Acts 8 Now on that day great persecution, pursuit and D adds: pressure was birthed (occurred) upon the called-out community that was within Jerusalem, so they were all – except for the sent-forth emissaries (representatives) add: who alone remained in Jerusalem D*& – dispersed and scattered as seeds down among the regions (or: territories) of Judea and Samaria.

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Now on that day great persecution, pursuit and [D adds: pressure] was birthed (occurred) upon the called-out community [that was] within Jerusalem, so they were all – except for the sent-forth emissaries (representatives) [D*& 1175 add: who alone remained in Jerusalem] – dispersed and scattered as seeds down among the regions (or: territories) of Judea and Samaria. ² So cautious but respected men joined together and collected Stephen and carried [him] in to be prepared for burial, and then they made a great lamentation (grieving and beating the chest) upon him (= at his situation and the loss of him). ³ Now Saul began devastating then continued laying waste and bringing havoc to the called-out community, repeatedly making his way into and invading one house after another. Constantly dragging away and pulling along both men and women by force, he routinely handed [them] over into prison (or: jail). ⁴ Nonetheless, those being scattered and dispersed went throughout, from place to place, progressively bringing the Word as good news, and announcing the message of goodness [which was] the Logos. ⁵ Now Philip, upon going down into the city of Samaria, continued publicly proclaiming to them the Christ (the Anointed One; = the Messiah). ⁶ And the crowds, with one accord and like-passion, continued attentively holding to [themselves and their minds] the things being progressively spoken by Philip, at hearing them, and then [with] repeatedly seeing (looking at; observing) the signs which he kept on doing (or: performing; producing). ⁷ You see, many of the folks habitually having unclean breath-effects (unsifted spirits; unpruned attitudes) kept on crying out, then shouting for joy, with a loud voice, [as] they [i.e., the spirits], one after another, were coming (or: going) out. Now many folks – being people having been paralyzed, as well as lame ones – were cured and healed. ⁸ So, much joy was birthed (or: a great deal of happiness came to be) within that city. ⁹ Now a certain man named Simon had been previously subsisting in the city [by] habitually practicing magic (or: using sorcery) and repeatedly amazing the nation (or: ethnic group) of Samaria, constantly saying [of] and presenting himself to be someone great (= important) [note: such folks were often considered spiritual advisors, and may have had an official position], ¹⁰ to whom everyone, from small to great (= from the unimportant to the very important), kept on attentively holding [themselves] and giving heed, one after another saying, "This man is normally being called God's Great Power (or: This one continuously exists being God's Power – that usually termed Great One)!" ¹¹ So they kept on heeding and holding themselves focused to him due to the considerable time [he had] to have been displacing [things] and amazing them by the magical acts (or: with [his] magic). ¹² But when they came to trust and then believed – by Philip progressively bringing and declaring the good news of ease and well-being pertaining to the reign and kingdom of God, and [about] the name of Jesus Christ (or: Jesus [the] Anointed One) – they were being from time to time, and one after another, immersed (or: baptized): both men and women. ¹³ So Simon himself also trusted and came to believe, and then, after being immersed (or: baptized), he was constantly attached to Philip (or: habitually persistent at standing by waiting and ready to assist Philip) and continued amazed and moved out of his position while continually watching and observing both signs and great powers (or: abilities; or: may = works and deeds of power) continually happening (or: one after another being birthed into existence). ¹⁴ Now upon hearing that [the regions of] Samaria had welcomely received, accepted and taken to themselves the Word (Logos; Idea; message) of God, the sent-forth folks (emissaries and representatives) in Jerusalem sent off Peter and John on a mission to them, ¹⁵ who, after walking down, spoke goodness concerning (or: prayed about) them, so that they could receive a set-apart Breath-effect (or: in what manner and by what means they would take hold of [the] Holy Spirit), ¹⁶ for you see, it (or: It; He) had not yet fallen upon even one of them, yet, only being folks having been immersed, they were continually subsisting and were progressing from under that beginning into the Name of the Lord Jesus (or: they continued being a possession, progressing into the Name, which is the Owner, Jesus; or: Now only having been baptized, in making a beginning they continued belonging unto the Name which pertains to the Master: Jesus). ¹⁷ At that time they began placing (or: laying) [their] hands upon them, and so, one after another, they began receiving a set-apart Breath-effect (or: [the] Holy Spirit; a sacred attitude). ¹⁸ Now Simon, upon seeing that the [p45, A & other MSS add: set-apart (or: Holy)] Breath-effect (or: Spirit; Attitude; Breath) is repeatedly being given through the placing or laying on (or: the imposition) of the hands of the sent-forth folks (the emissaries or representatives), he brought (or: offered) useful things (or: money; properties) to them, ¹⁹ repeatedly saying, "Give at once also to me this authority and right, so that on whomever I also should place [my] hands he may receive