Book of Common Prayer

8 ¹ And Saul was giving-approval to his killing.

The Church Is Persecuted And Driven Out of Jerusalem

And a great persecution came about on that day against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all dispersed^[a] throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² And reverent men carried-in Stephen [for burial], and made a loud lamentation over him. ³ And Saul was destroying^[b] the church. Entering from house to house, dragging-away both men and women, he was handing them over to prison. ⁴ So indeed, the ones having been dispersed went about announcing the word as good news.

Philip Proclaims Christ And Does Miracles In Samaria. Many Are Baptized, Including Simon

⁵ Now Philip, having gone down to the city^[c] of Samaria, was proclaiming the Christ to them. ⁶ And the crowds were with-one-accord paying-attention-to^[d] the things being said by Philip, during their hearing and seeing the signs which he was doing. ⁷ For many of the ones having unclean spirits— they were coming out while shouting with a loud voice. And many paralyzed ones and lame ones were cured. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city. ⁹ Now a certain man, Simon by name, was-previously in the city practicing-magic and astonishing the nation of Samaria, saying that he was someone great, ¹⁰ to whom they all, from the small up to the great, were paying attention, saying, “This one is the Power^[e] of God being called ‘Great’”. ¹¹ And they were paying attention to him because he had astonished them for a considerable time with the magic-arts. ¹² And when they believed Philip announcing-the-good-news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized— both men and women. ¹³ Now Simon himself also believed. And having been baptized, he was attaching-himself to Philip. He was astonished, seeing both signs and great miracles taking place.

I Am Doing The Will of The One Who Sent Me

³⁰ “I can do nothing from Myself. Just as I am hearing^[a], I am judging. And My judgment is righteous, because I am not seeking My will, but the will of the One having sent Me.

Jesus Responds Regarding His Identity: Others Testify About Him

³¹ “If I am^[b] testifying about Myself, My testimony is not true. ³² There is Another— the One testifying about Me— and I know that the testimony which He is testifying about Me is true.

John The Baptist Testified

³³ “You have sent out messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth^[c]. ³⁴ But I do not receive^[d] testimony from a human. Nevertheless, I am saying these things in order that you may be saved. ³⁵ That one was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to be overjoyed in his light for an hour.

Three Greater Witnesses Testify: My Works, The Father, And The Scriptures

³⁶ “But I have testimony greater than John’s. For the works which the Father has given to Me that I should accomplish them— the works themselves which I am doing are testifying about Me, that the Father has sent Me forth. ³⁷ And the Father having sent Me— that One has testified about Me. Neither His voice have you ever heard, nor His form have you seen. ³⁸ And you do not have His word abiding in you, because the One Whom that One sent-forth— this One you are not believing! ³⁹ You^[e] search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life— and those Scriptures are the ones testifying about Me! ⁴⁰ And you are not willing to come to Me in order that you may have life.

But You Are Not Receiving Me Because You Do Not Love God

⁴¹ “I do not receive glory from people, ⁴² but I know you— that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. ⁴³ I have come in the name of My Father, and you are not receiving Me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive that one. ⁴⁴ How are you able to believe while receiving glory from one another, and you are not seeking the glory from the only God?

Moses Will Be Your Accuser. For If You Believed Him, You Would Believe Me

⁴⁵ Do not be thinking that I will accuse you before the Father. The one accusing you is Moses, in whom you have put-hope. ⁴⁶ For if you were believing Moses, you would be believing Me, for that one wrote about Me. ⁴⁷ But if you do not believe the writings of that one, how will you believe My words?”