Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Acts 8
Persecution Scatters the Church
Saul approved of Stephen’s death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles was scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul was ravaging the church, entering house after house, dragging away both men and women, and handing them over to prison.
Philip Announces the Christ in Samaria
Those who had been scattered went from place to place announcing the good news of the word. Philip went down to a city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. The crowds paid close attention together to what Philip said as they heard and saw the signs he was doing. Unclean spirits came out of many people with loud cries, and many who were paralyzed or unable to walk were healed. So there was great joy in that city.
Simon and the Gift of God
A man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, claiming that he himself was someone great. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him and said, “This man is the power of God called Great.” They paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they trusted Philip as he announced the good news about God’s kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Simon himself also trusted and was baptized. He stayed close to Philip and was amazed as he saw signs and great works of power happening. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received God’s word, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for the Samaritan believers so they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me this authority too, so that anyone I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! You have no part or share in this matter because your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this evil and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by unrighteousness.” Simon answered, “You pray to the Lord for me so that none of the things you said will happen to me.” After Peter and John had testified and spoken the Lord’s word, they returned to Jerusalem, announcing the good news in many Samaritan villages along the way.
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. It is a desert road.”
So Philip got up and went. Look—an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasury, had come to Jerusalem to worship.
He was returning home, sitting in his chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and stay close to this chariot.”
Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
The man answered, “How could I unless someone guides me?” He invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
The passage of Scripture he was reading was:
“Like a sheep he was led to slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
he does not open his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will describe his generation?
For his life is taken from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, “Please tell me, who is the prophet talking about—himself or someone else?”
Philip began with this Scripture and announced the good news about Jesus to him.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look—water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
He ordered the chariot to stop. Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away. The eunuch did not see him again but continued on his way rejoicing.
Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he traveled through the region he announced the good news in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.