Study Desk

All of them listened to him, because for a long time he had bewitched them with his sorceries.

For as yet it had not come upon them although they had been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus.

Repent, therefore, of this evil of yours, and beseech God that he may perhaps forgive you for the guile which is in your heart.

For I see your heart is as bitter as gall and you are in the bonds of iniquity.

Then Semon answered and said, Pray God for me so that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me.

In his humiliation, he suffered imprisonment and judgment: none can tell his struggle, for even his life is taken away from the earth.

span data-lang="eng" data-trans="glt" data-ref="act.8.1" class="versetxt"> SAUL was pleased to have had a part in the murder of Stephen. At that very time there was severe persecution against the church at Jerusalem; and they were all, with the exception of the apostles, dispersed throughout the towns of Jud''a and Sama''ria. And devout men picked up Stephen and buried him, and they mourned over him in great sorrow. As for Saul, he continued to persecute the church of God, entering into houses and dragging out men and women and delivering them to prison, So that they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word of God. Then Philip went down to a Samaritan city and preached to them about Christ. And when the people of that place heard his word, they gave heed and listened attentively to everything Philip said, because they saw the miracles which he did. Many who were mentally afflicted, cried with loud voices and were restored; and others who were paralytic and lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Now there was there a man called Semon, who had lived in that city a long time, and who had deceived the Samaritan people by his magic, boasting of himself and saying, I am the greatest one. And both the noblest and the least followed him, saying, He is the greatest power of God. All of them listened to him, because for a long time he had bewitched them with his sorceries. But when they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Semon himself also believed and was baptized and attached himself to Philip, and as he saw the miracles and great signs performed by his hand, he marvelled greatly. N ow when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritan people had accepted the word of God, they sent to them Simon Peter and John, Who, when they went down, prayed over them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet it had not come upon them although they had been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Semon saw that the Holy Spirit was given by the laying on of the apostles'' hands, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this authority so that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. Simon Peter said to him, Let your money perish with you because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with wealth. You have no part nor lot in this faith because your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent, therefore, of this evil of yours, and beseech God that he may perhaps forgive you for the guile which is in your heart. For I see your heart is as bitter as gall and you are in the bonds of iniquity. Then Semon answered and said, Pray God for me so that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me. Now when Simon Peter and John had testified and taught them the word of God, they returned to Jerusalem after they had preached in many Samaritan villages. And the angel of the LORD spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go south by way of the desert that leads down from Jerusalem to Gaza, So he arose and went: and he was met by a eunuch, who had come from E-thi-o''pi-a; an official of Can''da-ce, queen of the E-thio''pi- ans, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to worship at Jerusalem. While he was returning, sitting in his chariot, he read the book of the prophet Isa''iah. And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and keep close to the chariot. And as Philip drew near and heard him reading from the book of the prophet I-sa''iah, he said to him, Do you understand what you are reading? And the E-thi-o''pi-an said, How can I understand unless some one teach me? and he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The portion of the scripture which he was reading was this: He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and like a ewe sheep before the shearer, so he opened not his mouth: In his humiliation, he suffered imprisonment and judgment: none can tell his struggle, for even his life is taken away from the earth. And the eunuch said to Philip. I pray you, of whom does this prophet speak? of himself or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth and began at that same scripture and preached to him concerning our LORD Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came to a place where there was water; and the eunuch said, Behold here is water; what prevents me from being baptized?

And he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? You make it hard for yourself by kicking against the pricks.

And he was unable to see for three days during which he neither ate nor drank.

And our LORD said to him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight and enquire at the house of Judas for Saul of the city of Tarsus: for behold, he is praying,

But the LORD said to him, Arise and go: he is the agent whom I have chosen for myself to carry my name to the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:

For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name''s sake.

But all those who heard him were amazed and said: Is this not he who persecuted those who called on this name in Jerusalem and behold, he was sent here for that very purpose that he might bring them bound to the high priests?

And he looked at the angel and was afraid, and he said, What is it, my LORD? And the angel said to him, Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

And he became hungry, and wanted to eat: but while they were preparing food for him, he was seized with a sudden faintness.

But Simon Peter said, Far be it, my LORD; for I have never eaten anything which was unclean and defiled.

Now while Simon Peter was bewildered, wondering in himself what the vision he had seen should mean, the men who were sent by Cornelius arrived, and enquired for the house in which Simon Peter had been staying, and they came and stood at the door of the courtyard.

Arise, go down, and go with them, without doubt in your mind: for I have sent them.

And the next day they entered Cs-are''a. And Cornelius was waiting for them, and all his relatives and also his dear friends were assembled with him.

So he said to them, You know well that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with a stranger who is not of his tribe; but God has showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.