New King James Version

English Standard Version

1Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

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.

2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

2Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

3As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

3But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

4Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

4Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

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

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

6And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

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.

7For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

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.

8And there was great joy in that city.

8So there was much joy in that city.

9But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,

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.

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

10They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”

11And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.

11And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

12But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

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.

13Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

13Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

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

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

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

15who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

16For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

16for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

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

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

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

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

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

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

20But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!

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

21You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.

21You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

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

22Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

23For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

24Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

24And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

25So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

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.

26Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.

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.

27So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,

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

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

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

29Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”

29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”

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

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

31And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

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

32The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

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.

33In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”

33In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?”

34And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”

35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

36Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

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?”

37Then 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.”

37

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

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

39Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

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.

40But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.