Anointed Kings and Persecuted Apostles

1. After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag; 2. on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth, and showed respect. 3. David said to him, “Where do you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.” 4. David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.” 5. David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?” 6. The young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close behind him. 7. When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8. He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9. He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life lingers in me.’ 10. So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.” 11. Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise. 12. They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel; because they had fallen by the sword. 13. David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.” 14. David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy Yahweh’s anointed?” 15. David called one of the young men, and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so that he died. 16. David said to him, “Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.’” 17. David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son 18. (and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar): 19. “Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 20. Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21. You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; For there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, The shield of Saul was not anointed with oil. 22. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty. 23. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions. 24. You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing. 25. How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places. 26. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 27. How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!” 1. After this, David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” Yahweh said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” He said, “To Hebron.” 2. So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 3. David brought up his men who were with him, every man with his household. They lived in the cities of Hebron. 4. The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul.” 5. David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “Blessed are you by Yahweh, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him. 6. Now may Yahweh show loving kindness and truth to you. I also will reward you for this kindness, because you have done this thing. 7. Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.” 8. Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9. and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10. Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11. The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12. Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13. Joab the son of Zeruiah and David’s servants went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14. Abner said to Joab, “Please let the young men arise and play before us!” Joab said, “Let them arise!” 15. Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of David’s servants. 16. They each caught his opponent by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: therefore that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim. 17. The battle was very severe that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before David’s servants. 18. The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle. 19. Asahel pursued Abner; and in going he didn’t turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner. 20. Then Abner looked behind him, and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” He answered, “It is.” 21. Abner said to him, “Turn away to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor.” But Asahel would not turn away from following him. 22. Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn away from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I look Joab your brother in the face?” 23. However he refused to turn away. Therefore Abner with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place. As many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. 24. But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. The sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25. The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill. 26. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long will it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?” 27. Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone away, and not each followed his brother.” 28. So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued Israel no more, and they fought no more. 29. Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim. 30. Joab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen men of David’s and Asahel were missing. 31. But David’s servants had struck Benjamin and of Abner’s men so that three hundred sixty men died. 32. They took up Asahel, and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron. 1. Now there was long war between Saul’s house and David’s house. David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker. 2. Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3. and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 4. and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5. and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron. 6. While there was war between Saul’s house and David’s house, Abner made himself strong in Saul’s house. 7. Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 8. Then Abner was very angry about Ishbosheth’s words, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to Saul’s house your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman! 9. God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him; 10. to transfer the kingdom from Saul’s house, and to set up David’s throne over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.” 11. He could not answer Abner another word, because he was afraid of him. 12. Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” and saying, “Make your alliance with me, and behold, my hand will be with you, to bring all Israel around to you.” 13. He said, “Good. I will make a treaty with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14. David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I was given to marry for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15. Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish. 16. Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go! Return!” and he returned. 17. Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past, you sought for David to be king over you. 18. Now then do it; for Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’” 19. Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin. 20. So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast. 21. Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” David sent Abner away; and he went in peace. 22. Behold, David’s servants and Joab came from a raid, and brought in a great plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23. When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.” 24. Then Joab came to the king, and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, and he is already gone? 25. You know Abner the son of Ner. He came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.” 26. When Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David didn’t know it. 27. When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28. Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29. Let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.” 30. So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 31. David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn in front of Abner.” King David followed the bier. 32. They buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at Abner’s grave; and all the people wept. 33. The king lamented for Abner, and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies? 34. Your hands weren’t bound, and your feet weren’t put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell.” All the people wept again over him. 35. All the people came to urge David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, until the sun goes down.” 36. All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37. So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner. 38. The king said to his servants, “Don’t you know that there a prince and a great man has fallen today in Israel? 39. I am weak today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May Yahweh reward the evildoer according to his wickedness.”

1. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, 2. and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4. While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.” 5. Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things. 6. The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him. 7. About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8. Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9. But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10. She fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 11. Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things. 12. By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 13. None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. 14. More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. 15. They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them. 16. The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed. 17. But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, 18. and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody. 19. But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out, and said, 20. “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” 21. When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22. But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported, 23. “We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 24. Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this. 25. One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.” 26. Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them. 27. When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28. saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29. But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. 31. God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 32. We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33. But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them. 34. But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while. 35. He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. 36. For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. 37. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. 38. Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. 39. But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!” 40. They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41. They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name. 42. Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ. 1. Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 2. The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. 3. Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4. But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.” 5. These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; 6. whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7. The word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8. Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9. But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. 10. They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12. They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, and brought him in to the council, 13. and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. 14. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” 15. All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel. 1. The high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2. He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3. and said to him, ‘Get out of your land, and from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.’ 4. Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, God moved him into this land, where you are now living. 5. He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his offspring after him, when he still had no child. 6. God spoke in this way: that his offspring would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. 7. ‘I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after that will they come out, and serve me in this place.’ 8. He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs. 9. “The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him, 10. and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11. Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food. 12. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time. 13. On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s race was revealed to Pharaoh. 14. Joseph sent, and summoned Jacob, his father, and all his relatives, seventy-five souls. 15. Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, himself and our fathers, 16. and they were brought back to Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem. 17. “But as the time of the promise came close which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18. until there arose a different king, who didn’t know Joseph. 19. The same took advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to throw out their babies, so that they wouldn’t stay alive. 20. At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome. He was nourished three months in his father’s house. 21. When he was thrown out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and reared him as her own son. 22. Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works. 23. But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24. Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian. 25. He supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they didn’t understand. 26. “The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and urged them to be at peace again, saying, ‘Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’ 27. But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28. Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29. Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. 30. “When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of the Lord came to him, 32. ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and dared not look. 33. The Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 34. I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Egypt.’ 35. “This Moses, whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36. This man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. 37. This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.’ 38. This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living revelations to give to us, 39. to whom our fathers wouldn’t be obedient, but rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, 40. saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’ 41. They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands. 42. But God turned, and gave them up to serve the army of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘Did you offer to me slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43. You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, the star of your god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship. I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’ 44. “Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen; 45. which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David, 46. who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob. 47. But Solomon built him a house. 48. However, the Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says, 49. ‘heaven is my throne, and the earth a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me?’ says the Lord. ‘Or what is the place of my rest? 50. Didn’t my hand make all these things?’ 51. “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. 52. Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. 53. You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!” 54. Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56. and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57. But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord. 58. They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59. They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60. He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep. 1. Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. 2. Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him. 3. But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison. 4. Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word. 5. Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6. The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. 7. For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8. There was great joy in that city. 9. But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, 10. to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.” 11. They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. 12. But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13. Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed. 14. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15. who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 16. for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus. 17. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18. Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19. saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20. But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21. You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God. 22. Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23. For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” 24. Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.” 25. They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans. 26. But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.” 27. He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship. 28. He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29. The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.” 30. Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31. He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. 32. Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth. 33. In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.” 34. The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?” 35. Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus. 36. As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?” 37. 38. He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing. 40. But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.

1. See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! 2. It is like the precious oil on the head, that ran down on the beard, even Aaron’s beard; that came down on the edge of his robes; 3. like the dew of Hermon, that comes down on the hills of Zion: for there Yahweh gives the blessing, even life forever more.