The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 8 -

And Saul was assenting to his death, and there came in that day a great persecution on the Assembly in Jerusalem, all were also scattered abroad in the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles;

and devout men carried Stephen away, and made great lamentation over him;

and Saul was making havoc of the Assembly, entering into every house, and dragging away men and women, giving them up to prison;

Philip in Samaria

they then indeed, having been scattered, went abroad proclaiming good news—the word.

And Philip having gone down to a city of Samaria, was preaching the Christ to them;

the multitudes were also giving heed to the things spoken by Philip, with one accord, in their hearing and seeing the signs that he was doing,

for unclean spirits came forth from many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice, and many who have been paralytic and lame were healed,

and there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

(Deuteronomy 18:9–14)

And a certain man, by name Simon, was previously in the city using magic, and amazing the nation of Samaria, saying himself to be a certain great one,

to whom they were all giving heed, from small to great, saying, “This one is the great power of God”;

and they were giving heed to him, because of his having amazed them for a long time with deeds of magic.

And when they believed Philip, proclaiming good news, the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, they were immersed—both men and women;

and Simon himself also believed, and having been immersed, he was continuing with Philip, beholding also signs and mighty acts being done, he was amazed.

And the apostles in Jerusalem having heard that Samaria has received the word of God, sent Peter and John to them,

who having come down prayed concerning them, that they may receive the Holy Spirit—

for as yet He was fallen on none of them, and only they have been immersed—into the Name of the Lord Jesus;

then they were laying hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

And Simon, having beheld that through the laying on of the hands of the apostles the Holy Spirit is given, brought money before them,

saying, “Give also to me this authority, that on whomsoever I may lay the hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.”

And Peter said to him, “Your silver with you—may it be to destruction! Because you thought to possess the gift of God through money;

you have neither part nor lot in this thing, for your heart is not right before God;

convert, therefore, from this your wickedness, and implore God, if then the purpose of your heart may be forgiven you,

for in the gall of bitterness, and bond of unrighteousness, I perceive you being.”

And Simon answering, said, “Implore for me to the LORD, that nothing may come on me of the things you have spoken.”

They indeed, therefore, having testified fully, and spoken the word of the LORD, turned back to Jerusalem; they also proclaimed good news in many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip and the Ethiopian

(Isaiah 53:1–8)

And a messenger of the LORD spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go on toward the south, on the way that is going down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is desolate.)

And having arisen, he went on, and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, a man of rank, of Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;

he was also returning, and is sitting on his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and be joined to this chariot”;

and Philip having run near, heard him reading the prophet Isaiah and said, “Do you then know what you read?”

And he said, “Why, how am I able, if someone may not guide me?” He called Philip also, having come up, to sit with him.

And the passage of the Writing that he was reading was this: “He was led as a sheep to slaughter, || And as a lamb before his shearer is silent, || So He does not open His mouth;

In His humiliation His judgment was taken away, || And His generation—who will declare? Because His life is taken from the earth.”

And the eunuch answering Philip said, “I beg you, about whom does the prophet say this? About himself, or about some other one?”

And Philip having opened his mouth, and having begun from this Writing, proclaimed good news to him—Jesus.

And as they were going on the way, they came on some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, water; what hinders me to be immersed?”

[[And Philip said, “If you believe out of all the heart, it is lawful”; and he answering said, “I believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God”;]]

and he commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down to the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he immersed him;

and when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the LORD snatched up Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more, for he was going on his way rejoicing;

and Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through, he was proclaiming good news to all the cities, until his coming to Caesarea.

Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him.

But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.

Philip in Samaria

Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip when they heard and saw the signs which he did.

For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

There was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

(Deuteronomy 18:9–14)

But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one,

to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.”

They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.

But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;

for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.

Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God.

Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”

Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”

They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip and the Ethiopian

(Isaiah 53:1–8)

Then an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.”

He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.

He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”

Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.

Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth.

In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”(a)

The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”

Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus.

As they went on the way, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”

(b)

He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

Footnotes

(a)8:33 ℘ Isaiah 53:7,8

(b)8:37 TR adds Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”