Shared Word Translation
Acts 8
Saul Ravages the Church
And Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.
But Saul was ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off both men and women, he was delivering them to prison.
Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria
Therefore those who were scattered went about proclaiming the word. And Philip, going down to a city of Samaria, was proclaiming the Christ to them.
And the crowds were paying attention with one accord to what was being said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs which he was doing. For from many of those having unclean spirits, they were coming out, crying with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Magician Believes
But a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and was astonishing the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was someone great. To him they all were giving attention, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”
And they were giving attention to him because for a long time he had astonished them with his magic arts. But when they believed Philip proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, both men and women.
And Simon himself also believed, and after being baptized he was continuing with Philip, and seeing signs and great works of power being done, he was amazed.
The Samaritans Receive the Holy Spirit
Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who, coming down, prayed for them so that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they were laying hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give to me also this authority, so that on whomever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.”
But Peter said to him, “May your silver be with you for destruction, because you thought to obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor share in this matter, for your heart is not straight before God.
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord, if perhaps the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see you being in the gall of bitterness and the bond of unrighteousness.”
And answering, Simon said, “Pray for me to the Lord, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
Therefore, having testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they were returning to Jerusalem, and were proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza; this is a desert place.” And rising, he went. And behold, an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,
and he was returning and sitting in his chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and join yourself to this chariot.”
And running up, Philip heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you indeed understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Now the passage of Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to slaughter,
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he does not open his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was taken from him;
who will describe his generation?
For his life is taken from the earth.”
And the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this? About himself or about someone else?” And Philip, opening his mouth and beginning from this Scripture, proclaimed the good news of Jesus to him.
And as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch says, “Behold, water; what prevents me from being baptized?”
And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him anymore, for he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through, he was proclaiming the good news to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.