Acts of the Apostles 8

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.	1 Now Saul was consenting to his execution.On that day, there broke out a severe persecution of the church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.	2 Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.	3 Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.	4 Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.	5 Thus Philip went down to (the) city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.	6 With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.	7 For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.
8 And there was great joy in that city.	8 There was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:	9 A man named Simon used to practice magic in the city and astounded the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.	10 All of them, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him, saying, "This man is the 'Power of God' that is called 'Great.'"
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.	11 They paid attention to him because he had astounded them by his magic for a long time,
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.	12 but once they began to believe Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike were baptized.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.	13 Even Simon himself believed and, after being baptized, became devoted to Philip; and when he saw the signs and mighty deeds that were occurring, he was astounded.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:	14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:	15 who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Spirit,
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)	16 for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.	17 Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,	18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was conferred by the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.	19 and said, "Give me this power too, so that anyone upon whom I lay my hands may receive the holy Spirit."
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.	20 But Peter said to him, "May your money perish with you, because you thought that you could buy the gift of God with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.	21 You have no share or lot in this matter, for your heart is not upright before God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.	22 Repent of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your intention may be forgiven.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.	23 For I see that you are filled with bitter gall and are in the bonds of iniquity."
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.	24 Simon said in reply, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.	25 So when they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the good news to many Samaritan villages.
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.	26 Then the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, "Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route."
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,	27 So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.	28 and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.	29 The Spirit said to Philip, "Go and join up with that chariot."
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?	30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.	31 He replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:	32 This was the scripture passage he was reading: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.	33 In (his) humiliation justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth."
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?	34 Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, "I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?"
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.	35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?	36 As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?"
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.	37
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.	38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.	39 When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.	40 Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.