Act 8-9 | ESV | STEP | And Saul approved of his execution . And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem , and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria , except the apostles .

1 And ^aSaul ^bapproved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and ^cthey were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But ^dSaul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he ^edragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria

4 Now ^fthose who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 ^gPhilip went down to the city ^{▼▼Some manuscripts a city} of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 ⁱAnd the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him ^jand saw the signs that he did. 7 For ^kunclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So ^lthere was much joy in that city.

Simon the Magician Believes

9 But there was a man named Simon, ^mwho had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, ⁿsaying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, ^o“This man is the power of God that is called ^pGreat.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had ^qamazed them with his magic. 12 But when ^rthey believed Philip as he preached good news ^sabout the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, ^tthey were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And ^useeing signs and ^vgreat miracles ^{▼▼Greek works of power} performed, ^xhe was amazed.

14 Now when ^ythe apostles at Jerusalem heard that ^zSamaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them ^aathat they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for ^abhe had not yet ^acfallen on any of them, but ^adthey had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then ^aethey laid their hands on them and ^afthey received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, ^ag“May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God ^ahwith money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for ^aiyour heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, ^ajif possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in ^akthe gall ^{▼▼That is, a bitter fluid secreted by the liver; bile} of bitterness and in ^amthe bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, ^an“Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, ^aopreaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

26 Now ^apan angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south ^{▼▼Or go at about noon} to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an ^arEthiopian, a ^aseunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, ^atwho was in charge of all her treasure. ^auHe had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, ^av“How can I, unless someone ^awguides me?” And ^axhe invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

^ay“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his ^azhumiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and ^babeginning with this Scripture ^bbhe told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! ^bcWhat prevents me from being baptized?” ^{▼▼Some manuscripts add all or most of verse 37: And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”} 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, ^bethe Spirit of the Lord ^bfcarried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Acts 9

The Conversion of Saul

1 But Saul, ^bgstill ^bhbreathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to ^bithe high priest 2 and asked him for letters ^bjto the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to ^bkthe Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 ^blNow as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ^bmme?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, ^bnwhom you are persecuting. 6 But ^borise and enter the city, and you will be told ^bpwhat you are to do.” 7 ^bqThe men who were traveling with him stood speechless, ^brhearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, ^bshe saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named ^btAnanias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, ^bu“Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man ^bvof Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and ^bwlay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, ^bxhow much evil he has done to ^byyour ^bzsaints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from ^cathe chief priests to bind all who ^cbcall on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for ^cche is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name ^cdbefore the Gentiles and ^cekings and the children of Israel. 16 For ^cfI will show him how much ^cghe must suffer ^chfor the sake of my name.” 17 So ^ciAnanias departed and entered the house. And ^cjlaying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and ^ckbe filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and ^clhe regained his sight. Then ^cmhe rose and was baptized; 19 and ^cntaking food, he was strengthened.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

For ^cosome days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ^cp“He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who ^cqmade havoc ^crin Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul ^csincreased all the more in strength, and ^ctconfounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving ^cuthat Jesus was the Christ.

Saul Escapes from Damascus

23 ^cvWhen many days had passed, the Jews ^{▼▼The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time} plotted to kill him, 24 but their ^cxplot became known to Saul. ^cyThey were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and ^czlet him down through an opening in the wall, ^{▼▼Greek through the wall} lowering him in a basket.

Saul in Jerusalem

26 And ^dbwhen he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But ^dcBarnabas took him and ^ddbrought him to the apostles and declared to them ^dehow on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and ^dfhow at Damascus he had ^dgpreached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went ^dhin and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against ^dithe Hellenists. ^{▼▼That is, Greek-speaking Jews} But ^dkthey were seeking to kill him. 30 And when ^dlthe brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off ^dmto Tarsus.

31 So ^dnthe church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And ^dowalking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, ^dpit multiplied.

The Healing of Aeneas

32 Now ^dqas Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, ^drJesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 ^dsAnd all the residents of Lydda and ^dtSharon saw him, and ^duthey turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

36 Now there was in ^dvJoppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. ^{▼▼The Aramaic name Tabitha and the Greek name Dorcas both mean gazelle} She was full of ^dxgood works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in ^dyan upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, ^dz“Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to ^eathe upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics ^{▼▼Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin} and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter ^ecput them all outside, and ^edknelt down and prayed; and turning to the body ^eehe said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and ^efmany believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days ^egwith one Simon, a tanner.