Acts Chapter 8

2 and he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: and he promised that he would give it to him in possession, and to his seed after him, when

3 as yet he had no child.

4 And God spake on this wise, that his seed should sojourn in a strange land, and that they should bring them into bondage, and treat them ill, four hundred years.

5 And the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.

6 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so

7 Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac

8 begat Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.

9 And the patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt: and God was with him,

10 and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

11 Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent forth our fathers the first time.

13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s race became manifest unto Pharaoh.

14 And Joseph sent, and called to him Jacob his father, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

15 And Jacob went down into Egypt; and he died, himself and our fathers;

16 and they were carried over unto Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver of the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

17 But as the time of the promise drew nigh which God vouchsafed unto Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,

18 till there arose another king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.

19 The same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live.

20 At which season Moses was born, and was exceeding fair; and he was nourished three months in his father’s house:

21 and when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

22 And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and works.

23 But when he was well-nigh forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

24 And seeing one

25 of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, smiting the Egyptian:

26 and he supposed that his brethren understood that God by his hand was giving them deliverance; but they understood not.

27 And the day following he appeared unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

28 But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

29 Wouldest thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday?

30 And Moses fled at this saying, and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.

31 And when forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.

32 And when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold, there came a voice of the Lord,

33 I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. And Moses trembled, and durst not behold.

34 And the Lord said unto him, Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

35 I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them: and now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

36 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent

37 to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.

38 This man led them forth, having wrought wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

39 This is that Moses, who said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me.

40 This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel that spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us:

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 And Saul was consenting to his being killed. And on that day there arose a great persecution against the assembly which was in Jerusalem, and all were scattered into the countries of Judaea and Samaria except the apostles.

2 And pious men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

3 But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into the houses one after another, and dragging off both men and women delivered them up to prison.

4 Those then that had been scattered went through [the countries] announcing the glad tidings of the word.

5 And Philip, going down to a city of Samaria, preached the Christ to them;

6 and the crowds with one accord gave heed to the things spoken by Philip, when they heard [him] and saw the signs which he wrought.

7 For from many who had unclean spirits they went out, crying with a loud voice; and many that were paralysed and lame were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

9 But a certain man, by name Simon, had been before in the city, using magic arts, and astonishing the nation of Samaria, saying that himself was some great one.

10 To whom they had all given heed, from small to great, saying, This is the power ofGod which is called great.

11 And they gave heed to him, because that for a long time he had astonished them by his magic arts.

12 But when they believed Philip announcing the glad tidings concerning the kingdom ofGod and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women.

13 And Simon also himself believed; and, having been baptised, continued constantly with Philip; and, beholding the signs and great works of power which took place, was astonished.

14 And the apostles who were in Jerusalem, having heard that Samaria had received the word ofGod, sent to them Peter and John;

15 who, having come down, prayed for them that they might receive [the] Holy Spirit;

16 for he was not yet fallen upon any of them, only they were baptised to the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received [the] Holy Spirit.

18 But Simon, having seen that by the laying on of the hands of the apostles the [Holy] Spirit was given, offered them money,

19 saying, Give to me also this power, in order that on whomsoever I may lay hands he may receive [the] Holy Spirit.

20 And Peter said to him, Thy money go with thee to destruction, because thou hast thought that the gift ofGod can be obtained by money.

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not upright beforeGod.

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and supplicate the Lord, if indeed the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee;

23 for I see thee to be in the gall of bitterness, and bond of unrighteousness.

24 And Simon answering said, Supplicate ye for me to the Lord, so that nothing may come upon me of the things of which ye have spoken.

25 They therefore, having testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and announced the glad tidings to many villages of the Samaritans.

26 But [the] angel of [the] Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Rise up and go southward on the way which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza: the same is desert.

27 And he rose up and went. And lo, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a man in power under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to worship at Jerusalem,

28 was returning and sitting in his chariot: and he was reading the prophet Esaias.

29 And the Spirit said to Philip, Approach and join this chariot.

30 And Philip, running up, heard him reading the prophet Esaias, and said, Dost thou then know what thou art reading of?

31 And he said, How should I then be able unless some one guide me? And he begged Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 And the passage of the scripture which he read was this: He was led as a sheep to slaughter, and as a lamb is dumb in presence of him that shears him, thus he opens not his mouth.

