1 ¶ And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the congregation which was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

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.

2 A nd devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him.

Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.

3 A s for Saul, he made havoc of the congregation; entering into the houses and dragging out men and women, he committed them to prison.

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

4 ¶ But those that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word of the gospel.

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

5 T hen Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached the Christ unto them.

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

6 A nd the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the signs which he did.

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

7 F or many unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of those who were possessed with them, and many paralytics and that were lame were healed.

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.

8 A nd there was great joy in that city.

There was great joy in that city.

9 B ut there was a certain man called Simon, who before this in the same city used magic arts and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that he himself was some great one,

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,

10 t o whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This is the great virtue of God.

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

11 A nd to him they had regard because for a long time he had amazed them with magic arts.

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

12 B ut when they believed Philip preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

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.

13 T hen Simon himself believed also; and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were being done.

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

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

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

15 w ho, when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

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

16 ( For as yet he was fallen upon none of them; they were baptized only in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

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

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

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

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

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

19 s aying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.

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

20 B ut Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased 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 T hou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

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

22 R epent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God, if perhaps this thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

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

23 F or I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the prison of iniquity.

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

24 T hen Simon answered and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

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

25 A nd they, when they had testified and preached the word of God, returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

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.

26 ¶ And the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, Arise and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

But 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.”

27 T hen he arose and went, and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure and had come to Jerusalem to worship,

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.

28 w as returning and sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.

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

29 T hen the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near and join thyself to this chariot.

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

30 A nd Philip ran there to him and heard him read the prophet Isaiah and said, Dost thou understand what thou readest?

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

31 A nd he said, How can I, except someone should guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.

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

32 T he place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth;

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.

33 i n his humiliation his judgment was taken away, and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

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

34 A nd the eunuch answered Philip and said, I pray thee, of whom does the prophet speak this? of himself or of some other?

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

35 T hen Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture and preached unto him the gospel of Jesus.

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

36 A nd as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what hinders me to be baptized?

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?”

37 A nd Philip said, If thou dost believe with all thine heart, thou may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

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

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

39 A nd when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, so that 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 caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

40 B ut Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through, he preached the gospel in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

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