Saul Persecutes the Church 1 RV And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions 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 RV And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. BSB BSB: God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
3 RV But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and haling 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 RV They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word. BSB BSB: Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
5 RV And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ. BSB BSB: Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
6 RV And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did. BSB BSB: The crowds all paid close attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.
7 RV For from many of those which had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were 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 RV And 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 RV But there was a certain man, Simon by name, which beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out 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 RV to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, 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 RV And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. BSB BSB: They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
12 RV But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning 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 RV And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, 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 RV Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem 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 RV who, when they were come down, 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 RV for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they had 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 RV Then laid they their hands on 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 RV Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands 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 RV saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 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 RV But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast 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 RV Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God. BSB BSB: You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22 RV Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall 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 RV For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. BSB BSB: For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
24 RV And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken 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 RV They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached 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 RV And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem for 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 RV and 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 RV And the Spirit said unto 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 RV And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought 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 RV In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? 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 RV And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet 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 RV And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus. BSB BSB: Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 RV And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be 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 RV And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both 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 RV And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, 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 RV But Philip was found at 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.