Dual Panel1AND SAUL was [not only] consenting to [Stephen's] death [he was pleased and entirely approving]. On that day a great {and} severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers).
2[A party of] devout men with others helped to carry out {and} bury Stephen and made great lamentation over him.
3But Saul shamefully treated {and} laid waste the church continuously [with cruelty and violence]; and entering house after house, he dragged out men and women and committed them to prison.
4Now those who were scattered abroad went about [through the land from place to place] preaching the glad tidings, the Word [the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God].
5Philip [the deacon, not the apostle] went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the Messiah) to them [the people];
6And great crowds of people with one accord listened to {and} heeded what was said by Philip, as they heard him {and} watched the miracles {and} wonders which he kept performing [from time to time].
7For foul spirits came out of many who were possessed by them, screaming {and} shouting with a loud voice, and many who were suffering from palsy or were crippled were restored to health.
8And there was great rejoicing in that city.
9But there was a man named Simon, who had formerly practiced magic arts in the city to the utter amazement of the Samaritan nation, claiming that he himself was an extraordinary {and} distinguished person.
10They all paid earnest attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that exhibition of the power of God which is called great (intense).
11And they were attentive {and} made much of him, because for a long time he had amazed {and} bewildered {and} dazzled them with his skill in magic arts.
12But when they believed the good news (the Gospel) about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) as Philip preached it, they were baptized, both men and women.
13Even Simon himself believed [he adhered to, trusted in, and relied on the teaching of Philip], and after being baptized, devoted himself constantly to him. And seeing signs {and} miracles of great power which were being performed, he was utterly amazed.
14Now when the apostles (special messengers) at Jerusalem heard that [the country of] Samaria had accepted {and} welcomed the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15And they came down and prayed for them that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit;
16For He had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17Then [the apostles] laid their hands on them one by one, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18However, when Simon saw that the [Holy] Spirit was imparted through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he brought money {and} offered it to them,
19Saying, Grant me also this power {and} authority, in order that anyone on whom I place my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.
20But Peter said to him, Destruction overtake your money and you, because you imagined you could obtain the [free] gift of God with money!
21You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is all wrong in God's sight [it is not straightforward or right or true before God].
22So repent of this depravity {and} wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this contriving thought {and} purpose of your heart may be removed {and} disregarded {and} forgiven you.
23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in a bond forged by iniquity [to fetter souls].
24And Simon answered, Pray for me [beseech the Lord, both of you], that nothing of what you have said may befall me!
25Now when [the apostles] had borne their testimony and preached the message of the Lord, they went back to Jerusalem, proclaiming the glad tidings (Gospel) to many villages of the Samaritans [on the way].
26But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Rise and proceed southward {or} at midday on the road that runs from Jerusalem down to Gaza. This is the desert [route].
27So he got up and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship.
28And he was [now] returning, and sitting in his chariot he was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.
29Then the [Holy] Spirit said to Philip, Go forward and join yourself to this chariot.
30Accordingly Philip, running up to him, heard [the man] reading the prophet Isaiah and asked, Do you really understand what you are reading?
31And he said, How is it possible for me to do so unless someone explains it to me {and} guides me [in the right way]? And he earnestly requested Philip to come up and sit beside him.
32Now this was the passage of Scripture which he was reading: Like a sheep He was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so He opens not His mouth.
33In His humiliation He was taken away by distressing {and} oppressive judgment {and} justice was denied Him [caused to cease]. Who can describe {or} relate in full the wickedness of His contemporaries (generation)? For His life is taken from the earth {and} a bloody death inflicted upon Him.
34And the eunuch said to Philip, I beg of you, tell me about whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?
35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this portion of Scripture he announced to him the glad tidings (Gospel) of Jesus {and} about Him.
36And as they continued along on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch exclaimed, See, [here is] water! What is to hinder my being baptized?
37{And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart [if you have a conviction, full of joyful trust, that Jesus is the Messiah and accept Him as the Author of your salvation in the kingdom of God, giving Him your obedience, then] you may. And he replied, I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38And he ordered that the chariot be stopped; and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and [Philip] baptized him.
39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord [suddenly] caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing.
40But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing on he preached the good news (Gospel) to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.