| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 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 agreed completely with killing him. Saul Begins to Persecute the Church Now on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. |
| 2Devout men buried Stephen as they mourned loudly for him. | 2Some devout men buried Stephen and made loud 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 trying to destroy the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. |
| 4Now those who were scattered went from place to place preaching the word. | 4Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word. |
| 5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began to preach the Messiah to the people. | 5Philip went down to the main city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. |
| 6The crowds, hearing his message and seeing the signs that he was doing, paid close attention to what was said by Philip. | 6The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the miraculous signs he was performing. |
| 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 with loud shrieks, were coming out of many who were possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. |
| 8As a result, there was great rejoicing in that city. | 8So there was great 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. | 9Now in that city was a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic and amazing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. |
| 10Everyone from the least to the greatest paid close attention to him, saying, "This is what we call the great power of God!" | 10All the people, from the least to the greatest, paid close attention to him, 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 close attention to him because he had amazed them for a long time 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 was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be 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 he was baptized, he stayed close to Philip constantly, and when he saw the signs and great miracles that were occurring, 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 in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. |
| 15They went down and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. | 15These two went down and prayed for them so that they would 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. | 16(For the Spirit had not yet come upon 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 Peter and John placed their hands on the Samaritans, 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 Simon, when he saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, 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 too, so that everyone I place my hands on 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 acquire God's gift with money! |
| 21You have no part or share in what we're saying, because your heart isn't right with God. | 21You have no share or part in this matter because 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. | 22Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that he may perhaps forgive you for the intent of your heart. |
| 23For I see that you're being poisoned by bitterness and you're a prisoner of wickedness!" | 23For I see that you are bitterly envious and in bondage to sin." |
| 24Simon answered, "Both of you pray to the Lord for me that none of the things you have said will happen to me." | 24But Simon replied, "You pray to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said may happen to 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. | 25So after Peter and John had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many Samaritan villages as they went. |
| 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." | 26Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road.) |
| 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. | 27So he got up and went. There he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasury. 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 home, sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah. |
| 29The Spirit told Philip, "Approach that chariot and stay near it." | 29Then 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 up to it and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. He asked him, "Do you understand what you're reading?" |
| 31The man replied, "How can I unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. | 31The man replied, "How in the world can I, unless someone guides me?" So 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 scripture the man was reading was this: "He was led like a sheep to slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. |
| 33In his humiliation, justice was denied him. Who can describe his descendants? For his life is taken away from the earth." | 33In humiliation justice was taken from him. Who can describe his posterity? For his life was taken away from the earth." |
| 34The eunuch asked Philip, "I ask you, who is the prophet talking about? Himself? Or someone else?" | 34Then the eunuch said to Philip, "Please tell me, who is the prophet saying this about--himself or someone else?" |
| 35Then Philip began to speak, and, starting from this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus. | 35So Philip started speaking, and beginning with this scripture proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. |
| 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?" | 36Now as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water! What is to stop me from being baptized?" |
| 38So he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. | 38So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip 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. | 39Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any more, but 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. | 40Philip, however, found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through the area, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. |
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