1 S aul thought it was all right that Stephen was killed. On that day people started to work very hard against the church in Jerusalem. All the followers, except the missionaries, were made to leave. They went to parts of the countries of Judea and Samaria.

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 G ood men put Stephen in a grave. There was much sorrow because of him.

Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.

3 D uring this time Saul was making it very hard for the church. He went into every house of the followers of Jesus and took men and women and put them in prison. Philip Preaches in Samaria

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

4 T hose who had been made to go to other places preached the Word as they went.

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

5 P hilip went down to a city in Samaria and preached about Christ.

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

6 T he people all listened to what Philip said. As they listened, they watched him do powerful works.

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 T here were many people who had demons in their bodies. The demons cried with loud voices when they went out of the people. Many of the people could not move their bodies or arms and legs. They were all 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 T here was much joy in that city. Simon the Witch Doctor

There was great joy in that city.

9 A man by the name of Simon had done witchcraft there. The people of Samaria were surprised at the things he did. He pretended that he was a great man.

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 A ll the people watched and listened to him. They said, “This man must be that great power of God.”

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

11 T hey kept running after him. For a long time he fooled them with his witchcraft.

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

12 P hilip told the Good News of the holy nation of God and of Jesus Christ. Both men and women put their trust in Christ and were baptized.

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 E ven Simon believed in Christ and was baptized. He went along with Philip everywhere. He was surprised when he saw the powerful works that were being done.

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

14 T he missionaries in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had received the Word of God. They sent Peter and John to 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 hen Peter and John got there, they prayed that the new followers might receive the Holy Spirit.

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

16 H e had not yet come on any of them. They had only been baptized 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 hey laid their hands on them and the followers received the Holy Spirit.

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

18 W hen Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given when the missionaries laid their hands on the people, he wanted to give money to the missionaries.

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

19 H e said, “Let me also have this power. Then I can give the Holy Spirit to anyone I lay my hands on.”

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

20 P eter said to him, “May your money be destroyed with you because you thought you could buy 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 no part or place in this work. Your heart is not right in God’s sight.

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

22 Y ou must be sorry for this sin of yours and turn from it. Pray to the Lord that He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

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

23 I see that you are full of jealousy and chained by your sin.”

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

24 S imon said, “Pray to the Lord for me that nothing you have said will come to me.”

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

25 P eter and John went back to Jerusalem after telling what they had seen and heard. They had preached the Word of the Lord also. On the way they preached the Good News in many other towns in the country of Samaria. Philip and the Man from Ethiopia

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 A n angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south. Take the road that goes down from Jerusalem to the country of Gaza. It goes through the 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 P hilip got up and went. A man from the country of Ethiopia had come to Jerusalem to worship. He had been made so he could not have children. He cared for all the riches that belonged to Candace who was Queen of Ethiopia.

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 A s he was going back home, he was sitting in his wagon reading about the early preacher Isaiah.

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

29 T he Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that wagon and get on it.”

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

30 P hilip ran up to him. He saw that the man from Ethiopia was reading from the writings of the early preacher Isaiah and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

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

31 T he man from Ethiopia said, “How can I, unless someone teaches me?” Then he asked Philip to come up and sit beside him.

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

32 H e was reading the part in the Holy Writings which says He was taken like a lamb to be put to death. A sheep does not make a sound while its wool is cut. So He made no sound.

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 N o one listened to Him because of His shame. Who will tell the story of His day? For His life was taken away 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 T he man from Ethiopia said to Philip, “Who is the early preacher talking about, himself, or someone else?”

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

35 S o Philip started with this part of the Holy Writings and preached the Good News of Jesus to him.

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

36 A s they went on their way, they came to some water. The man from Ethiopia said, “See! Here is water. What is to stop me from being 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 ( Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The man said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”)

38 H e stopped the wagon. Then both Philip and the man from Ethiopia went down into the water and Philip 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 W hen they came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit took Philip away. The man from Ethiopia did not see Philip again. He went on his way full of joy.

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 P hilip found himself at the city of Azotus. Then Philip went through all the towns as far as the city of Caesarea preaching the Good News at each place.

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