Berean Study Bible | International Standard Version |
1And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. | 1Now Saul heartily approved of putting Stephen to death. That day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except for the apostles was scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. |
2God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. | 2Devout men buried Stephen as they mourned loudly for him. |
3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. | 3But Saul kept trying to destroy the church. Going into one house after another, he began dragging off men and women and throwing them in prison. |
4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. | 4Now those who were scattered went from place to place preaching the word. |
5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. | 5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began to preach the Messiah to the people. |
6The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform. | 6The crowds, hearing his message and seeing the signs that he was doing, paid close attention to what was said by Philip. |
7With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed. | 7Unclean spirits screamed with a loud voice as they came out of the many people they had possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. |
8So there was great joy in that city. | 8As a result, there was great rejoicing in that city. |
9Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, | 9Now in that city there was a man named Simon. He was practicing occult arts and thrilling the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. |
10and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” | 10Everyone from the least to the greatest paid close attention to him, saying, "This is what we call the great power of God!" |
11They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery. | 11They paid careful attention to him because he had thrilled them for a long time with his occult performances. |
12But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. | 12But when Philip proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and about the name of Jesus the Messiah, men and women believed and were baptized. |
13Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed. | 13Even Simon believed, and after he was baptized he became devoted to Philip. He was amazed to see the signs and great miracles that were happening. |
14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. | 14Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaritans had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. |
15On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. | 15They went down and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. |
16For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. | 16Before this, he had not come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. |
17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. | 17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. |
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. | 18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money |
19“Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” | 19and said, "Give me this power too, so that when I lay my hands on someone, he will receive the Holy Spirit." |
20But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! | 20But Peter told him, "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God's free gift with money! |
21You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God. | 21You have no part or share in what we're saying, because your heart isn't right with God. |
22Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart. | 22So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart's intent may be forgiven you. |
23For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.” | 23For I see that you're being poisoned by bitterness and you're a prisoner of wickedness!" |
24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” | 24Simon answered, "Both of you pray to the Lord for me that none of the things you have said will happen to me." |
25And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages. | 25After they had given their testimony and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, continuing to proclaim the good news in many Samaritan villages. |
26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” | 26Now an angel of the Lord told Philip, "Get up and go south on the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a deserted road." |
27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, | 27So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, who was a member of the court of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was in charge of all her treasures and had come up to Jerusalem to worship. |
28and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet. | 28Now he was returning home, seated in his chariot, and reading from the prophet Isaiah. |
29The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.” | 29The Spirit told Philip, "Approach that chariot and stay near it." |
30So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. | 30So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah out loud. Philip asked, "Do you understand what you're reading?" |
31“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. | 31The man replied, "How can I unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. |
32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. | 32This was the passage of Scripture he was reading: "Like a sheep he was led away to be slaughtered, and like a lamb is silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. |
33In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.” | 33In his humiliation, justice was denied him. Who can describe his descendants? For his life is taken away from the earth." |
34“Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” | 34The eunuch asked Philip, "I ask you, who is the prophet talking about? Himself? Or someone else?" |
35Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. | 35Then Philip began to speak, and, starting from this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus. |
36As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?” | 36As they were going along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, "Look, there's some water. What keeps me from being baptized?" |
38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. | 38So he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. |
39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing. | 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing and did not see Philip again. |
40But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea. | 40But Philip found himself at Azotus. As he was passing through that region, he kept proclaiming the good news in all the towns until he came to Caesarea. |
The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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