Saul Persecutes the Church 1 UEB Saul was in agreement with his death. So there began on that day a great persecution against the church that was in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions 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 UEB Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. BSB BSB: God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
3 UEB But Saul greatly harmed the church; he went into house after house and dragged out men and women, and put them into 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 UEB Yet the believers who had been scattered went about proclaiming the word. BSB BSB: Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
5 UEB Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. BSB BSB: Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
6 UEB When multitudes of people heard and saw the signs that Philip did, they paid attention together to what he said. BSB BSB: The crowds all paid close attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.
7 UEB Unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying out with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed 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 UEB So there was much joy in that city. BSB BSB: So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer (Deuteronomy 18:9–14)
9 UEB But there was a certain man in the city named Simon, who had earlier been practicing sorcery; he used to astonish the people of Samaria, while claiming that he was an important person. 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 UEB All the Samaritans, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him; they said, "This man is that 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 UEB They listened to him, because he had astonished them for a long time with his sorceries. BSB BSB: They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
12 UEB But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and 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 UEB Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized he stayed with Philip constantly. When he saw signs and mighty deeds taking place, he was amazed. 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 UEB Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they 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 UEB When they had come down, they 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 UEB For until that time, the Holy Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized into 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 UEB Then Peter and John placed their hands on 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 UEB Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, 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 UEB He said, "Give me this power, too, that whoever I place my hands on might 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 UEB But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish along with you, because you thought to obtain the gift of God 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 UEB You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right with God. BSB BSB: You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22 UEB Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, so that he might perhaps forgive you for the intention of your heart. BSB BSB: Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
23 UEB For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bonds of sin." BSB BSB: For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
24 UEB Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me." BSB BSB: Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25 UEB When they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the gospel 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 UEB He arose and went. Behold, there was a man from Cush, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Cushites. He was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship. 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 UEB He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. BSB BSB: and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
29 UEB The Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and stay close to this chariot." BSB BSB: The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
31 UEB The Cushite said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" He begged Philip to come up into the chariot 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 UEB In his humiliation justice was taken away from him. Who can fully describe his descendants? For his life was 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 UEB So the eunuch asked Philip, and said, "I beg you, who is the prophet speaking about, himself, or someone else?" BSB BSB: “Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
35 UEB Philip began to speak, and beginning with this scripture he proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. BSB BSB: Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 UEB As they went on the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water here. What prevents 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?”
38 UEB So the Ethiopian commanded the chariot to stop. They went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and Philip 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 UEB When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but 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 UEB But Philip appeared at Azotus and he went through that region, proclaiming the gospel to all the cities until 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.