Berean Study Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

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.

1Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.

2Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over 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 began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

4Therefore, those who had been scattered went about 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 proclaiming Christ to them.

6The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.

6The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.

7With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.

7For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

8So there was great joy in that city.

8So there was much 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 there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing 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.”

10and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, "This man is what is called the Great Power of God."

11They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.

11And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.

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 they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.

13Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.

13Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

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 Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,

15On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.

15who came down and prayed for them that they might 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.

16For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply 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 they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving 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 bestowed 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.”

19saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may 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 said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

21You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.

21"You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

22Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.

22"Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

23For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”

23"For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."

24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

24But Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon 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.

25So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

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.”

26But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert 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; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.

28and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”

29Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."

30So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

30Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

31“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

31And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up 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.

32Now the 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 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.”

33"IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY; WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH."

34“Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”

34The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?"

35Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

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 went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"

37	37And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

38And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he 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; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

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, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

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