Thematic Bible
Acts 8:1 (show verse)
And Saul fully approved of his murder. At this time a great persecution broke out against the Church in Jerusalem, and all except the Apostles were scattered throughout Judaea and Samaria.
Acts 8:2 (show verse)
A party of devout men, however, buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
Acts 8:3 (show verse)
But Saul cruelly harassed the Church. He went into house after house, and, dragging off both men and women, threw them into prison.
Acts 8:4 (show verse)
Those, however, who were scattered abroad went from place to place spreading the Good News of God's Message;
Acts 8:5 (show verse)
while Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ there.
Acts 8:6 (show verse)
Crowds of people, with one accord, gave attention to what they heard from him, listening, and witnessing the signs which he did.
Acts 8:7 (show verse)
For, with a loud cry, foul spirits came out of many possessed by them, and many paralytics and lame persons were restored to health.
Acts 8:8 (show verse)
And there was great joy in that city.
Acts 8:9 (show verse)
Now for some time past there had been a man named Simon living there, who had been practising magic and astonishing the Samaritans, pretending that he was more than human.
Acts 8:10 (show verse)
To him people of all classes paid attention, declaring, "This man is the Power of God, known as the great Power."
Acts 8:11 (show verse)
His influence over them arose from their having been, for a long time, bewildered by his sorceries.
Acts 8:12 (show verse)
But when Philip began to tell the Good News about the Kingdom of God and about the Name of Jesus Christ, and they embraced the faith, they were baptized, men and women alike.
Acts 8:13 (show verse)
Simon himself also believed, and after being baptized remained in close attendance on Philip, and was full of amazement at seeing such signs and such great miracles performed.
Acts 8:14 (show verse)
When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John to visit them.
Acts 8:15 (show verse)
They, when they came down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
Acts 8:16 (show verse)
for He had not as yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 8:17 (show verse)
Then the Apostles placed their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:18 (show verse)
When, however, Simon saw that it was through the laying on of the Apostles' hands that the Spirit was bestowed, he offered them money.
Acts 8:19 (show verse)
"Give me too," he said, "that power, so that every one on whom I place my hands will receive the Holy Spirit."
Acts 8:20 (show verse)
"Perish your money and yourself," replied Peter, "because you have imagined that you can obtain God's free gift with money!
Acts 8:21 (show verse)
No part or lot have you in this matter, for your heart is not right in God's sight.
Acts 8:22 (show verse)
Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, in the hope that the purpose which is in your heart may perhaps be forgiven you.
Acts 8:23 (show verse)
For I perceive that you have fallen into the bitterest bondage of unrighteousness."
Acts 8:24 (show verse)
"Pray, both of you, to the Lord for me," answered Simon, "that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
Acts 8:25 (show verse)
So the Apostles, after giving a solemn charge and delivering the Lord's Message, travelled back to Jerusalem, making known the Good News also in many of the Samaritan villages.
Acts 8:26 (show verse)
And an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and proceed south to the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza, crossing the Desert."
Acts 8:27 (show verse)
Upon this he rose and went. Now, as it happened, an Ethiopian eunuch who was in a position of high authority with Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, as her treasurer, had visited Jerusalem to worship there,
Acts 8:28 (show verse)
and was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the Prophet Isaiah.
Acts 8:29 (show verse)
Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go and enter that chariot."
Acts 8:30 (show verse)
So Philip ran up and heard the eunuch reading the Prophet Isaiah. "Do you understand what you are reading?" he asked.
Acts 8:31 (show verse)
"Why, how can I," replied the eunuch, "unless some one explains it to me?" And he earnestly invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:32 (show verse)
The passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "Like a sheep He was led to slaughter, and just as a lamb before its shearer is dumb so He opened not His mouth.
Acts 8:33 (show verse)
In His humiliation justice was denied Him. Who will make known His posterity? For He is destroyed from among men."
Acts 8:34 (show verse)
"Pray, of whom is the Prophet speaking?" inquired the eunuch; "of himself or of some one else?"
Acts 8:35 (show verse)
Then Philip began to speak, and, commencing with that same portion of Scripture, told him the Good News about Jesus.
Acts 8:36 (show verse)
So they proceeded on their way till they came to some water; and the eunuch exclaimed, "See, here is water; what is there to prevent my being baptized?"
Acts 8:37 (show verse)
No translation
Acts 8:38 (show verse)
So he stopped the chariot; and both of them--Philip and the eunuch--went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
Acts 8:39 (show verse)
But no sooner had they come up out of the water than the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again. With a glad heart he resumed his journey;
Acts 8:40 (show verse)
but Philip found himself at Ashdod. Then visiting town after town he everywhere made known the Good News until he reached Caesarea.