BBE - Acts - 8

8:1  And Saul gave approval to his death. Now at that time a violent attack was started against the church in Jerusalem; and all but the Apostles went away into all parts of Judaea and Samaria.

8:2  And God-fearing men put Stephen's body in its last resting-place, making great weeping over him.

8:3  But Saul was burning with hate against the church, going into every house and taking men and women and putting them in prison.

8:4  But those who had gone in flight went everywhere preaching the word.

8:5  And Philip went down to Samaria and was teaching them about Christ.

8:6  And all the people gave attention to the words which Philip said, when they saw the signs which he did.

8:7  For unclean spirits came out from those who had them, crying with a loud voice; and a number of those who were ill and broken in body were made well.

8:8  And there was much joy in that town.

8:9  But there was a certain man named Simon, who in the past had been a wonder-worker and a cause of surprise to the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was a great man:

8:10  To whom they all gave attention, from the smallest to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is named Great.

8:11  And they gave attention to him, because for a long time his wonder-working powers had kept them under his control.

8:12  But when they had faith in the good news given by Philip about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, a number of men and women had baptism.

8:13  And Simon himself had faith and, having had baptism, he went with Philip and, seeing the signs and the great wonders which he did, he was full of surprise.

8:14  Now when the Apostles at Jerusalem had news that the people of Samaria had taken the word of God into their hearts, they sent to them Peter and John;

8:15  Who, when they came there, made prayer for them, that the Holy Spirit might be given to them:

8:16  For up to that time he had not come on any of them; only baptism had been given to them in the name of the Lord Jesus.

8:17  Then they put their hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them.

8:18  Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the touch of the Apostles' hands, he made them an offering of money, saying,

8:19  Give me this power, so that when I put my hands on anyone he may get the Holy Spirit.

8:20  But Peter said, May your money come to destruction with you, because you had the idea that what is freely given by God may be got for a price.

8:21  You have no part in this business, because your heart is not right before God.

8:22  Let your heart be changed, and make prayer to God that you may have forgiveness for your evil thoughts.

8:23  For I see that you are prisoned in bitter envy and the chains of sin.

8:24  And Simon, answering, said, Make prayer for me to the Lord, so that these things which you have said may not come on me.

8:25  So they, having given their witness and made clear the word of the Lord, went back to Jerusalem, giving the good news on their way in a number of the small towns of Samaria.

8:26  But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Get up, and go to the south, to the road which goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, through the waste land.

8:27  And he went and there was a man of Ethiopia, a servant of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, and controller of all her property, who had come up to Jerusalem for worship;

8:28  He was going back, seated in his carriage, and was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.

8:29  And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and get on his carriage.

8:30  And Philip, running up to him, saw that he was reading Isaiah the prophet, and said to him, Is the sense of what you are reading clear to you?

8:31  And he said, How is that possible when I have no guide? And he made Philip get up by his side.

8:32  Now the place in the book where he was reading was this: He was taken, like a sheep, to be put to death; and as a lamb is quiet when its wool is being cut, so he made no sound:

8:33  Being of low degree, his cause was not given a hearing: who has knowledge of his family? for his life is cut off from the earth.

8:34  And the Ethiopian said to Philip, About whom are these words said by the prophet? about himself, or some other?

8:35  So Philip, starting from this writing, gave him the good news about Jesus.

8:36  And while they were going on their way, they came to some water, and the Ethiopian said, See, here is water; why may I not have baptism?

8:38  And he gave orders for the carriage to be stopped, and the two of them went down into the water, and Philip gave him baptism.

8:39  And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away; and the Ethiopian saw him no more, for he went on his way full of joy.

8:40  But Philip came to Azotus, and went through all the towns, preaching the good news, till he came to Caesarea.