Study Desk

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?

Saul answered and said, Who are you my LORD? and our LORD said, I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you persecute:

Now there was in Damascus a disciple named An-a-ni''as, and the LORD said to him in a vision, An-a-ni''as. And he said, Behold, I am here, my LORD.

Then Simon Peter went down to the men and said, I am the man you seek. What is the purpose of your mission?

But Simon Peter raised him, saying, Stand up; I am but a man also.

Now, therefore, if God has equally given the gifts to the Gentiles who believe in our LORD Jesus Christ, just as he gave to us, who am I that I should dispute God?

And as John fulfilled his ministry, he said, Whom do you think I am? I am not he. But behold there comes one after me the strings of whose shoes I am not worthy to untie.

They passed by the cities of Am-phip''olis and Ap-ol-lo''ni-a, and came to Thessa- lo-ni''ca, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

For as I walked about, and viewed the house of your idols, I found an altar with this inscription, THIS IS THE ALTAR OF THE UNKNOWN GOD, whom therefore, while you know him not but yet worship, is the very one I am preaching to you.

So he shook his garments and said to them, From henceforth I am not to be blamed for what I am about to do; I am going to the Gentiles.

For I am with you, and no man can harm you: and I have many people in this city.

And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in the spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there:

But to me my life is nothing; I am not afraid. I desire only that I may finish my course with joy and finish the ministry, which I have received from our LORD Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Therefore, I testify to you this very day that I am innocent of the blood of all.

Then Paul answered and said, Why do you weep and break my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the sake of the name of our LORD Jesus Christ.

But Paul said, I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cili''cia, a citizen of a well-known city: I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.

I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Ci-li''cia, yet I was brought up in this city under the care and guidance of Ga-ma''li-el, and trained perfectly according to the law of our fathers, and was zealous toward God, just as you are also.

And I answered and said, Who are you, my LORD? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Naz''a-reth, whom you persecute.

Now when Paul perceived that part of the people were Sad''du-cees, and the others were Phar''i-sees, he cried out in the assembly, Men, my brethren, I am a Phar''i-see, the son of a Phar''i-see: and it is because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am here to be judged.

Except it be for this one saying which I cried standing before them, It is for the resurrection of the dead that I am tried before you this day.