| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. | 1And Saul agreed completely with killing him. Saul Begins to Persecute the Church Now on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. |
| 2Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. | 2Some devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. |
| 3But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. | 3But Saul was trying to destroy the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. |
| 4Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. | 4Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word. |
| 5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. | 5Philip went down to the main city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. |
| 6And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. | 6The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the miraculous signs he was performing. |
| 7For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. | 7For unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, were coming out of many who were possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. |
| 8So there was much joy in that city. | 8So there was great joy in that city. |
| 9But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. | 9Now in that city was a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic and amazing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. |
| 10They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” | 10All the people, from the least to the greatest, paid close attention to him, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called 'Great.'" |
| 11And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. | 11And they paid close attention to him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. |
| 12But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. | 12But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women. |
| 13Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. | 13Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized, he stayed close to Philip constantly, and when he saw the signs and great miracles that were occurring, he was amazed. |
| 14Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, | 14Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. |
| 15who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, | 15These two went down and prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. |
| 16for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. | 16(For the Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) |
| 17Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. | 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on the Samaritans, and they received the Holy Spirit. |
| 18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, | 18Now Simon, when he saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, offered them money, |
| 19saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” | 19saying, "Give me this power too, so that everyone I place my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit." |
| 20But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! | 20But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire God's gift with money! |
| 21You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. | 21You have no share or part in this matter because your heart is not right before God! |
| 22Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. | 22Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that he may perhaps forgive you for the intent of your heart. |
| 23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” | 23For I see that you are bitterly envious and in bondage to sin." |
| 24And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” | 24But Simon replied, "You pray to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said may happen to me." |
| 25Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. | 25So after Peter and John had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many Samaritan villages as they went. |
| 26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. | 26Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road.) |
| 27And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a 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 | 27So he got up and went. There he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship, |
| 28and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. | 28and was returning home, sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah. |
| 29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” | 29Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot." |
| 30So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” | 30So Philip ran up to it and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. He asked him, "Do you understand what you're reading?" |
| 31And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. | 31The man replied, "How in the world can I, unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. |
| 32Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. | 32Now the passage of scripture the man was reading was this: "He was led like a sheep to slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. |
| 33In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” | 33In humiliation justice was taken from him. Who can describe his posterity? For his life was taken away from the earth." |
| 34And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” | 34Then the eunuch said to Philip, "Please tell me, who is the prophet saying this about--himself or someone else?" |
| 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. | 35So Philip started speaking, and beginning with this scripture proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. |
| 36And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” | 36Now as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water! What is to stop me from being baptized?" |
| 38And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. | 38So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. |
| 39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. | 39Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any more, but went on his way rejoicing. |
| 40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. | 40Philip, however, found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through the area, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. |
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