Twentieth Century [1904], THE TWENTIETH CENTURY NEW TESTAMENT A TRANSLATION INTO MODERN ENGLISH Made from the Original Greek (Westcott & Hort's Text) (The Fleming H. Revell Company, NEW YORK & CHICAGO) [word count] [B14200].
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1 Saul approved of his being put to death.
note
On that very day a great persecution broke out
against the Church which was in Jerusalem; and
its members, with the exception of the Apostles, were all
scattered over the districts of Judaea and Samaria.
2 Some
religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for him.
3 But Saul began to devastate the Church; he entered house
after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw
them into prison.
note
4 Now those who were scattered in different
directions went from place to place proclaiming
the Good News.
5 Philip went down to the city of
Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ.
6 The people,
one and all, listened attentively to what Philip told them,
when they heard of, and saw, the miracles which he was
-- --
working.
7 For there were many instances of people with foul
spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of
them;
8 and many who were paralyzed or lame were cured, so
that there was great rejoicing throughout that city.
9 There was staying in the city a man named Simon, who
had been practising magic there and mystifying the Samaritan
people, giving himself out to be some great Being.
10 Every
one, high and low, paid attention to him. ‘This man,’ they
used to say, ‘must be that Power of God which men call “The
Great Power.”’
11 And they paid attention to him because
they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts.
12 However, when they came to believe Philip, as he told them
the Good News about the Kingdom of God and the Name of
Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Even
Simon believed, and after his baptism attached himself to
Philip, and was in his turn mystified at seeing signs and great
miracles constantly occurring.
note
14 When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that the
Samaritans had welcomed God's Message, they
sent Peter and John to them;
15 and they, on their
arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive
the Holy Spirit.
16 (As yet the Spirit had not descended upon
any of them; they had only been baptized into the Faith of the
Lord Jesus).
17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on
them, and they received the Holy Spirit. ⪆⪆
18 When Simon
saw that it was through the placing of the Apostles' hands on
them that the Spirit was given, he brought them a sum of
money and said:
19 “Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my
hands upon any one, he may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 “A curse upon you and upon your money,” Peter exclaimed,
“for thinking that God's free gift can be bought with
gold!
21 You have no share or part in our Message, for your
‘heart is not right with God.’ note
22 Therefore repent of this
wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that, if possible,
you may be forgiven for such a thought;
23 for I see that
you have fallen into the ‘bitterness of envy’ and the ‘fetters
of sin.’” note
24 “Pray to the Lord for me, all of you,” Simon answered,
“so that none of the things you have spoken of may befall
me.”
25 Peter and John, having borne their testimony and delivered
the Lord's Message, returned to Jerusalem, telling the Good
News, as they went, in many Samaritan villages.
note
26 Meanwhile an angel of the Lord had said to
Philip:
“Set out on a journey southwards, along the
-- --
road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (It is now
deserted).
27 So Philip set out on a journey; and on his way he came upon
an official of high rank, in the service of Candace, Queen of
the Abyssinians. He was her Treasurer, and had been to
Jerusalem to worship,
28 and was now on his way home, sitting
in his carriage and reading the Prophet Isaiah.
29 The Spirit
said to Philip:
“Go up to the carriage yonder and keep close to it.”
30 So Philip ran up, and he heard the Abyssinian reading the
Prophet Isaiah.
“Do you understand what you are reading?” he asked.
31 “How can I,” the other answered, “unless some one will
explain it to me?” and he invited Philip to get up and sit by
his side.
32 The passage of Scripture which he was reading
was this—
‘Like a sheep, he was led away to slaughter,
And as a lamb is dumb in the hands of its shearer,
So he refrains from opening his lips.
33
In his lowly condition justice was denied him.
Who will tell the story of his generation?
For his life is cut off from earth.’ note
34 “Now,” said the Treasurer, addressing Philip, “tell
me, of whom is the Prophet speaking? Of himself, or of
some one else?”
35 Then Philip began, and, taking this passage as his text, told
him the Good News about Jesus.
36 Presently, as they were
going along the road, they came to some water, and the
Treasurer exclaimed:
“Look! here is water; what is to prevent my being baptized?”
38 So he ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into
the water—both Philip and the Treasurer—and Philip baptized
him.
39 But, when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of
the Lord caught Philip away, and the Treasurer saw no more
of him; for he continued his journey with a joyful heart.
40 But
Philip was found at Ashdod, and, as he went on his way, he
told the Good News in all the towns through which he passed,
till he came to Caesarea.
Twentieth Century [1904], THE TWENTIETH CENTURY NEW TESTAMENT A TRANSLATION INTO MODERN ENGLISH Made from the Original Greek (Westcott & Hort's Text) (The Fleming H. Revell Company, NEW YORK & CHICAGO) [word count] [B14200].
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