Acts 8

Acts 8

1And Saul was consenting to his death.[#Ac 7:58]

Saul Persecutes the Church

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2Devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him.

3But Saul ravaged the church, entering house by house and dragging out both men and women and committing them to prison.[#1Co 15:9; Gal 1:13]

The Gospel Preached in Samaria

4Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.[#Ac 8:1]

5Philip went down to the main city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.[#Ac 6:5]

6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miracles which he did, they listened in unity to what he said.

7For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed. And many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.[#Mk 16:17–18]

8So there was much joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer Believes

9Now a man named Simon was previously in the city practicing sorcery and astonishing the nation of Samaria, saying he was someone great,[#Ac 13:6; #Ac 5:36]

10to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”[#Ac 14:11; 28:6]

11They listened to him, because for a long time he had astonished them by his sorceries.[#Gal 3:1]

12But when they believed Philip preaching about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.[#Ac 1:3; #Ac 2:38]

13Even Simon himself believed. And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and was amazed as he watched the miracles and signs which were done.[#Ac 8:6–7; 19:11]

Samaritans Receive the Holy Spirit

14Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.[#Ac 8:1]

15When they came down, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,[#Ac 2:38]

16for still He had come on none of them. They were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.[#Ac 19:2; #Mt 28:19]

17Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.[#Ac 6:6; #Ac 9:17; 10:44–46; 19:6]

18When Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,

19saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20Peter said to him, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could purchase the gift of God with money![#Da 5:17]

21You have neither part nor share in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

22Therefore repent of your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.[#Da 4:27]

23For I see that you are bitterly envious and in the bond of iniquity.”[#Heb 12:15]

24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me that nothing you have spoken may come upon me.”[#Ex 8:8; Nu 21:7]

25When they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise up and go toward the south on the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.[#Ac 5:19; 12:23; 27:23]

27So he rose up and went. And there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in command of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship.[#Ps 68:31; 87:4]

28He was returning, sitting in his chariot and reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.

29The Spirit said to Philip, “Go to this chariot and stay with it.”[#Ac 10:19; 11:12]

30Then Philip ran to him, and heard him read the book of Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31He said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.[#Ro 10:14]

32The passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:

“He was led as a sheep to slaughter;

and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,

so He opened not His mouth.

33In His humiliation justice was denied Him;

who will speak of His generation?

For His life is taken from the earth.”

34The eunuch asked Philip, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet speak, of himself or of someone else?”

35Then Philip spoke, beginning with the same Scripture, and preached Jesus to him.[#Lk 24:27; Ac 18:28]

36As they went on their way, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”[#Ac 10:47]

37Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

38And he commanded the chariot to halt. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. And the eunuch saw him no more, and he went his way rejoicing.[#1Ki 18:12; 2Ki 2:16]

40But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached the gospel in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.[#Ac 10:1; 21:8]

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