33 In his humiliation his judgment has been taken away, and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 And the eunuch answering Philip said, I pray thee, concerning whom does the prophet say this? of himself or of some other?

35 And Philip, opening his mouth and beginning from that scripture, announced the glad tidings of Jesus to him.

36 And as they went along the way, they came upon a certain water, and the eunuch says, Behold water; what hinders my being baptised?

38 And he commanded the chariot to stop. And they went down both to the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptised him.

39 But when they came up out of the water [the] Spirit of [the] Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no longer, for he went on his way rejoicing.

40 And Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through he announced the glad tidings to all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Facta est autem in illa die persecutio magna in Ecclesia, quæ erat Ierosolymis, et omnes dispersi sunt per regiones Iudææ, et Samariæ præter Apostolos.

2 Curaverunt autem Stephanum viri timorati, et fecerunt planctum magnum super eum.

3 Saulus autem devastabat Ecclesiam per domos intrans, et trahens viros, ac mulieres, tradebat in custodiam.

4 Igitur qui dispersi erant pertransibant, evangelizantes verbum Dei.

5 Philippus autem descendens in civitatem Samariæ, prædicabant illis Christum.

6 Intendebant autem turbæ his, quæ a Philippo dicebantur unanimiter audientes, et videntes signa quæ faciebat.

7 Multi enim eorum, qui habebant spiritus immundos, clamantes voce magna exibant. Multi autem paralytici, et claudi curati sunt.

8 Factum est ergo gaudium magnum in illa civitate.

9 Vir autem quidam nomine Simon, qui ante fuerat in civitate magnus, seducens gentem Samariæ, dicens se esse aliquem magnum:

10 cui auscultabant omnes a minimo usque ad maximum, dicentes: Hic est virtus Dei, quæ vocatur magna.

11 Attendebant autem eum: propter quod multo tempore magiis suis dementasset eos.

12 Cum vero credidissent Philippo evangelizanti de regno Dei, in nomine Iesu Christi baptizabantur viri, ac mulieres.

13 Tunc Simon et ipse credidit: et cum baptizatus esset, adhærebat Philippo. Videns etiam signa, et virtutes maximas fieri, stupens admirabatur.

14 Cum autem audissent Apostoli, qui erant Ierosolymis, quod recepisset Samaria verbum Dei, miserunt ad eos Petrum, et Ioannem:

15 Qui cum venissent, oraverunt pro ipsis ut acciperent Spiritum sanctum:

16 Nondum enim in quemquam illorum venerat, sed baptizati tantum erant in nomine Domini Iesu.

17 Tunc imponebant manus super illos, et accipiebant Spiritum sanctum.

18 Cum vidisset autem Simon quia per impositionem manus Apostolorum daretur Spiritus sanctus, obtulit eis pecuniam,

19 dicens: Date et mihi hanc potestatem, ut cuicumque imposuero manus, accipiat Spiritum sanctum. Petrus autem dixit ad eum:

20 Pecunia tua tecum sit in perditionem: quoniam donum Dei existimasti pecunia possideri.

21 Non est tibi pars, neque sors in sermone isto. cor enim tuum non est rectum coram Deo.

22 Pœnitentiam itaque age ab hac nequitia tua: et roga Deum, si forte remittatur tibi hæc cogitatio cordis tui.

23 In felle enim amaritudinis, et obligatione iniquitatis video te esse.

24 Respondens autem Simon, dixit: Precamini vos pro me ad Dominum, ut nihil veniat super me horum, quæ dixistis.

25 Et illi quidem testificati, et locuti verbum Domini, redibant Ierosolymam, et multis regionibus Samaritanorum evangelizabant.

26 Angelus autem Domini locutus est ad Philippum, dicens: Surge, et vade contra meridianum ad viam, quæ descendit ab Ierusalem in Gazam: hæc est deserta.

27 Et surgens abiit. Et ecce vir Æthiops, eunuchus, potens Candacis Reginæ Æthiopum, qui erat super omnes gazas eius: venerat adorare in Ierusalem:

28 et revertebatur sedens super currum suum, legensque Isaiam prophetam.

