Acts 8
A Eunuch Reading Isaiah in a Chariot
← Acts 7 · Acts: all chapters · Acts 9 →
Saul Ravages the Church
8:1Saul approved of his killing. That day a great persecution arose against the Church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.
8:2Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.
8:3But Saul was ravaging the Church, entering house after house, dragging away both men and women, and handing them over to prison.
8:4Those who were scattered went about proclaiming the word as good news.
Philip in Samaria
8:5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
8:6The crowds paid attention together to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the signs he was doing.
8:7For unclean spirits came out of many who had them, crying with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed or unable to walk were healed.
8:8There was great joy in that city.
Simon the Magician
8:9A man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he himself was someone great.
8:10Everyone, from small to great, paid attention to him, saying, “This man is the Power of God that is called Great.”
8:11They paid attention to him because he had astonished them with his magical practices for a long time.
8:12But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
8:13Simon himself also believed, and after being baptized he stayed close to Philip. Seeing signs and great works of power taking place, he was astonished.
Peter and John in Samaria
8:14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
8:15They went down and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit,
8:16for He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
8:17Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
8:18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
8:19saying, “Give me this authority too, so that anyone upon whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
8:20Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire God’s gift with money!
8:21You have neither part nor allotted share in this matter, for your heart is not upright before God.
8:22Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and plead with the Lord that perhaps the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
8:23For I see that you are in bitter gall and a bond of unrighteousness.”
8:24Simon answered, “You yourselves plead with the Lord for me, so that none of the things you have spoken may come upon me.”
8:25After bearing solemn witness and speaking the word of the Lord, they returned toward Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news in many Samaritan villages.
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
8:26An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Rise and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert road.
8:27He rose and went. And look—an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and an official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury, had come to Jerusalem to worship.
8:28He was returning, seated in his chariot, and reading the prophet Isaiah.
8:29The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and join this chariot.”
8:30Philip ran up, heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
8:31He said, “How could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
The Scripture Explained and the Eunuch Baptized
8:32The passage of Scripture he was reading was this: “Like a sheep He was led to slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so He does not open His mouth.
8:33In His humiliation His judgment was taken away. Who will recount His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”
8:34The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this—about himself or about someone else?”
8:35Philip opened his mouth and, beginning from this Scripture, proclaimed to him the good news of Jesus.
8:36As they went along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
8:38He ordered the chariot to stop. Both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
8:39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
8:40Philip was found at Azotus, and as he passed through, he proclaimed the good news in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
← Acts 7 · Acts: all chapters · Acts 9 →
Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V2 · working draft awaiting specialist review.