^8:4Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word. ^8:5Philip went down to the main city of Samaria¹³ and began proclaiming¹⁴ the Christ¹⁵ to them. ^8:6The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what Philip said,¹⁶ as they heard and saw the miraculous signs¹⁷ he was performing. ^8:7For unclean spirits,¹⁸ crying with loud shrieks, were coming out of many who were possessed,¹⁹ and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. ^8:8So there was²⁰ great joy²¹ in that city.

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Footnotes

13 The word “main” is supplied in the translation to clarify that “Samaria” is not the name of the city (at least in NT times). See both Σαμάρεια and L&N 93.568. The main city of Samaria most likely refers to the principal city of Samaria, rebuilt by Herod the Great as Sebaste in honor of Augustus (J. Boehmer, “Studien zur Geographie Palästinas bes. im Neuen Testament,” 9 [1908]: 216–18; D. Gill and C. Gempf, eds., The Book of Acts in its Graeco-Roman Setting, 272). This is the best option if the article before “city” is taken as original. If the reading without the article is taken as original, then another city may be in view: Gitta, the hometown of Simon Magus according to Justin Martyr (cf. C. K. Barrett, Acts [], 1:; F. F. Bruce, Acts [], ).
14 The imperfect ἐκήρυσσεν (ekērussen) has been translated as an ingressive, since this is probably the first time such preaching took place.
15 Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.” See the note on Christ in .
16 Grk “to what was being said by Philip,” a passive construction that has been changed to active voice in the translation.
17 Here the following context indicates the miraculous nature of the signs mentioned. This term appears 13 times in Acts, but only twice more after Acts 8:13 (i.e., 14:3; 15:12).
18 The expression unclean spirits refers to evil supernatural spirits which were ceremonially unclean, and which caused the persons possessed by them to be ceremonially unclean.
19 Grk “For [in the case of] many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out, crying in a loud voice.”
20 Grk “and there came about,” but this is somewhat awkward in English.
21 Great joy. The reason for eschatological joy was that such events pointed to God’s decisive deliverance (Luke 7:22–23). Note how the acts of healing extend beyond the Twelve here.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And 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. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the word. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds were all paying attention to what Philip said, as they listened and saw the signs he was performing. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

NLTNew Living Translation

But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Now those who had been scattered went about proclaiming the good news of the word. And Philip came down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. And the crowds with one mind were paying attention to what was being said by Philip, as they heard him and saw the signs that he was performing. For many of those who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them, crying out with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.

KJV 1900King James Version

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city.

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