Modern Literal Version
[Acts 8] 8:1Now Saul was consenting to the assassination of him.




     Now there became a great persecution in that day upon the congregation* which was in Jerusalem, and they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, other-than the apostles.



     8:2 Now devout men entombed Stephen and made* a great lamentation over him.



     8:3 Now Saul was devastating the congregation*of believers, traveling into all houses and dragging men and women away, he was giving them up to prison.




     {37 AD. Samaria. Tiberius Caesar dies March 16. Caligula attempts to put his statue in the Temple.}



     {Examples of those who are saved in the New Testament: Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 10:34-48; 16:13-15; 16:25-34; 18:8a; 18:8b; 19:1-7; Saul/Apostle Paul: 9:17-18, 22:6-16, 26:12-18.}



     8:4 Therefore indeed, those who were dispersed went throughoutthe land, proclaiming the good-news of the word.



     8:5 Now Philip went down to a city of Samaria and was preaching to them the Christ. 8:6 And the crowds united and were taking-heed to the things which were spoken by Philip, while* they were hearing and seeing the signs which he was doing*. 8:7 For* many of those who have unclean spirits,the spirits were coming out, crying with a loud voice. And many were healed who had been paralyzed and lame. 8:8 And there became great joy in that city.




     8:9 But a certain man, Simon by name, was formerly in the city practicing-magic and astonishing the nation of Samaria, saying himself to be someone great. 8:10 To whom they were taking-heed, from the little to the great, saying, This one is the power of God, the Great. 8:11 Now they were taking-heed to him because he has astonished them with his various magics for a considerable time. 8:12 But when they believed Philip proclaiming the good-news concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being immersed*, both men and women. 8:13 Now Simon himself also believed and was immersed*, and was persevering with Philip. And viewing signs and great miracleswhich were happening, he was being astonished.



     8:14 Now after the apostles who were in Jerusalem heard that Samaria has accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them; 8:15 who came-down and prayed concerning them so*that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 8:16 For* he was not yet falling upon any of them, but they were* only being immersed* into the name of the Christ Jesus. 8:17 Then they were laying their hands upon them and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.



     8:18 But when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit is given, he offered them wealth, 8:19 saying, Give* to me also this authority, in order that I may lay my hands on whomever, and he may receive the Holy Spirit.



     8:20 But Peter said to him, May your silver together with you be sent into destruction, because you supposed to procure the gift of God through monies! 8:21 You have neither part nor inheritance in this word, for* this heart of yours is not straight in God's sight. 8:22 Therefore repent from this, your malice, and beseech God; if, then, the deliberation of your heart will be forgiven to you. 8:23 For* I see you as being in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of unrighteousness.



     8:24 But Simon answered and said, You*, beseech* on my behalf to the Lord, *that nothing which you* have spoken may come upon me.




     8:25 Therefore indeed, having thoroughly testified and having spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and proclaimed the good-news to many villages of the Samaritans.




     {Summer 37 AD. Road from Jerusalem to Gaza.}



     8:26 But a messenger of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Stand up and travel toward the middaysun to the road which is going-down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desolate road. 8:27 And he stood up and traveled away.



     And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, (a sovereign under Candace, the queen of Ethiopia, who was in charge over all her treasure), who had come to Jerusalem (will worship there), 8:28 and who was returning and sitting in his chariot and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 8:29 Now the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and join yourself to this chariot.




          {Examples of those who are saved in the New Testament: Acts 2:14-42; 8:5-13; 8:30-39; 10:34-48; 16:13-15; 16:25-34; 18:8a; 18:8b; 19:1-7; Saul/Apostle Paul: 9:17-18, 22:6-16, 26:12-18.}



     8:30 Now Philip having ran up to him, heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, Consequently*, do you know then what you are reading?



     8:31 But he said, For* how am I able, if someone does not guide me? And he pleaded with Philip,after Philip had come-up to sit together with him. 8:32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this: 'He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb in front of the one who is shearing him is voiceless, thus he does not open his mouth. 8:33 His judgment was taken away in his humbleness. But who will be describing his generation? Because his life is taken from the earth.'{Isa 53:7, 8}8:34 But having answered, the eunuch said to Philip, I am beseeching you, concerning whom is the prophet speaking about in this? Is he speaking concerning himself or concerning some other person?



     8:35 Now Philip opened his mouth and having begun from this Scripture, proclaimed the good-news of Jesus to him. 8:36 Now as they were traveling down the road, they came upon some water, and the eunuch says, Behold, here is water; what is preventing me from being immersed*? {T}8:37Now Philip said, If you believe from all your heart, it is permitted.



     But he answered and said I believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God.



     8:38 Now he commanded the chariot to stand still and they both went-down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he immersed* him. 8:39 Now when they came-up out of the water, theSpirit of the Lord seized Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more, for* he was traveling on his way rejoicing.



     8:40 But Philip was found in Azotus and going through, he was proclaiming the good-news to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.





Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1987, 1999, 2013 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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