The Persecution Scatters the Church
Study note
Saul approves of Stephen's death as a severe persecution breaks out against the Jerusalem church. While the apostles remain in Jerusalem, the rest of the believers scatter throughout Judaea and Samaria. Rather than silencing the gospel, the scattering results in the word being preached everywhere the believers go.
1 Saul was there, approving of Stephen's murder. That very day, a fierce wave of persecution crashed down on the church in Jerusalem. Every believer except the apostles fled to different parts of Judaea and Samaria. And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 Some devoted men buried Stephen and mourned over him with deep grief. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 Saul, meanwhile, was tearing the church apart. He went from house to house, dragging out men and women and throwing them in prison. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 But the believers who scattered did not stay quiet. Wherever they went, they told people the good news. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Philip's Ministry in Samaria
Study note
Philip goes to Samaria and preaches Christ with extraordinary results -- unclean spirits are cast out, the paralyzed and lame are healed, and great joy fills the city. A sorcerer named Simon, who had amazed the Samaritans and claimed to be someone great, himself believes and is baptized after witnessing Philip's miracles and signs.
5 Philip went to the city of Samaria. He told the people there about the Messiah. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 Large crowds gathered and listened closely to everything Philip said. They could see the miracles he was doing. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 Evil spirits screamed as they came out of many people. Others who had been paralyzed or unable to walk were healed. 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.
8 That whole city was buzzing with joy. And there was great joy in that city.
9 Now, there was a man named Simon who had been practicing magic in the city for a long time. He had amazed the people of Samaria and kept telling everyone he was someone great. But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10 People of every social standing paid attention to him. "This man has the great power of God!" they would say. To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 They followed Simon because his magic tricks had wowed them for years. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But then Philip came and told them the good news about God's kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ. They believed him and were baptized -- both men and women. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Even Simon himself believed and got baptized. He stayed right beside Philip, and his jaw dropped when he saw the powerful miracles and signs being performed. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
The Holy Spirit Through the Apostles' Hands
Study note
When the apostles in Jerusalem hear that Samaria has received the word, they send Peter and John. The Samaritans had been baptized in Jesus' name but had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Through the apostles' laying on of hands, they receive the Spirit. Simon offers money for this power, but Peter sharply rebukes him, declaring that God's gift cannot be purchased. Simon asks Peter to pray for him.
14 Back in Jerusalem, the apostles heard that the people in Samaria had accepted God's message. So they sent Peter and John to go see them. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 When Peter and John arrived, they prayed that the new believers would receive the Holy Spirit. Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (Up to that point, the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Peter and John placed their hands on the believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18 Simon watched this happen. He saw that people received the Holy Spirit when the apostles placed their hands on them. So he pulled out his money and offered to pay them. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 "Give me this ability too," he said. "I want anyone I touch to receive the Holy Spirit." Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 Peter shot back, "May your money be destroyed right along with you! You thought you could buy God's gift with cash?" But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 "You have no part in this ministry at all, because your heart is not right with God." Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 "Turn away from this horrible idea and beg God to forgive you for even thinking it." Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 "I can see that you are poisoned with jealousy and completely trapped by sin." For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24 "Please," Simon said, "pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you described will happen to me." Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
25 After Peter and John had shared their testimony and preached the Lord's message, they headed back to Jerusalem. Along the way, they stopped to spread the good news in many Samaritan villages. And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
Study note
An angel directs Philip to a desert road where he encounters an Ethiopian court official reading from the prophet Isaiah. The man is reading about the suffering servant who was led like a sheep to slaughter. Philip explains that this passage speaks of Jesus and shares the gospel with him. The eunuch believes and is baptized in nearby water. The Spirit then carries Philip away to Azotus, where he continues preaching through the coastal cities to Caesarea.
26 An angel of the Lord told Philip, "Head south and take the desert road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza." And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 Philip got up and went. On that road he came across an Ethiopian man -- an important official who served as the treasurer for Candace, the queen of Ethiopia. This man had traveled all the way to Jerusalem to worship God. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Now he was heading home, riding in his chariot and reading from the prophet Esaias. Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go catch up to that chariot and stay close to it." Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading Esaias out loud. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 "How could I?" the man replied. "I need someone to explain it to me." Then he invited Philip to climb up and sit beside him. And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 This is the passage he had been reading: "He was led to the slaughter like a sheep. Like a lamb that makes no sound while being sheared, he never opened his mouth to protest." The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 "He was humiliated and denied any justice. Who will tell the story of his descendants? His life on earth was cut short." In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 The Ethiopian official turned to Philip and asked, "Please help me understand -- who is the prophet describing? Is he talking about himself, or is this about someone else?" And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Starting with that very passage, Philip explained the good news about Jesus to him. Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 As they rode along, they came to a body of water. The official said eagerly, "Look -- water! Is there any reason I should not be baptized right now?" And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 Philip said, "If you believe with your whole heart,." The man declared, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 He ordered the chariot to stop. Both of them went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both 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 suddenly took Philip away. The man from Ethiopia never saw him again. But he went home full of joy. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 Philip turned up at Azotus. From there, he traveled through the area, telling people the good news in every town until he reached Caesarea. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.