Acts 8 — Read & Listen Online | Father's Heart Bible™

Saul Ravages the Church

Chapter 8.

And Saul approved of his execution. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and mourned loudly over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, entering house after house, dragging off both men and women and throwing them into prison.

Philip Proclaims in Samaria

Now those who had been scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the good news of the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ to them. The crowds, with one accord, paid attention to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying out with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

Now a man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called Great." They paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of our Father and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he stayed close to Philip, amazed as he saw the signs and great miracles taking place.

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of our Father, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of our Father with money! You have no part or share in this matter, for your heart is not right before our Father. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to our Father that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by wickedness.

And Simon answered, "Pray to our Father for me, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

Now when they had testified and spoken the word of our Lord Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many Samaritan villages.

Philip and the Ethiopian

Now an angel of our Father spoke to Philip, saying, "Get up and go south, to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road.)

So he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship ^a and was returning, seated in his chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.

And the Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and catch up with that chariot."

So Philip ran up and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and he asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of Scripture he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth."

And the eunuch said to Philip, "I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this — about himself or about someone else?"

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. As they went along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What would prevent me from being baptized?" ^b And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and Philip baptized him.

And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of our Father carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

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