29 Dixit autem Spiritus Philippo: Accede, et adiunge te ad currum istum.

30 Accurrens autem Philippus, audivit eum legentem Isaiam prophetam, et dixit: Putasne intelligis quæ legis?

31 Qui ait: Et quomodo possum, si non aliquis ostenderit mihi? Rogavitque Philippum ut ascenderet, et sederet secum.

32 Locus autem Scripturæ, quem legebat, erat hic: Tamquam ovis ad occisionem ductus est: et sicus agnus coram tondente se, sine voce, sic non aperuit os suum.

33 In humilitate iudicium eius sublatum est. Generationem eius quis enarrabit, quoniam tolletur de terra vita eius?

34 Respondens autem eunuchus Philippo, dixit: Obsecro te, de quo Propheta dicit hoc? de se, an de alio aliquo?

35 Aperiens autem Philippus os suum, et incipiens a Scriptura ista, evangelizavit illi Iesum.

36 Et dum irent per viam, venerunt ad quamdam aquam: et ait Eunuchus: Ecce aqua, quid prohibet me baptizari?

37 Dixit autem Philippus: Si credis ex toto corde, licet. Et respondens ait: Credo, Filium Dei esse Iesum Christum.

38 Et iussit stare currum: et descenderunt uterque in aquam, Philippus et Eunuchus, et baptizavit eum.

39 Cum autem ascendissent de aqua, Spiritus Domini rapuit Philippum, et amplius non vidit eum Eunuchus. Ibat autem per viam suam gaudens.

40 Philippus autem inventus est in Azoto, et pertransiens evangelizabat civitatibus cunctis, donec veniret Cæsaream.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

2 Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him.

3 But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.

4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.

5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

6 The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip when they heard and saw the signs which he did.

7 For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

8 There was great joy in that city.

9 But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one,

10 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.”

11 They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.

12 But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.

14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;

16 for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.

17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

19 saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God.

22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

23 For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”

24 Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”

25 They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans.

26 Then an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.”

27 He arose and went; and behold, there was 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 to worship.

28 He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”

30 Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth.

33 In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”

34 The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”

35 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus.

36 As they went on the way, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”

38 He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM

1 σαυλος δε ην συνευδοκων τη αναιρεσει αυτου εγενετο δε εν εκεινη τη ημερα διωγμος μεγας επι την εκκλησιαν την εν ιεροσολυμοις παντες [δε] διεσπαρησαν κατα τας χωρας της ιουδαιας και σαμαριας πλην των αποστολων

2 συνεκομισαν δε τον στεφανον ανδρες ευλαβεις και εποιησαν κοπετον μεγαν επ αυτω

3 σαυλος δε ελυμαινετο την εκκλησιαν κατα τους οικους εισπορευομενος συρων τε ανδρας και γυναικας παρεδιδου εις φυλακην

4 οι μεν ουν διασπαρεντες διηλθον ευαγγελιζομενοι τον λογον

5 φιλιππος δε κατελθων εις την πολιν της σαμαριας εκηρυσσεν αυτοις τον χριστον

6 προσειχον δε οι οχλοι τοις λεγομενοις υπο του φιλιππου ομοθυμαδον εν τω ακουειν αυτους και βλεπειν τα σημεια α εποιει

7 πολλοι γαρ των εχοντων πνευματα ακαθαρτα βοωντα φωνη μεγαλη εξηρχοντο πολλοι δε παραλελυμενοι και χωλοι εθεραπευθησαν

8 εγενετο δε πολλη χαρα εν τη πολει εκεινη

9 ανηρ δε τις ονοματι σιμων προυπηρχεν εν τη πολει μαγευων και εξιστανων το εθνος της σαμαριας λεγων ειναι τινα εαυτον μεγαν

10 ω προσειχον παντες απο μικρου εως μεγαλου λεγοντες ουτος εστιν η δυναμις του θεου η καλουμενη μεγαλη

11 προσειχον δε αυτω δια το ικανω χρονω ταις μαγειαις εξεστακεναι αυτους

12 οτε δε επιστευσαν τω φιλιππω ευαγγελιζομενω περι της βασιλειας του θεου και του ονοματος ιησου χριστου εβαπτιζοντο ανδρες τε και γυναικες

13 ο δε σιμων και αυτος επιστευσεν και βαπτισθεις ην προσκαρτερων τω φιλιππω θεωρων τε σημεια και δυναμεις μεγαλας γινομενας εξιστατο

