the Fourth Week of Advent
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Hebrew Names Version
Acts 8
1 Sha'ul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Yerushalayim in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Yehudah and Shomron, except for the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him. 3 But Sha'ul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.
4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word. 5 Pilipos went down to the city of Shomron, and proclaimed to them the Messiah. 6 The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Pilipos, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. 7 For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 There was great joy in that city. 9 But there was a certain man, Shim`on by name, who had used sorcery in the city before, and amazed the people of Shomron, making himself out to be some great one, 10 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is that great power of God." 11 They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. 12 But when they believed Pilipos preaching good news concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Yeshua the Messiah, they were immersed, both men and women. 13 Shim`on himself also believed. Being immersed, he continued with Pilipos. Seeing signs and great miracles done, he was amazed.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Yerushalayim heard that Shomron had received the word of God, they sent Kefa and Yochanan to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Ruach HaKodesh; 16 for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been immersed into the name of the Lord Yeshua. 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Ruach HaKodesh. 18 Now when Shim`on saw that the Ruach HaKodesh was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give me also this power, that whoever I lay my hands on may receive the Ruach HaKodesh." 20 But Kefa said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn't right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity." 24 Shim`on answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken come on me." 25 They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Yerushalayim, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Shomroni.
26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Pilipos, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Yerushalayim to `Aza. This is a desert." 27 He arose and went. Behold, there was a man of Kush, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Kushim, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Yerushalayim to worship. 28 He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Yesha`yahu. 29 The Spirit said to Pilipos, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot." 30 Pilipos ran to him, and heard him reading Yesha`yahu the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He begged Pilipos to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, So he doesn't open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generations? For his life is taken from the eretz." 34 The eunuch answered Pilipos, "Please tell who the prophet is talking about: about himself, or about some other?" 35 Pilipos opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Yeshua. 36 As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being immersed?" 38 He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Pilipos and the eunuch, and he immersed him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Pilipos away, and the eunuch didn't see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Pilipos was found at Ashdod. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.
