Act 8 | ISV | STEP | The Church Is Persecuted Now Saul heartily approved of putting him to death. That day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all of them, except for the apostles, were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.

Acts 8

1 The Church Is Persecuted

Now Saul heartily approved of putting him to death. That day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all of them, except for the apostles, were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.Acts 7:58; 11:19; 22:20 2 Devout men buried Stephen as they mourned loudly for him.Gen 23:2; 50:10; 2Sam 3:31 3 But Saul kept trying to destroy the church. Going into one house after another, he began dragging off men and women and throwing them in prison.Acts 7:58; 22:4; 26:10-11; 1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6; 1Tim 1:13

4 Some Samaritans Become BelieversNow those who were scattered went from place to place preaching the word.Matt 10:23; Acts 11:19 5 Philip went down to the ^{▼▼Other mss. read a} city of Samaria and began to preach the Christ ^{▼▼I.e. the Messiah} to the people. ^{▼▼Lit. to them}Acts 6:5 6 The crowds, hearing his message ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks his message} and seeing the signs that he was doing, paid close attention to what was said by Philip. 7 Unclean spirits screamed with a loud voice as they came out of the many people they had possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed.Mark 16:17 8 As a result, there was great rejoicing in that city.

9 Now in that city there was a man named Simon. He was practicing occult arts and thrilling the people of Samaria, claiming to be a great man.Acts 5:36; 13:6 10 Everyone from the least to the greatest paid close attention to him, saying, “This man is the power of God, which is called great!” 11 They paid careful attention to him because he had thrilled them for a long time with his occultic performances. 12 But when Philip proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, men and women believed and were baptized.Acts 1:3 13 Even Simon believed, and after he was baptized he became devoted to Philip. He was amazed to see the signs and great miracles that were happening.

14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 They went down and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.Acts 2:38 16 Before this he had not come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.Matt 28:19; Acts 2:38; 10:48 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.Acts 6:6; 19:6; Heb 6:2

18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me this power too, so that when I lay my hands on someone he will receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter said to him, “May your money perish with you because you thought you could obtain God's free gift with money!2Kings 5:16; Matt 10:8; Acts 2:38; 10:45; 11:17 21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart isn't right before God. 22 So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you.Dan 4:27; 2Tim 2:25 23 For I see that you're turning into bitter poison and that you’re being chained by wickedness!”Heb 12:15

24 Simon answered, “Both of you pray ^{▼▼Lit. Pray (pl.)} to the Lord for me that none of the things you have said will happen to me.”Gen 20:7, 17; Exod 8:8; Num 21:7; 1Kings 13:6; Job 42:8; James 5:16

25 After they had given their testimony and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, continuing to proclaim the good news in many Samaritan villages. 26 Philip Tells an Ethiopian about JesusNow an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south by the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert road.” 27 So he got up and went. Now an Ethiopian eunuch was there. He was a member of the court of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, and was in charge of all her treasures. He had come to Jerusalem to worshipZeph 3:10; John 12:20 28 and was returning home. He was seated in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay close to it.” 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah out loud.

He asked, “Do you understand what you're reading?”

31 He replied, “How can I unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. 32 This was the passage of Scripture he was reading:Isa 53:7-8

“Like a sheep he was led away to be slaughtered,

and like a lamb is silent before its shearer,

so he does not open his mouth.

33 In his humiliation, justice was denied him.

Who can describe his generation?

For his life is taken away from the earth.” ^{▼▼Isa 53:7-8 (LXX)}

34 The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, about whom is the prophet speaking—about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, starting from this Scripture, told him the good news about Jesus.Luke 24:27; Acts 18:28

36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there's some water. What keeps me from being baptized?” ^{▼▼Other mss. read from being baptized?” ³⁷Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”}Matt 16:16; 28:19; Mark 16:16; John 6:69; 11:27; Acts 9:20; 10:47; 1John 4:15 38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip ^{▼▼Lit. he} baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing and did not see Philip ^{▼▼Lit. him} again.1Kings 18:12; 2Kings 2:16; Ezek 3:12, 14 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus. As he was passing through the region, ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks the region} he kept proclaiming the good news in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.