1 A nd Saul was consenting to death '> pleased and entirely approving]. On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers).

Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 d evout men with others helped to carry out and bury Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.

3 B ut Saul shamefully treated and laid waste the church continuously; and entering house after house, he dragged out men and women and committed them to prison.

But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. Philip in Samaria

4 N ow those who were scattered abroad went about preaching the glad tidings, the Word '> the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God].

Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

5 P hilip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the Messiah) to them;

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

6 A nd great crowds of people with one accord listened to and heeded what was said by Philip, as they heard him and watched the miracles and wonders which he kept performing.

The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.

7 F or foul spirits came out of many who were possessed by them, screaming and shouting with a loud voice, and many who were suffering from palsy or were crippled were restored to health.

For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

8 A nd there was great rejoicing in that city.

So there was much rejoicing in that city.

9 B ut there was a man named Simon, who had formerly practiced magic arts in the city to the utter amazement of the Samaritan nation, claiming that he himself was an extraordinary and distinguished person.

Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;

10 T hey all paid earnest attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that exhibition of the power of God which is called great (intense).

and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “ This man is what is called the Great Power of God.”

11 A nd they were attentive and made much of him, because for a long time he had amazed and bewildered and dazzled them with his skill in magic arts.

And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.

12 B ut when they believed the good news (the Gospel) about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) as Philip preached it, they were baptized, both men and women.

But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.

13 E ven Simon himself believed, and after being baptized, devoted himself constantly to him. And seeing signs and miracles of great power which were being performed, he was utterly amazed.

Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

14 N ow when the apostles (special messengers) at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted and welcomed the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

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

15 A nd they came down and prayed for them that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit;

who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

16 F or He had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 T hen laid their hands on them one by one, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.

18 H owever, when Simon saw that the Spirit was imparted through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he brought money and offered it to them,

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

19 S aying, Grant me also this power and authority, in order that anyone on whom I place my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.

saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 B ut Peter said to him, Destruction overtake your money and you, because you imagined you could obtain the gift of God with money!

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

21 Y ou have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is all wrong in God’s sight.

You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

22 S o repent of this depravity and wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this contriving thought and purpose of your heart may be removed and disregarded and forgiven you.

Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

23 F or I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in a bond forged by iniquity.

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

24 A nd Simon answered, Pray for me, that nothing of what you have said may befall me!

But Simon answered and said, “ Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” An Ethiopian Receives Christ

25 N ow when had borne their testimony and preached the message of the Lord, they went back to Jerusalem, proclaiming the glad tidings (Gospel) to many villages of the Samaritans.

So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

26 B ut an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Rise and proceed southward or at midday on the road that runs from Jerusalem down to Gaza. This is the desert '> route].

But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” ( This is a desert road.)

27 S o he got up and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship.

So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 A nd he was returning, and sitting in his chariot he was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.

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

29 T hen the Spirit said to Philip, Go forward and join yourself to this chariot.

Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”

30 A ccordingly Philip, running up to him, heard reading the prophet Isaiah and asked, Do you really understand what you are reading?

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

31 A nd he said, How is it possible for me to do so unless someone explains it to me and guides me ? And he earnestly requested Philip to come up and sit beside him.

And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 N ow this was the passage of Scripture which he was reading: Like a sheep He was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so He opens not His mouth.

Now 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 does not open His mouth.

33 I n His humiliation He was taken away by distressing and oppressive judgment and justice was denied Him. Who can describe or relate in full the wickedness of His contemporaries (generation)? For His life is taken from the earth and a bloody death inflicted upon Him.

“ In humiliation His judgment was taken away; Who will relate His generation ? For His life is removed from the earth.”

34 A nd the eunuch said to Philip, I beg of you, tell me about whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?

The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?”

35 T hen Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this portion of Scripture he announced to him the glad tidings (Gospel) of Jesus and about Him.

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

36 A nd as they continued along on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch exclaimed, See, water! What is to hinder my being baptized?

As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

37 A nd Philip said, If you believe with all your heart '> a conviction, full of joyful trust, that Jesus is the Messiah and accept Him as the Author of your salvation in the kingdom of God, giving Him your obedience, then] you may. And he replied, I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

'> 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 A nd he ordered that the chariot be stopped; and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and baptized him.

And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

39 A nd when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord '> suddenly] caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing.

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

40 B ut Philip was found at Azotus, and passing on he preached the good news (Gospel) to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.