1,2 Saulapproved the stoning of Stephen. Some faithful followers of the Lord buried Stephenand mourned very much for him.
Saul Makes Trouble for the Church
At that time the church in Jerusalemsuffered terribly. All of the Lord’s followers, except the apostles, were scattered everywhere in Judeaand Samaria. 3 Ac 22.4,5;26.9-11.Saulstarted making a lot of trouble for the church. He went from house to house, arresting men and women and putting them in jail.
The Good News Is Preached in Samaria
4 The Lord’s followers who had been scattered went from place to place, telling the good news. 5 Philipwent to the city of Samariaand told the people about Christ. 6 They crowded around Philipbecause they were eager to hear what he was saying and to see him work miracles. 7 Many people with evil spirits were healed, and the spirits went out of them with a shout. A lot of paralyzed and lame people were also healed. 8 Everyone in that city was very glad because of what was happening.
9 For some time a man named Simonhad lived there and had amazed the people of Samaria. He practiced witchcraft and claimed to be somebody great. 10 Everyone, rich and poor, crowded around him. They said, "This man is the power of God called ‘The Great Power.’ "
11 For a long time, Simon had used witchcraft to amaze the people, and they kept crowding around him. 12 But when they believed what Philipwas saying about God’s kingdom and about the name of Jesus Christ, they were all baptized. 13 Even Simonbelieved and was baptized. He stayed close to Philip, because he marveled at all the miracles and wonders.
14 The apostles in Jerusalemheard that some people in Samariahad accepted God’s message, and they sent Peterand John. 15 When the two apostles arrived, they prayed that these people would be given the Holy Spirit. 16 Before this, the Holy Spirit had not been given to any of them, though some of them had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Peter and John then placed their hands on everyone who had faith in the Lord, and they were given the Holy Spirit.
18 Simonnoticed that the Spirit was given only when the apostles placed their hands on the people. So he brought money 19 and said to Peter and John, "Let me have this power too! Then anyone I place my hands on will also be given the Holy Spirit."
20 Petersaid to him, "You and your money will both end up in hell if you think you can buy God’s gift! 21 You don’t have any part in this, and God sees that your heart isn’t right. 22 Get rid of these evil thoughts and ask God to forgive you. 23 I can see that you are jealous and bound by your evil ways."
24 Simonsaid, "Please pray to the Lord, so that what you said won’t happen to me."
25 After Peter and John had preached about the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem. On their way they told the good news in many villages of Samaria.
Philip and an Ethiopian Official
26 The Lord’s angel said to Philip, "Go south8.26 Go south: Or "About noon go."along the desert road that leads from Jerusalemto Gaza."8.26 the desert road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza: Or "the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza in the desert."27 So Philip left.
An important Ethiopian official happened to be going along that road in his chariot. He was the chief treasurer for Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia. The official had gone to Jerusalemto worship 28 and was now on his way home. He was sitting in his chariot, reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.
29 The Spirit told Philipto catch up with the chariot. 30 Philipran up close and heard the man reading aloud from the book of Isaiah. Philipasked him, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
31 The official answered, "How can I understand unless someone helps me?" He then invited Philipto come up and sit beside him.
32 Is 53.7,8 (LXX).The man was reading the passage that said,
"He was led like a sheep
on its way to be killed.
He was silent as a lamb
whose wool
is being cut off,
and he did not say
a word.
33 He was treated like a nobody
and did not receive
a fair trial.
How can he have children,
if his life
is snatched away?"
34 The official said to Philip, "Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or about someone else?" 35 So Philipbegan at this place in the Scriptures and explained the good news about Jesus.
36,37 As they were going along the road, they came to a place where there was some water. The official said, "Look! Here is some water. Why can’t I be baptized?"8.36,37 Why can’t I be baptized: Some manuscripts add, "Philip replied, ‘You can, if you believe with all your heart.’ The official answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ "38 He ordered the chariot to stop. Then they both went down into the water, and Philipbaptized him.
