Chapter 8

Saul Persecutes the Church

1 aSaul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.

And on that day a great persecution 1began against bthe church in Jerusalem, and they were all cscattered throughout the regions of Judea and dSamaria, except the apostles.

2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.

3 But aSaul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and bdragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

4 Therefore, those awho had been scattered went about 1bpreaching the word.

5 aPhilip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming 1Christ to them.

6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the 1signs which he was performing.

7 For in the case of many who had aunclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been bparalyzed and lame were healed.

8 So there was amuch rejoicing in that city.

9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing amagic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, bclaiming to be someone great;

10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “aThis man is what is called the Great Power of God.”

11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his amagic arts.

12 But when they believed Philip apreaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being bbaptized, men and women alike.

13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed asigns and bgreat miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

14 Now when athe apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them bPeter and John,

15 who came down and prayed for them athat they might receive the Holy Spirit.

16 For He had anot yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been bbaptized 1in the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 Then they abegan laying their hands on them, and they were breceiving the Holy Spirit.

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

19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

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

21 “You have ano part or portion in this 1matter, for your heart is not bright before God.

22 “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, aif possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

23 “For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in athe 1bondage of iniquity.”

24 But Simon answered and said, “aPray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

An Ethiopian Receives Christ

25 So, when they had solemnly atestified and spoken bthe word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were cpreaching the gospel to many villages of the dSamaritans.

26 But aan angel of the Lord spoke to bPhilip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to cGaza.” (1This is a desert road.)

27 So he got up and went; and athere was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he bhad come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 and he was returning and sitting in his 1chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 Then athe Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this 1chariot.”

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

31 And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:

“aHe was led as a sheep to slaughter;

And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,

So He does not open His mouth.

33 “aIn humiliation His judgment was taken away;

Who will 1relate His 2generation?

For His life is removed from the earth.”

34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?”

35 Then Philip aopened his mouth, and bbeginning from this Scripture he cpreached Jesus to him.

36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch * said, “Look! Water! aWhat prevents me from being baptized?”

37 [1And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]

38 And he ordered the 1chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

39 When they came up out of the water, athe Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, 1but went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip 1found himself at 2aAzotus, and as he passed through he bkept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to cCaesarea.

Chapter 9

The Conversion of Saul

1 aNow 1Saul, still bbreathing 2threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

2 and asked for aletters from him to bthe synagogues at cDamascus, so that if he found any belonging to dthe Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and asuddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;

4 and ahe fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

6 but get up and enter the city, and ait will be told you what you must do.”

7 The men who traveled with him astood speechless, bhearing the 1voice but seeing no one.

8 Saul got up from the ground, and athough his eyes were open, he 1could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into bDamascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at aDamascus named bAnanias; and the Lord said to him in ca vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from aTarsus named Saul, for he is praying,

12 and he has seen 1in a vision a man named Ananias come in and alay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.”

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, ahow much harm he did to bYour 1saints at Jerusalem;

14 and here he ahas authority from the chief priests to bind all who bcall on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for ahe is a chosen 1instrument of Mine, to bear My name before bthe Gentiles and ckings and the sons of Israel;

16 for aI will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after alaying his hands on him said, “bBrother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be cfilled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;

19 and he took food and was strengthened.

Saul Begins to Preach Christ

Now afor several days he was with bthe disciples who were at Damascus,

20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus ain the synagogues, 1saying, “He is bthe Son of God.”

21 All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem adestroyed those who bcalled on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?”

22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the 1Christ.

23 When amany days had elapsed, bthe Jews plotted together to do away with him,

24 but atheir plot became known to Saul. bThey were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death;

25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

26 aWhen he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; 1but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

27 But aBarnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had bseen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how cat Damascus he had dspoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.

28 And he was with them, 1moving about freely in Jerusalem, aspeaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.

29 And he was talking and arguing with the 1aHellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death.

30 But when athe brethren learned of it, they brought him down to bCaesarea and csent him away to dTarsus.

31 So athe church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria 1enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

Peter’s Ministry

32 Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to athe 1saints who lived at 2bLydda.

33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed.

34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up.

35 And all who lived at 1aLydda and bSharon saw him, and they cturned to the Lord.

36 Now in aJoppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called 1Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

37 And it happened 1at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an aupper room.

38 Since Lydda was near aJoppa, bthe disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.”

39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the aupper room; and all the bwidows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the 1tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

40 But Peter asent them all out and bknelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “cTabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling athe 1saints and bwidows, he presented her alive.

42 It became known all over aJoppa, and bmany believed in the Lord.

43 And Peter stayed many days in aJoppa with ba tanner named Simon.

Chapter 10

Cornelius’s Vision

1 Now there was a man at aCaesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was bcalled the Italian 1cohort,

2 a devout man and aone who feared God with all his household, and bgave many 1alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.

3 About athe 1ninth hour of the day he clearly saw bin a vision can angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!”

4 And afixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and 1alms bhave ascended cas a memorial before God.

5 “Now dispatch some men to aJoppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;

6 he is staying with a tanner named aSimon, whose house is by the sea.”

7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his 1servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants,

8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to aJoppa.

9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, aPeter went up on bthe housetop about cthe 1sixth hour to pray.

10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he afell into a trance;

11 and he * saw athe 1sky opened up, and an 2object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground,

12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and 1crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the 2air.

13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, 1kill and eat!”

14 But Peter said, “By no means, aLord, for bI have never eaten anything 1unholy and unclean.”

15 Again a voice came to him a second time, “aWhat God has cleansed, no longer consider 1unholy.”

16 This happened three times, and immediately the 1object was taken up into the 2sky.

17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in 1mind as to what athe vision which he had seen might be, behold, bthe men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate;

18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.

19 While Peter was reflecting on athe vision, bthe Spirit said to him, “Behold, 1three men are looking for you.

20 “But get up, go downstairs and aaccompany them 1without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.”

21 Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?”

22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and aGod-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, bwas divinely directed by a choly angel to send for you to come to his house and hear 1da message from you.”

23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging.

Peter at Caesarea

And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and asome of bthe brethren from cJoppa accompanied him.

24 On the following day he entered aCaesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and 1aworshiped him.

26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “aStand up; I too am just a man.”

27 As he talked with him, he entered and * found amany people assembled.

28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how aunlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet bGod has shown me that I should not call any man 1unholy or unclean.

29 “That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”

30 Cornelius said, “aFour days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during bthe 1ninth hour; and behold, ca man stood before me in shining garments,

31 and he * said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your 1alms have been remembered before God.

32 ‘Therefore send to aJoppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’

33 “So I sent for you immediately, and you have 1been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear Good News

34 aOpening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that bGod is not one to show partiality,

35 but ain every nation the man who 1bfears Him and 2does what is right is welcome to Him.

36 “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, apreaching 1bpeace through Jesus Christ (He is cLord of all)—

37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed.

38 “1You know of aJesus of Nazareth, how God banointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, 2cand how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for dGod was with Him.

39 “We are awitnesses of all the things He did both in the 1land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also bput Him to death by hanging Him on a 2cross.

40 “aGod raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible,

41 anot to all the people, but to bwitnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us cwho ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

42 “And He aordered us to 1preach to the people, and solemnly to btestify that this is the One who has been cappointed by God as dJudge of the living and the dead.

43 “Of Him aall the prophets bear witness that through bHis name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, athe Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the 1message.

45 aAll the 1circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been bpoured out on the Gentiles also.

46 For they were hearing them aspeaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,

47 “aSurely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who bhave received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”

48 And he aordered them to be baptized bin the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.