Saul Persecutes the Church

(A)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. Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. But (E)Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and (F)dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

Therefore, those (G)who had been scattered went about [b](H)preaching the word. (I)Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming [c]Christ to them. The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the [d]signs which he was performing. 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. So there was (L)much rejoicing in that city.

Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing (M)magic in the city and astonishing 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 astonished them with his (P)magic arts. 12 But when they believed Philip (Q)preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being (R)baptized, men and women alike. 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 amazed.

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 [e]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 was 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 thought you could (AB)obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have (AC)no part or portion in this [f]matter, for your heart is not (AD)right before God. 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray 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 [g]bondage of iniquity.” 24 But Simon answered and said, “(AG)Pray 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)testified and spoken (AI)the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were (AJ)preaching the gospel to many villages of the (AK)Samaritans.

26 But (AL)an angel of the Lord spoke to (AM)Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to (AN)Gaza.” ([h]This is a desert road.) 27 So he got up and went; and (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 up and join this [j]chariot.” 30 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)He was led as a sheep 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]relate His [l]generation?
For His life is removed from the earth.”

34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, 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)preached Jesus to him. 36 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 preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to (BA)Caesarea.

The Conversion of Saul

(BB)Now [r]Saul, still (BC)breathing [s]threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for (BD)letters from him to (BE)the synagogues at (BF)Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to (BG)the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and (BH)suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and (BI)he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and (BJ)it will be told you what you must do.” The men who traveled with him (BK)stood speechless, (BL)hearing the [t]voice but seeing no one. Saul got up from the ground, and (BM)though his eyes were open, he [u]could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into (BN)Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at (BO)Damascus named (BP)Ananias; and the Lord said to him in (BQ)a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from (BR)Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12 and he has seen [v]in a vision a man named Ananias come in and (BS)lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (BT)how much harm he did to (BU)Your [w]saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he (BV)has authority from the chief priests to bind all who (BW)call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for (BX)he is a chosen [x]instrument of Mine, to bear My name before (BY)the Gentiles and (BZ)kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for (CA)I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after (CB)laying his hands on him said, “(CC)Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be (CD)filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened.

Saul Begins to Preach Christ

Now (CE)for several days he was with (CF)the disciples who were at Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus (CG)in the synagogues, [y]saying, “He is (CH)the Son of God.” 21 All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem (CI)destroyed those who (CJ)called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the [z]Christ.

23 When (CK)many days had elapsed, (CL)the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but (CM)their plot became known to Saul. (CN)They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

26 (CO)When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; [aa]but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But (CP)Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had (CQ)seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how (CR)at Damascus he had (CS)spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them, [ab]moving about freely in Jerusalem, (CT)speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the [ac](CU)Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. 30 But when (CV)the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to (CW)Caesarea and (CX)sent him away to (CY)Tarsus.

31 So (CZ)the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria [ad]enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

Peter’s Ministry

32 Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to (DA)the [ae]saints who lived at [af](DB)Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up. 35 And all who lived at [ag](DC)Lydda and (DD)Sharon saw him, and they (DE)turned to the Lord.

36 Now in (DF)Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called [ah]Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. 37 And it happened [ai]at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an (DG)upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near (DH)Joppa, (DI)the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” 39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the (DJ)upper room; and all the (DK)widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the [aj]tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40 But Peter (DL)sent them all out and (DM)knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “(DN)Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling (DO)the [ak]saints and (DP)widows, he presented her alive. 42 It became known all over (DQ)Joppa, and (DR)many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed many days in (DS)Joppa with (DT)a tanner named Simon.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 8:1 Lit occurred
  2. Acts 8:4 Or bringing the good news of
  3. Acts 8:5 I.e. the Messiah
  4. Acts 8:6 Or attesting miracles
  5. Acts 8:16 Lit into
  6. Acts 8:21 Or teaching; lit word
  7. Acts 8:23 Lit bond
  8. Acts 8:26 Or This city is deserted
  9. Acts 8:28 Or carriage
  10. Acts 8:29 Or carriage
  11. Acts 8:33 Or describe
  12. Acts 8:33 Or family or origin
  13. Acts 8:37 Early mss do not contain this v
  14. Acts 8:38 Or carriage
  15. Acts 8:39 Lit for he was going
  16. Acts 8:40 Or was found
  17. Acts 8:40 OT: Ashdod
  18. Acts 9:1 Later called Paul
  19. Acts 9:1 Lit threat
  20. Acts 9:7 Or sound
  21. Acts 9:8 Lit was seeing
  22. Acts 9:12 A few early mss do not contain in a vision
  23. Acts 9:13 Or holy ones
  24. Acts 9:15 Or vessel
  25. Acts 9:20 Lit that
  26. Acts 9:22 I.e. Messiah
  27. Acts 9:26 Lit and
  28. Acts 9:28 Lit going in and going out
  29. Acts 9:29 Jews who adopted the Gr language and much of Gr culture through acculturation
  30. Acts 9:31 Lit was having
  31. Acts 9:32 Or holy ones
  32. Acts 9:32 OT: Lod
  33. Acts 9:35 OT: Lod
  34. Acts 9:36 I.e. Gazelle
  35. Acts 9:37 Lit in those days
  36. Acts 9:39 Or inner garments
  37. Acts 9:41 Or holy ones