon Peter, which either buy or sell holy things.
- Acts 8:21 In this doctrine which I preach.
- Acts 8:21 Is not upright in deed, and without dissembling.
- Acts 8:22 We must hope well even of the vilest sinners, so long and so far forth as we may.
- Acts 8:23 He calleth the inward malice of the heart, and that venomous and devilish wickedness wherewith this Magician was wholly replenished, the gall of bitterness: and he is said to be in the gall as though he were wholly overwhelmed with gall, and buried in it.
- Acts 8:23 Entangled in the bonds of iniquity.
- Acts 8:26 Christ who calleth freely whom he listeth, doth now use Philip who thought on no such matter, to instruct and baptize the Eunuch at unawares, and by this means extendeth the limits of his kingdom even into Ethiopia.
- Acts 8:27 A man of great wealth and authority with Candaces: Now this word Candaces is a common name to all the Queens of Ethiopia.
- Acts 8:31 To show me the way how to understand it.
- Acts 8:32 Those things which seem most to come by chance or fortune (as men term it) are governed by the secret providence of God.
- Acts 8:33 The Hebrew text readeth it thus, Out of a narrow strait, and out of judgment was he taken: whereby the narrow strait, he meaneth the grave and the very bands of death, and by judgment, the punishment which was laid upon him, and the miserable state which Christ took upon him for our sakes, in bearing his Father’s wrath.
- Acts 8:33 How long his age shall last: for Christ having once risen from the dead, dieth no more, Rom. 6:9.
- Acts 8:37 Profession of faith is requisite in baptizing of them which are of years, and therefore it is evident that we are not then first ingrafted into Christ, when we are baptized, but being already ingrafted are then confirmed.
- Acts 8:37 The sum of the confession which is necessary for baptism.
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