14 ακουσαντες δε οι εν ιεροσολυμοις αποστολοι οτι δεδεκται η σαμαρια τον λογον του θεου απεστειλαν προς αυτους πετρον και ιωαννην

15 οιτινες καταβαντες προσηυξαντο περι αυτων οπως λαβωσιν πνευμα αγιον

16 ουδεπω γαρ ην επ ουδενι αυτων επιπεπτωκος μονον δε βεβαπτισμενοι υπηρχον εις το ονομα του κυριου ιησου

17 τοτε επετιθεσαν τας χειρας επ αυτους και ελαμβανον πνευμα αγιον

18 ιδων δε ο σιμων οτι δια της επιθεσεως των χειρων των αποστολων διδοται το πνευμα προσηνεγκεν αυτοις χρηματα

19 λεγων δοτε καμοι την εξουσιαν ταυτην ινα ω εαν επιθω τας χειρας λαμβανη πνευμα αγιον

20 πετρος δε ειπεν προς αυτον το αργυριον σου συν σοι ειη εις απωλειαν οτι την δωρεαν του θεου ενομισας δια χρηματων κτασθαι

21 ουκ εστιν σοι μερις ουδε κληρος εν τω λογω τουτω η γαρ καρδια σου ουκ εστιν ευθεια εναντι του θεου

22 μετανοησον ουν απο της κακιας σου ταυτης και δεηθητι του κυριου ει αρα αφεθησεται σοι η επινοια της καρδιας σου

23 εις γαρ χολην πικριας και συνδεσμον αδικιας ορω σε οντα

24 αποκριθεις δε ο σιμων ειπεν δεηθητε υμεις υπερ εμου προς τον κυριον οπως μηδεν επελθη επ εμε ων ειρηκατε

25 οι μεν ουν διαμαρτυραμενοι και λαλησαντες τον λογον του κυριου υπεστρεφον εις ιεροσολυμα πολλας τε κωμας των σαμαρειτων ευηγγελιζοντο

26 αγγελος δε κυριου ελαλησεν προς φιλιππον λεγων αναστηθι και πορευου κατα μεσημβριαν επι την οδον την καταβαινουσαν απο ιερουσαλημ εις γαζαν αυτη εστιν ερημος

27 και αναστας επορευθη και ιδου ανηρ αιθιοψ ευνουχος δυναστης κανδακης βασιλισσης αιθιοπων ος ην επι πασης της γαζης αυτης [ος] εληλυθει προσκυνησων εις ιερουσαλημ

28 ην δε υποστρεφων και καθημενος επι του αρματος αυτου και ανεγινωσκεν τον προφητην ησαιαν

29 ειπεν δε το πνευμα τω φιλιππω προσελθε και κολληθητι τω αρματι τουτω

30 προσδραμων δε ο φιλιππος ηκουσεν αυτου αναγινωσκοντος ησαιαν τον προφητην και ειπεν αρα γε γινωσκεις α αναγινωσκεις

31 ο δε ειπεν πως γαρ αν δυναιμην εαν μη τις οδηγησει με παρεκαλεσεν τε τον φιλιππον αναβαντα καθισαι συν αυτω

32 η δε περιοχη της γραφης ην ανεγινωσκεν ην αυτη ως προβατον επι σφαγην ηχθη και ως αμνος εναντιον του κειροντος αυτον αφωνος ουτως ουκ ανοιγει το στομα αυτου

33 εν τη ταπεινωσει η κρισις αυτου ηρθη την γενεαν αυτου τις διηγησεται οτι αιρεται απο της γης η ζωη αυτου

34 αποκριθεις δε ο ευνουχος τω φιλιππω ειπεν δεομαι σου περι τινος ο προφητης λεγει τουτο περι εαυτου η περι ετερου τινος

35 ανοιξας δε ο φιλιππος το στομα αυτου και αρξαμενος απο της γραφης ταυτης ευηγγελισατο αυτω τον ιησουν

36 ως δε επορευοντο κατα την οδον ηλθον επι τι υδωρ και φησιν ο ευνουχος ιδου υδωρ τι κωλυει με βαπτισθηναι

38 και εκελευσεν στηναι το αρμα και κατεβησαν αμφοτεροι εις το υδωρ ο τε φιλιππος και ο ευνουχος και εβαπτισεν αυτον

