1 A nd Saul was assenting to his death, and there came in that day a great persecution upon the assembly in Jerusalem, all also were scattered abroad in the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles;

Saul 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.

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

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

3 a nd Saul was making havoc of the assembly, into every house entering, and haling men and women, was giving them up to prison;

During 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

4 t hey then indeed, having been scattered, went abroad proclaiming good news -- the word.

Those who had been made to go to other places preached the Word as they went.

5 A nd Philip having gone down to a city of Samaria, was preaching to them the Christ,

Philip went down to a city in Samaria and preached about Christ.

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

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

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

There 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.

8 a nd there was great joy in that city.

There was much joy in that city. Simon the Witch Doctor

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

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.

10 t o whom they were all giving heed, from small unto great, saying, `This one is the great power of God;'

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

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

They kept running after him. For a long time he fooled them with his witchcraft.

12 A nd when they believed Philip, proclaiming good news, the things concerning the reign of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women;

Philip 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.

13 a nd Simon also himself did believe, and, having been baptized, he was continuing with Philip, beholding also signs and mighty acts being done, he was amazed.

Even 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.

14 A nd the apostles in Jerusalem having heard that Samaria hath received the word of God, did send unto them Peter and John,

The missionaries in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had received the Word of God. They sent Peter and John to them.

15 w ho having come down did pray concerning them, that they may receive the Holy Spirit, --

When Peter and John got there, they prayed that the new followers might receive the Holy Spirit.

16 f or as yet he was fallen upon none of them, and only they have been baptized -- to the name of the Lord Jesus;

He had not yet come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 t hen were they laying hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

They laid their hands on them and the followers received the Holy Spirit.

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

When 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.

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

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

20 A nd Peter said unto him, `Thy silver with thee -- may it be to destruction! because the gift of God thou didst think to possess through money;

Peter said to him, “May your money be destroyed with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!

21 t hou hast neither part nor lot in this thing, for thy heart is not right before God;

You have no part or place in this work. Your heart is not right in God’s sight.

22 r eform, therefore, from this thy wickedness, and beseech God, if then the purpose of thy heart may be forgiven thee,

You 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.

23 f or in the gall of bitterness, and bond of unrighteousness, I perceive thee being.'

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

24 A nd Simon answering, said, `Beseech ye for me unto the Lord, that nothing may come upon me of the things ye have spoken.'

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

25 T hey indeed, therefore, having testified fully, and spoken the word of the Lord, did turn back to Jerusalem; in many villages also of the Samaritans they did proclaim good news.

Peter 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

26 A nd a messenger of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, `Arise, and go on toward the south, on the way that is going down from Jerusalem to Gaza,' -- this is desert.

An 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.”

27 A nd having arisen, he went on, and lo, 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 worship to Jerusalem;

Philip 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.

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

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

29 A nd the Spirit said to Philip, `Go near, and be joined to this chariot;'

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

30 a nd Philip having run near, heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, `Dost thou then know what thou dost read?'

Philip 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?”

31 a nd he said, `Why, how am I able, if some one may not guide me?' he called Philip also, having come up, to sit with him.

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

32 A nd the contents of the Writing that he was reading was this: `As a sheep unto slaughter he was led, and as a lamb before his shearer dumb, so he doth not open his mouth;

He 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.

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

No 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.

34 A nd the eunuch answering Philip said, `I pray thee, about whom doth the prophet say this? about himself, or about some other one?'

The man from Ethiopia said to Philip, “Who is the early preacher talking about, himself, or someone else?”

35 a nd Philip having opened his mouth, and having begun from this Writing, proclaimed good news to him -- Jesus.

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

36 A nd as they were going on the way, they came upon a certain water, and the eunuch said, `Lo, water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?'

As 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?”

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

He stopped the wagon. Then both Philip and the man from Ethiopia went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

39 a nd when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more, for he was going on his way rejoicing;

When 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.

40 a nd Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through, he was proclaiming good news to all the cities, till his coming to Cesarea.

Philip 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.