the Fourth Week of Advent
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New American Standard Bible (1995)
Acts 8
Saul Persecutes the Church
1 (C1)Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.
Philip in Samaria
4 Therefore, those (C1)who had been scattered went about (F1)(C2)preaching the word.5 (C1)Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming (F1)Christ to them.6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the (F1)signs which he was performing.7 For in the case of many who had (C1)unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been (C2)paralyzed and lame were healed.8 So there was (C1)much rejoicing in that city.
9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing (C1)magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, (C2)claiming to be someone great;10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, "(C1)This man is what is called the Great Power of God."11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his (C1)magic arts.12 But when they believed Philip (C1)preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being (C2)baptized, men and women alike.13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed (C1)signs and (C2)great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
14 Now when (C1)the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them (C2)Peter and John,15 who came down and prayed for them (C1)that they might receive the Holy Spirit.16 For He had (C1)not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been (C2)baptized (F1)in the name of the Lord Jesus.17 Then they (C1)began laying their hands on them, and they were (C2)receiving the Holy Spirit.18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,19 saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could (C1)obtain the gift of God with money!21 "You have (C1)no part or portion in this (F1)matter, for your heart is not (C2)right before God.22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, (C1)if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.23 "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in (C1)the (F1)bondage of iniquity."24 But Simon answered and said, "(C1)Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
An Ethiopian Receives Christ
25 So, when they had solemnly (C1)testified and spoken (C2)the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were (C3)preaching the gospel to many villages of the (C4)Samaritans.
26 But (C1)an angel of the Lord spoke to (C2)Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to (C3)Gaza." ((F1)This is a desert road.)27 So he got up and went; and (C1)there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he (C2)had come to Jerusalem to worship,28 and he was returning and sitting in his (F1)chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.29 Then (C1)the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this (F1)chariot."30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"31 And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
"(C1)HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT,
SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
33 "(C1)IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
WHO WILL (F1)RELATE HIS (F2)GENERATION?
FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation