Jul. 10, 11
Acts 8
Act 8:1 Saul was
consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the
assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered
abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the
apostles.
Act 8:2 Devout men
buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.
Act 8:3 But Saul
ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men
and women off to prison.
Act 8:4 Therefore those
who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.
Act 8:5 Philip went
down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.
Act 8:6 The multitudes
listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip,
when they heard and saw the signs which he did.
Act 8:7 For unclean
spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying
with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.
Act 8:8 There was great
joy in that city.
Act 8:9 But there was a
certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city,
and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great
one,
Act 8:10 to whom they
all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man
is that great power of God."
Act 8:11 They listened
to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his
sorceries.
Act 8:12 But when they
believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and
the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Act 8:13 Simon himself
also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs
and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
Act 8:14 Now when the
apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the
word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
Act 8:15 who, when they
had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy
Spirit;
Act 8:16 for as yet he
had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name
of Christ Jesus.
Act 8:17 Then they laid
their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Act 8:18 Now when Simon
saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the
apostles' hands, he offered them money,
Act 8:19 saying, "Give
me also this power, that whoever I lay my hands on may receive the
Holy Spirit."
Act 8:20 But Peter said
to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought
you could obtain the gift of God with money!
Act 8:21 You have
neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn't right
before God.
Act 8:22 Repent
therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the
thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
Act 8:23 For I see that
you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."
Act 8:24 Simon
answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things
which you have spoken happen to me."
Act 8:25 They
therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord,
returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of
the Samaritans.
Act 8:26 But an angel
of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the
south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a
desert."
Act 8:27 He arose and
went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great
authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all
her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.
Act 8:28 He was
returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet
Isaiah.
Act 8:29 The Spirit
said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot."
Act 8:30 Philip ran to
him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you
understand what you are reading?"
Act 8:31 He said, "How
can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He begged Philip to
come up and sit with him.
Act 8:32 Now the
passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, "He was
led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is
silent, so he doesn't open his mouth.
Act 8:33 In his
humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His
generation? For his life is taken from the earth."
Act 8:34 The eunuch
answered Philip, "Who is the prophet talking about? About
himself, or about someone else?"
Act 8:35 Philip opened
his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.
Act 8:36 As they went
on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Behold,
here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?"
Act 8:37 "Philip
said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' He answered, 'I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' "
Act 8:38 He commanded
the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water,
both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Act 8:39 When they came
up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and
the eunuch didn't see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
Act 8:40 But Philip was
found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all
the cities, until he came to Caesarea.