Read-aloud uses AI-generated Orakel narrator voices when available. Voice names are Orakel styles, not provider names.
Acts Chapter 8 008:001 Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. 008:002 Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him. 008:003 But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison. 008:004 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.
008:005 Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. 008:006 The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. 008:007 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. 008:008 There was great joy in that city.
008:009 But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, 008:010 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is that great power of God." 008:011 They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
008:012 But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 008:013 Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
008:014 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 008:015 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 008:016 for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus. 008:017 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
008:018 Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 008:019 saying, "Give me also this power, that whoever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit." 008:020 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 008:021 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn't right before God.
008:022 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 008:023 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity." 008:024 Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me." 008:025 They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans.
008:026 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert." 008:027 He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship. 008:028 He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
008:029 The Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot." 008:030 Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 008:031 He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. 008:032 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.
008:033 In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth."{Isaiah 53:7,8} 008:034 The eunuch answered Philip, "Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?" 008:035 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus. 008:036 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 baptized?" 008:037 {TR adds "Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' He answered, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'"} 008:038 He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 008:039 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn't see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
008:040 But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.