Saul Persecutes the Church 1 DRA And at that time there was raised a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea, 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 DRA And devout men took order for Stephen’s funeral, and made great mourning over him. BSB BSB: God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
3 DRA But Saul made havock of the church, entering in from house to house, and dragging away men and women, committed them 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 DRA They therefore that were dispersed, went about preaching the word of God. BSB BSB: Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
5 DRA And Philip going down to the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them. BSB BSB: Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
6 DRA And the people with one accord were attentive to those things which were said by Philip, hearing, and seeing the miracles which he did. BSB BSB: The crowds all paid close attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.
7 DRA For many of them who had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out. BSB BSB: With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 DRA And many, taken with the palsy, and that were lame, were healed. BSB BSB: So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer (Deuteronomy 18:9–14)
9 DRA There was therefore great joy in that city. Now there was a certain man named Simon, who before had been a magician in that city, seducing the people of Samaria, giving out that he 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 DRA To whom they all gave ear, from the least to the greatest, saying: This man 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 DRA And they were attentive to him, because, for a long time, he had bewitched them with his magical practices. BSB BSB: They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
12 DRA But when they had believed Philip preaching of the kingdom of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, 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 DRA Then Simon himself believed also; and being baptized, he adhered to Philip. And being astonished, wondered to see the signs and exceeding great miracles which were done. 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 DRA Now when the apostles, who were in Jerusalem, had heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto 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 DRA Who, when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. BSB BSB: On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
16 DRA For he was not as yet come upon any of them; but they were only baptized in 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 DRA Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost. BSB BSB: Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 DRA And when Simon saw, that by the imposition of the hands of the apostles, the Holy Ghost was given, he 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 DRA Saying: Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I shall lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said to him: 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 DRA Keep thy money to thyself, to perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with 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 DRA Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter. For thy heart is not right in the sight of God. BSB BSB: You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22 DRA Do penance therefore for this thy wickedness; and pray to God, that perhaps this 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 DRA For I see thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity. BSB BSB: For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
24 DRA Then Simon answering, said: Pray you for me to the Lord, that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me. BSB BSB: Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25 DRA And they indeed having testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many countries 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 DRA And rising up, he went. And behold a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch, of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge over all her treasures, had come to Jerusalem to adore. 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 DRA And he was returning, sitting in this chariot, and reading Isaias the prophet. BSB BSB: and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
29 DRA And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. BSB BSB: The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
31 DRA Who said: And how can I, unless some man shew me? And he desired Philip that he would 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 DRA In humility his judgment was taken away. His generation who shall declare, for his life shall be 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 DRA And the eunuch answering Philip, said: I beseech thee, of whom doth the prophet speak this? of himself, or of some other man? BSB BSB: “Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
35 DRA Then Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached unto him Jesus. BSB BSB: Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 DRA And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water; and the eunuch said: See, here is water: what doth hinder me from being baptized? 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?”
37 DRA And Philip said: If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answering, said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. BSB BSB: Not in the BSB
38 DRA And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch: and he baptized 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 DRA And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more. And 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 DRA But Philip was found in Azotus; and passing through, he preached the gospel 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.