Acts 8:4-25
New Revised Standard Version ©1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA.

 

[This follows description of Saul=s persecution of the church, beginning with the stoning of Stephen (7:58-8:1).]

 

                                            Philip=s Ministry in Samaria

 

  {4}                Now those who were scattered went from place to place,

proclaiming the word.

  {5}    Philip went down to the city of Samaria and

proclaimed the Messiah to them.

  {6}                The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip,

hearing and seeing the signs that he did,

  {7}                                        for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks,

came out of many who were possessed;

and many others who were paralyzed or lame

were cured.

  {8}                            So there was great joy in that city.

 

                      Attracted to Power - Simon the magician, part 1

 

  {9}    Now a certain man named Simon

had previously practiced magic in the city

and amazed the people of Samaria,

saying that he was someone great.

{10}                                                    All of them, from the least to the greatest,

listened to him eagerly, saying,

"This man is the power of God that is called Great."

{11}                                                    And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time

he had amazed them with his magic.

{12}    But when they believed Philip,

who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God

     and the name of Jesus Christ,

they were baptized, both men and women.

{13}    Even Simon himself believed.

After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip

and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place.

 

                                                Receiving the Holy Spirit

 

{14}    Now when the apostles at Jerusalem

heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God,

they sent Peter and John to them.

{15}                                        The two went down and prayed for them

that they might receive the Holy Spirit


{16}                            (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them;

they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).

{17}                Then Peter and John laid their hands on them,

and they received the Holy Spirit.

 

Trying to buy Power - Simon the magician, part 2

 

{18}    Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given

 through the laying on of the apostles' hands,

he offered them money,

{19}                                        saying, "Give me also this power

so that anyone on whom I lay my hands

may receive the Holy Spirit."

{20}                But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you,

because you thought

you could obtain God's gift with money!

{21}                                                                You have no part or share in this,

for your heart is not right before God.

{22}                                                      Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours,

and pray to the Lord that, if possible,

the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

{23}                                                                For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness

        and the chains of wickedness."

{24}                            Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord,

that nothing of what you have said

may happen to me."

 

                                                           Returning Home

 

{25}    Now after Peter and John had testified

      and spoken the word of the Lord,

they returned to Jerusalem,

proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.

 

 

[What follows is the account of Philip=s itinerant evangelistic ministry,

specifically the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch.]

 

 

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