a set-apart breath-effect (or: [the] Holy Spirit)!" ²⁰ But Peter said to him, "Your silver might (or: could) continue being with [you, as you yourself progress on the path] into loss or destruction, seeing that you suppose and presume from custom to proceed to obtain and acquire God's free gift (or: gratuity) through useful things (or: money; properties; = by buying it). ²¹ "There is neither a part nor a lot for you within this Word (or: this idea; this reason; this expressed verbal communication; or: this message; or: this matter). You see, your heart is not straight and level with a position answering to God (or: in front of God, in His presence). ²² "So change your mind and your way of thinking – away from this worthlessness (or: ugliness; baseness; badness of quality; malice) of yours – and then at once urgently ask of the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] if consequently (or: since in that case) the thought and purpose of your heart will be caused to flow away (or: will be divorced from [you]; will be forgiven and sent away), ²³ "For you see, I am presently seeing you existing (continuously being) [drawn] into [the] bile (or: gall) of bitterness as well as a close joint-bond of injustice (inequity and unfairness; that which is not in right relationship and contrary to the Way pointed out)." ²⁴ So, making a decided response, Simon said to them, "I am now asking for help: would you men at once urgently make a request over me (or: on my behalf; for my situation; [D: concerning me]) to the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh; D reads: God] so that not even one of the things which you have said can (or: would) come upon me?" [D adds: – {He} could not cease shedding many tears.] ²⁵ Therefore, after indeed fully giving evidence (thoroughly witnessing and certifying) and speaking the Word of the Lord (or: = Yahweh's thoughts and ideas; = the message about Christ [p74, A & others read: God]), these men began returning unto Jerusalem, also repeatedly bringing the good news and announcing the message of goodness, ease and well-being [to] many villages of the Samaritans. ²⁶ However, an agent of [the] Lord [= Yahweh's or Christ's messenger] spoke to Philip, presently saying, "At once arise (or: stand up) and continue traveling down south (or: at noon) on the road descending from Jerusalem unto Gaza." This is a desert (or: desolate, uninhabited) [road]. ²⁷ And so, upon arising, he went his way and – look, consider this – an adult man – an Ethiopian eunuch who had power (= a high court official) of [the] Kandake, [or] Queen, of [the] Ethiopians, who was upon (= had control of) all of her treasury – who had come unto Jerusalem in order to be worshiping. ²⁸ Now he was in the midst of returning and was presently sitting on his chariot (or: carriage) while continuing in reading aloud the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹ Now the Breath-effect (or: Spirit) said to Philip, "Approach and be joined (glued) to this chariot." ³⁰ So upon running up to [it], Philip heard his reading aloud [of] Isaiah the prophet, and then he said, "Are you presently recognizing and progressively understanding [the] things which you are now reading?" ³¹ But he replied, "Actually, how would I likely be presently able [to], unless someone will progressively lead and guide me on the path?" And so he asked Philip to assist [him], after climbing up to sit with him. ³² Now the passage (context) of the Scripture which he was reading was this: "As (or: Like) a sheep, He was led onto [the] slaughter, and as (or: like) a lamb [that is] set in position against the person shearing it [is] without a voice (or: mute; voiceless; = silent), in like manner He continues not to open up His mouth. ³³ "Within the midst of the low status and the experience of being abased and humiliated, His justice (either: the opportunity for a fair trial; or: the chance or ability to divide, separate and make decisions; or: the judging) was lifted up and taken away. So who will continue fully taking over the lead of His generation (or: will proceed conducting a thorough narration to recount His generation), because His life is now being taken up, away from the earth (or: taken away from the Land)?" [Isa. 53:7-8] ³⁴ So the eunuch, making a discerning response, said to Philip, "Now my question to you is, About whom is the prophet now saying this – about himself, or about someone else?" ³⁵ Well Philip, opening his mouth and beginning from this Scripture, presents to him Jesus, as the news of goodness, ease and well-being (or: declared to him the good news about Jesus). ³⁶ So as they continued going their way down the road, they came upon some water, and the eunuch affirms, "Look! Water! What continues preventing (hindering) me to be at once immersed (or: baptized)?" ³⁷ [note: vs. 37 is missing in texts of Nestle-Aland, WH, Concordant, Panin, Griesbach, Tasker, and is not in the ancient Syriac] ³⁸ And thus, he ordered the chariot to halt (or: stand still), and they both walked down into the water – both Philip and the eunuch – and [Philip] immersed (or: baptized) him. ³⁹ Now when they walked up out of the water, [the] Lord's [= Yahweh's or Christ's] wind (or: Breath-effect; Spirit) suddenly snatched Philip away (i.e.: carried him off), and the eunuch did not see him any longer for he kept on going on his road, continuously rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip was found (or: discovered) [entering] into Ashdod (or: Azotus), and continuing in going throughout [the territory], he was repeatedly bringing and announcing the good news to all the towns and cities – till the [occasion for] him to come into Caesarea.