Acts 8

Now Saul was in full agreement with Stephen's execution. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.

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

Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.

KJV And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

But Saul was ravaging the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and had them thrown into prison.

KJV As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Now those who were scattered went about proclaiming the good news of the word.

KJV Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

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

KJV Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

The crowds paid close attention with one mind to what Philip was saying, as they heard and saw the signs he was performing.

KJV And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

For unclean spirits came out of many who had them, screaming with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.

KJV For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

There was remarkable joy in that city.

KJV And there was great joy in that city.

Now a man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in the city and had amazed the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.

KJV But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

Everyone, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him, saying, "This man is the power of God called 'the Great Power.'"

KJV To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

They paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorcery.

KJV And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

KJV But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He stayed close to Philip, and when he saw the signs and great miracles being performed, he was amazed.

KJV Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

KJV Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

KJV Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

For as yet he was fallen upon none of them — only they were baptized by the authority of the Lord Jesus.).

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

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

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

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,

KJV And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Declaring, Give me also this authority, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may accept the Holy Ghost.

KJV Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

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

KJV But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

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

KJV Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

KJV Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

For I see that you are full of bitter poison and bound by wickedness."

KJV For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

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

After they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news in many Samaritan villages along the way.

KJV And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

An angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road.)

KJV And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

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

KJV And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

Indeed, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet of old.

KJV Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

The Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join that chariot."

KJV Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

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

KJV And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

He said, "How could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

KJV And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Now the passage of Scripture he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth.

KJV The 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:

In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken from the earth."

KJV In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

The eunuch said to Philip, "I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this — about himself or about someone else?"

KJV And the eunuch answered and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning from this Scripture, proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him.

KJV Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"

KJV And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

He ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water — Philip and the eunuch — and Philip baptized him.

KJV And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both 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 carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again but went on his way rejoicing.

KJV And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through, he proclaimed the good news in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

KJV But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.