International Standard Version

English Standard Version

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.

1And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2Devout men buried Stephen as they mourned loudly for him.

2Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

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.

3But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

4Now those who were scattered went from place to place preaching the word.

4Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began to preach the Messiah to the people.

5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

6The crowds, hearing his message and seeing the signs that he was doing, paid close attention to what was said by Philip.

6And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.

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.

7For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.

8As a result, there was great rejoicing in that city.

8So there was much joy in that city.

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.

9But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.

10Everyone from the least to the greatest paid close attention to him, saying, "This is what we call the great power of God!"

10They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”

11They paid careful attention to him because he had thrilled them for a long time with his occult performances.

11And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

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.

12But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

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.

13Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

14Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaritans had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

14Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,

15They went down and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.

15who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

16Before this, he had not come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

16for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but 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 they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

18Now when 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,

19and said, "Give me this power too, so that when I lay my hands on someone, he will receive the Holy Spirit."

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

20But Peter told him, "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God's free gift 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 what we're saying, because your heart isn't right with God.

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

22So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart's intent may be forgiven you.

22Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

23For I see that you're being poisoned by bitterness and you're a prisoner of wickedness!"

23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

24Simon answered, "Both of you pray to the Lord for me that none of the things you have said will happen to me."

24And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

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.

25Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

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."

26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.

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.

27And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship

28Now he was returning home, seated in his chariot, and reading from the prophet Isaiah.

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

29The Spirit told Philip, "Approach that chariot and stay near it."

29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”

30So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah out loud. Philip asked, "Do you understand what you're reading?"

30So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31The man replied, "How can I unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.

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

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.

32Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.

33In his humiliation, justice was denied him. Who can describe his descendants? For his life is taken away from the earth."

33In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34The eunuch asked Philip, "I ask you, who is the prophet talking about? Himself? Or someone else?"

34And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”

35Then Philip began to speak, and, starting from this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus.

35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

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?"

36And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

37

37

38So he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

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

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.

39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

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.

40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.