39 After they had come out of the water, the Lord’s Spirit took Philipaway. The official never saw him again, but he was very happy as he went on his way.
40 Philiplater appeared in Azotus. He went from town to town, all the way to Caesarea, telling people about Jesus.
Pessoa
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Paul
ΠαῦλοςPau͂los
Paul, also called Saul, was an apostle of Christ Jesus and, with Barnabas, turned to the Gentiles. Earlier, he ravaged the church and committed men and women to prison, until he heard a voice and, seeing nothing, was brought to Damascus (Acts 13:46).
Jerusalem is the city of the house of God, where children of Judah and Benjamin lived; the Babylonian army broke down the walls of the city (2 Kings 25:10).
Judea is the land where Bethlehem is located, the town where Jesus was born during the time of King Herod. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and there the Jews sought to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:1).
Samaria is the region Jesus passed through and where, in a city, Philip preached the Christ; when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John (Acts 8:14).
Paul, also called Saul, was an apostle of Christ Jesus and, with Barnabas, turned to the Gentiles. Earlier, he ravaged the church and committed men and women to prison, until he heard a voice and, seeing nothing, was brought to Damascus (Acts 13:46).
Samaria is the region Jesus passed through and where, in a city, Philip preached the Christ; when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John (Acts 8:14).
Samaria is the region Jesus passed through and where, in a city, Philip preached the Christ; when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John (Acts 8:14).
Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, was born of Mary in Bethlehem, proclaimed the kingdom of God, died by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, and was raised on the third day (Matthew 1:16).
Jerusalem is the city of the house of God, where children of Judah and Benjamin lived; the Babylonian army broke down the walls of the city (2 Kings 25:10).
Samaria is the region Jesus passed through and where, in a city, Philip preached the Christ; when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John (Acts 8:14).
Peter, called Simon, a fisherman of Galilee, was one of the twelve apostles; he confessed Jesus as the Christ, denied him three times, and later preached at Pentecost (Matthew 16:16).
John, son of Zebedee and brother of James, left his father’s boat to follow Jesus, was one of the twelve apostles, and was with him at the transfiguration (Mark 1:19).
Peter, called Simon, a fisherman of Galilee, was one of the twelve apostles; he confessed Jesus as the Christ, denied him three times, and later preached at Pentecost (Matthew 16:16).
Jerusalem is the city of the house of God, where children of Judah and Benjamin lived; the Babylonian army broke down the walls of the city (2 Kings 25:10).
Samaria is the region Jesus passed through and where, in a city, Philip preached the Christ; when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John (Acts 8:14).
Jerusalem is the city of the house of God, where children of Judah and Benjamin lived; the Babylonian army broke down the walls of the city (2 Kings 25:10).
Gaza was a city of the Philistines, where the people surrounded Samson and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate to kill him at dawn (Judges 16:2).
Ethiopia is the land of the Ethiopians, whose queen was Candace; an Ethiopian eunuch, in charge of all her treasury, had gone to Jerusalem to worship God (Acts 8:27).
Jerusalem is the city of the house of God, where children of Judah and Benjamin lived; the Babylonian army broke down the walls of the city (2 Kings 25:10).
Isaiah, son of Amoz, was the prophet who had a vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He sent King Hezekiah the Lord’s answer to the prayer about Sennacherib king of Assyria (2 Kings 19:20).
Isaiah, son of Amoz, was the prophet who had a vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He sent King Hezekiah the Lord’s answer to the prayer about Sennacherib king of Assyria (2 Kings 19:20).
Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, was born of Mary in Bethlehem, proclaimed the kingdom of God, died by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, and was raised on the third day (Matthew 1:16).
Ashdod was one of the cities of the five Philistine rulers; there Dagon was found fallen before the ark of the Lord, and the Lord’s hand was heavy on the people, afflicting them with tumors (1 Samuel 5:6).