Saul Persecutes the Church 1 DBY And Saul was consenting to his being killed. And on that day there arose a great persecution against the assembly which was in Jerusalem, and all were scattered into the countries of Judaea and Samaria except the apostles. BSB BSB: And 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.
2 DBY And pious men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. BSB BSB: God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
3 DBY But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into the houses one after another, and dragging off both men and women delivered them up to prison. BSB BSB: But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Philip in Samaria 4 DBY Those then that had been scattered went through the countries announcing the glad tidings of the word. BSB BSB: Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
5 DBY And Philip, going down to a city of Samaria, preached the Christ to them; BSB BSB: Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
6 DBY and the crowds with one accord gave heed to the things spoken by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he wrought. BSB BSB: The crowds all paid close attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.
7 DBY For from many who had unclean spirits they went out, crying with a loud voice; and many that were paralysed and lame were healed. BSB BSB: With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 DBY And there was great joy in that city. BSB BSB: So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer (Deuteronomy 18:9–14)
9 DBY But a certain man, by name Simon, had been before in the city, using magic arts, and astonishing the nation of Samaria, saying that himself was some great one. BSB BSB: Prior 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,
10 DBY To whom they had all given heed, from small to great, saying, This is the power of God which is called great. BSB BSB: and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.”
11 DBY And they gave heed to him, because that for a long time he had astonished them by his magic arts. BSB BSB: They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
12 DBY But when they believed Philip announcing the glad tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women. BSB BSB: But 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.
13 DBY And Simon also himself believed; and, having been baptised, continued constantly with Philip; and, beholding the signs and great works of power which took place, was astonished. BSB BSB: Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.
14 DBY And the apostles who were in Jerusalem, having heard that Samaria had received the word of God, sent to them Peter and John; BSB BSB: When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
15 DBY who, having come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; BSB BSB: On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
16 DBY for he was not yet fallen upon any of them, only they were baptised to the name of the Lord Jesus. BSB BSB: For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 DBY Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit. BSB BSB: Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 DBY But Simon, having seen that by the laying on of the hands of the apostles the Holy Spirit was given, offered them money, BSB BSB: When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
19 DBY saying, Give to me also this power, in order that on whomsoever I may lay hands he may receive the Holy Spirit. BSB BSB: “Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 DBY And Peter said to him, Thy money go with thee to destruction, because thou hast thought that the gift of God can be obtained by money. BSB BSB: But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
21 DBY Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not upright before God. BSB BSB: You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22 DBY Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and supplicate the Lord, if indeed the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee; BSB BSB: Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
23 DBY for I see thee to be in the gall of bitterness, and bond of unrighteousness. BSB BSB: For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
24 DBY And Simon answering said, Supplicate ye for me to the Lord, so that nothing may come upon me of the things of which ye have spoken. BSB BSB: Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25 DBY They therefore, having testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and announced the glad tidings to many villages of the Samaritans. BSB BSB: And 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.
Philip and the Ethiopian (Isaiah 53:1–8)
27 DBY And he rose up and went. And lo, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a man in power under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to worship at Jerusalem, BSB BSB: So 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,
28 DBY was returning and sitting in his chariot: and he was reading the prophet Esaias. BSB BSB: and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
29 DBY And the Spirit said to Philip, Approach and join this chariot. BSB BSB: The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
31 DBY And he said, How should I then be able unless some one guide me? And he begged Philip to come up and sit with him. BSB BSB: “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
33 DBY In his humiliation his judgment has been taken away, and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. BSB BSB: In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”
34 DBY And the eunuch answering Philip said, I pray thee, concerning whom does the prophet say this? of himself or of some other? BSB BSB: “Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
35 DBY And Philip, opening his mouth and beginning from that scripture, announced the glad tidings of Jesus to him. BSB BSB: Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 DBY And as they went along the way, they came upon a certain water, and the eunuch says, Behold water; what hinders my being baptised? BSB BSB: As 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?”
38 DBY And he commanded the chariot to stop. And they went down both to the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptised him. BSB BSB: And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39 DBY But when they came up out of the water the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no longer, for he went on his way rejoicing. BSB BSB: When 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.
40 DBY And Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through he announced the glad tidings to all the cities till he came to Caesarea. BSB BSB: But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.