39 οτε δε ανεβησαν εκ του υδατος πνευμα κυριου ηρπασεν τον φιλιππον και ουκ ειδεν αυτον ουκετι ο ευνουχος επορευετο γαρ την οδον αυτου χαιρων

40 φιλιππος δε ευρεθη εις αζωτον και διερχομενος ευηγγελιζετο τας πολεις πασας εως του ελθειν αυτον εις καισαριαν

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 And Saul was assenting to his death, and there came in that day a great persecution upon the assembly in Jerusalem, all also were scattered abroad in the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles;

2 and devout men carried away Stephen, and made great lamentation over him;

3 and Saul was making havoc of the assembly, into every house entering, and haling men and women, was giving them up to prison;

4 they then indeed, having been scattered, went abroad proclaiming good news--the word.

5 And Philip having gone down to a city of Samaria, was preaching to them the Christ,

6 the multitudes also were giving heed to the things spoken by Philip, with one accord, in their hearing and seeing the signs that he was doing,

7 for unclean spirits came forth from many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice, and many who have been paralytic and lame were healed,

8 and there was great joy in that city.

9 And a certain man, by name Simon, was before in the city using magic, and amazing the nation of Samaria, saying himself to be a certain great one,

10 to whom they were all giving heed, from small unto great, saying, `This one is the great power of God;'

11 and they were giving heed to him, because of his having for a long time amazed them with deeds of magic.

12 And when they believed Philip, proclaiming good news, the things concerning the reign of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women;

13 and Simon also himself did believe, and, having been baptized, he was continuing with Philip, beholding also signs and mighty acts being done, he was amazed.

14 And the apostles in Jerusalem having heard that Samaria hath received the word of God, did send unto them Peter and John,

15 who having come down did pray concerning them, that they may receive the Holy Spirit, --

16 for as yet he was fallen upon none of them, and only they have been baptized--to the name of the Lord Jesus;

17 then were they laying hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 And Simon, having beheld that through the laying on of the hands of the apostles, the Holy Spirit is given, brought before them money,

19 saying, `Give also to me this authority, that on whomsoever I may lay the hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.'

20 And Peter said unto him, `Thy silver with thee--may it be to destruction! because the gift of God thou didst think to possess through money;

21 thou hast neither part nor lot in this thing, for thy heart is not right before God;

22 reform, therefore, from this thy wickedness, and beseech God, if then the purpose of thy heart may be forgiven thee,

23 for in the gall of bitterness, and bond of unrighteousness, I perceive thee being.'

24 And Simon answering, said, `Beseech ye for me unto the Lord, that nothing may come upon me of the things ye have spoken.'

25 They indeed, therefore, having testified fully, and spoken the word of the Lord, did turn back to Jerusalem; in many villages also of the Samaritans they did proclaim good news.

26 And a messenger of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, `Arise, and go on toward the south, on the way that is going down from Jerusalem to Gaza,' --this is desert.

27 And having arisen, he went on, and lo, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, a man of rank, of Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to worship to Jerusalem;

28 he was also returning, and is sitting on his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 And the Spirit said to Philip, `Go near, and be joined to this chariot;'

30 and Philip having run near, heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, `Dost thou then know what thou dost read?'

31 and he said, `Why, how am I able, if some one may not guide me?' he called Philip also, having come up, to sit with him.

32 And the contents of the Writing that he was reading was this: `As a sheep unto slaughter he was led, and as a lamb before his shearer dumb, so he doth not open his mouth;

33 in his humiliation his judgment was taken away, and his generation--who shall declare? because taken from the earth is his life.'

34 And the eunuch answering Philip said, `I pray thee, about whom doth the prophet say this? about himself, or about some other one?'

35 and Philip having opened his mouth, and having begun from this Writing, proclaimed good news to him--Jesus.

36 And as they were going on the way, they came upon a certain water, and the eunuch said, `Lo, water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?'

37 <FI> And Philip said, `If thou dost believe out of all the heart, it is lawful;' and he answering said, `I believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God;'<Fi>

38 and he commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down to the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him;

39 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 was going on his way rejoicing;

40 and Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through, he was proclaiming good news to all the cities, till his coming to Caesarea.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).