Saul Attempts to Destroy the Church

¹ And Saul was agreeing with his murder. Now there happened 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.

² And devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him.

³ But Saul was attempting to destroy the church. Entering ⌞house after house⌟,¹ he dragged off both men and women and² delivered them³ to prison.

1. Literally “from house” to house
2. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“dragged off”) has been translated as a finite verb
3. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria

⁴ Now those who had been scattered went about proclaiming the good news of the word.

⁵ And Philip came down to the city of Samaria and¹ began proclaiming² the Christ³ to them.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came down”) has been translated as a finite verb
2. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began proclaiming”)
3. Or “Messiah”

⁶ And the crowds with one mind were paying attention to what was being said by Philip, as they heard him¹ and saw the signs that he was performing.

1. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

⁷ For many of those who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them,¹ crying out with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

1. *The words “of them” are supplied in the translation to indicate that the unclean spirits were coming out of the people

⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Magician

⁹ Now a certain man ⌞named⌟¹ Simon had been in the city practicing magic and astonishing the people of Samaria, saying he was someone great.

1. Literally “by name”

¹⁰ They were all paying attention to ⌞him⌟,¹ from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘Great.’ ”

1. Literally “whom”

¹¹ And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astonished them with his¹ magic.

1. *Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun

¹² But when they believed Philip as he¹ was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being baptized.

1. *Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was proclaiming the good news”) which is understood as temporal

¹³ And Simon himself also believed, and after he¹ was baptized he was ⌞keeping close company with⌟² Philip. And when he³ saw the signs and great miracles that were taking place, he was astonished.

1. *Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was baptized”) which is understood as temporal
2. Literally “attaching himself to”
3. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal

¹⁴ Now when¹ the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal

¹⁵ who went down and¹ prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went down”) has been translated as a finite verb

¹⁶ (For he had not yet fallen on any of them, ⌞but they had only been baptized⌟¹ in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

1. Literally “but they were only having been baptized”

¹⁷ Then they placed their¹ hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

1. *Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun

¹⁸ Now Simon, when he¹ saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, offered them money,

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal

¹⁹ saying, “Give to me also this power, so that whomever I place my¹ hands on may receive the Holy Spirit!”

1. *Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun

²⁰ But Peter said to him, “May your silver ⌞be destroyed along with you⌟,¹ because you thought ⌞you could acquire⌟² the gift of God by means of money!

1. Literally “be for destruction with you”
2. Literally “to acquire”

²¹ ⌞You have no⌟¹ part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God.

1. Literally “there is for you no”

²² Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and ask the Lord if perhaps the intent of your heart may be forgiven you!”

²³ For I see you are in ⌞a state of bitter envy⌟¹ and ⌞bound by unrighteousness⌟.”²

1. Literally “the gall of bitterness”
2. Literally “the fetter of unrighteousness”

²⁴ But Simon answered and¹ said, “You pray to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me.”

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb

²⁵ So when¹ they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they turned back toward Jerusalem, and were proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had solemnly testified”) which is understood as temporal

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get up and go toward the south¹ on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.)

1. Or “go about noon”

²⁷ And he got up and¹ went, and behold, there was a man, an Ethiopian eunuch (a court official of Candace,² queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury) who had come to worship in Jerusalem

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“got up”) has been translated as a finite verb
2. Or “the Candace” (the title of the queen of Ethiopia)

²⁸ and was returning and sitting in his chariot, and reading aloud the prophet Isaiah.

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

³⁰ So Philip ran up to it¹ and² heard him reading aloud Isaiah the prophet and said, “So then, do you understand what you are reading?”

1. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
2. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“ran up to”) has been translated as a finite verb

³¹ And he said, “So how could I, unless someone will guide me?” And he invited Philip to come up and¹ sit with him.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“come up”) has been translated as an infinitive

³² Now the passage of scripture that he was reading aloud was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

³³ In his¹ humiliation justice was taken from him. Who can describe his ⌞descendants⌟?² For his life was taken away from the earth.”³

1. *Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
2. Or perhaps “family history”; literally “generation”
3. A quotation from Isa 53:7–8

³⁴ And the eunuch answered and¹ said to Philip, “I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this—about himself or about someone else?”

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb

³⁵ So Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this scripture, proclaimed the good news to him about Jesus.

³⁶ And as they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”¹

1. A few later manuscripts add v. 37, with minor variations: “He said to him, ‘If you believe with your whole heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ ” The verse is almost certainly not an original part of the text of Acts.

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

³⁹ And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer, for he went on his way rejoicing.

⁴⁰ But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he¹ passed through, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

1. *Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“passed through”) which is understood as temporal