The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 8 -

Saul was in agreement with his death. So there began on that day a great persecution against the church that was in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

But Saul greatly harmed the church; he went into house after house and dragged out men and women, and put them into prison.

Philip in Samaria

Yet the believers who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

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

When multitudes of people heard and saw the signs that Philip did, they paid attention together to what he said.

For from many people who had them, unclean spirits came out while loudly crying out; and many paralyzed and lame people were healed.

And there was much joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

(Deuteronomy 18:9–14)

But there was a certain man in the city named Simon, who had earlier been practicing sorcery; he used to astonish the people of Samaria, while claiming that he was an important person.

All the Samaritans, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him; they said, “This man is that power of God which is called Great.”

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

But when they believed what Philip preached about the gospel concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

And Simon also himself believed: After he was baptized, he continued to be with Philip; when he saw signs and mighty deeds being done, he was amazed.

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

When they had come down, they prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

For until that time, the Holy Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

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

He said, “Give me this power, too, that whoever I place my hands on might receive the Holy Spirit.”

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

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

Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, so that he might perhaps forgive you for the intention of your heart.

For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bonds of sin.”

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

When Peter and John had born witness and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem; along the way, they preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip and the Ethiopian

(Isaiah 53:1–8)

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip and said, “Arise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This road is in a desert.

He arose and went. Behold, there was a man from Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship.

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

The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and stay close to this chariot.”

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

The Ethiopian said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” He begged Philip to come up into the chariot and sit with him.

Now the passage of the scripture which the Ethiopian was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before his shearer is silent, he does not open his mouth:

In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: Who will declare his generation? for his life was taken from the earth.”

So the eunuch asked Philip, and said, “I beg you, of whom is the prophet speaking? Of himself, or of some other person?”

Philip began to speak; he started with this scripture in Isaiah to preach about Jesus to him.

As they went on the road, they came to some water; the eunuch said, “Look, there is water here; what prevents me from being baptized?”

Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may be baptized.” The Ethiopian answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

So the Ethiopian commanded the chariot to stop. They went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and Philip baptized him.

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

But Philip appeared at Azotus. He passed through that region and preached the gospel to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.

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.

Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him.

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

Philip in Samaria

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

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

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

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.

There was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

(Deuteronomy 18:9–14)

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,

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Philip and the Ethiopian

(Isaiah 53:1–8)

Then 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.”

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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?”

(b)

He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down 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 caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

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

Footnotes

(a)8:33 ℘ Isaiah 53:7,8

(b)8:37 TR adds Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”