Study Desk

Faith in his name has healed this man whom you see and know and made him strong; it is the faith in him which has granted this healing before you all.

This suggestion pleased the whole people so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Proch''orus and Ni-ca''nor and Ti''mon and Par''menas and Nic''o-las, a proselyte of An''ti-och.

And the word of God spread; and the number of the converts in Jerusalem increased greatly; and many people of Jewish faith became converts.

But he, full of faith and Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

You have no part nor lot in this faith because your heart is not right in the sight of God.

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 asked the high priests to give him letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he should find anyone, men or women, following this faith, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and many people were added to our LORD.

But Bar-Shu''ma the sorcerer (whose name is interpreted Elymas) withstood them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

He heard Paul speak; and when Paul saw him and perceived that there was faith in him to be healed,

Strengthening the souls of the converts, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and telling them that only through much tribulation can we enter into the kingdom of God.

And as the whole congregation was gathered together, they related everything that God had done to them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

And he did not discriminate between us and them, because he purified their hearts by faith.

And so the churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

For he has appointed a day in which he will judge all the earth with righteousness by the man whom he has chosen; he who has turned every man towards his faith; for that, he has raised him from the dead.

So mightily grew the faith of God and greatly increased in numbers.

Thus testifying both to the Jews and to the Syr''i-ans, about repentance toward God and faith in our LORD Jesus Christ.

And after a few days, Fe''lix with his wife Dru-sil''la, who was a Jewess, sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith of Christ.

To open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, and receive forgiveness of sins, and a portion with the saints who are of the faith in me.