Bible in Basic English

Acts 7

The Acts of the Apostles

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Chapter 8

1


 

  And Saul gave approval to his death. Now at that time a violent attack was started against the church in Jerusalem; and all but the Apostles went away into all parts of Judaea and Samaria.  

 

 

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2


 

  And God-fearing men put Stephen's body in its last resting-place, making great weeping over him.  

 

 

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3


 

  But Saul was burning with hate against the church, going into every house and taking men and women and putting them in prison.  

 

 

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4


 

  But those who had gone in flight went everywhere preaching the word.  

 

 

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5


 

  And Philip went down to Samaria and was teaching them about Christ.  

 

 

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6


 

  And all the people gave attention to the words which Philip said, when they saw the signs which he did.  

 

 

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7


 

  For unclean spirits came out from those who had them, crying with a loud voice; and a number of those who were ill and broken in body were made well.  

 

 

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8


 

  And there was much joy in that town.  

 

 

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9


 

  But there was a certain man named Simon, who in the past had been a wonder-worker and a cause of surprise to the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was a great man:  

 

 

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10


 

  To whom they all gave attention, from the smallest to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is named Great.  

 

 

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11


 

  And they gave attention to him, because for a long time his wonder-working powers had kept them under his control.  

 

 

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12


 

  But when they had faith in the good news given by Philip about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, a number of men and women had baptism.  

 

 

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13


 

  And Simon himself had faith and, having had baptism, he went with Philip and, seeing the signs and the great wonders which he did, he was full of surprise.  

 

 

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14


 

  Now when the Apostles at Jerusalem had news that the people of Samaria had taken the word of God into their hearts, they sent to them Peter and John;  

 

 

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15


 

  Who, when they came there, made prayer for them, that the Holy Spirit might be given to them:  

 

 

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16


 

  For up to that time he had not come on any of them; only baptism had been given to them in the name of the Lord Jesus.  

 

 

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17


 

  Then they put their hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them.  

 

 

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18


 

  Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the touch of the Apostles' hands, he made them an offering of money, saying,  

 

 

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19


 

  Give me this power, so that when I put my hands on anyone he may get the Holy Spirit.  

 

 

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20


 

  But Peter said, May your money come to destruction with you, because you had the idea that what is freely given by God may be got for a price.  

 

 

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21


 

  You have no part in this business, because your heart is not right before God.  

 

 

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22


 

  Let your heart be changed, and make prayer to God that you may have forgiveness for your evil thoughts.  

 

 

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23


 

  For I see that you are prisoned in bitter envy and the chains of sin.  

 

 

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24


 

  And Simon, answering, said, Make prayer for me to the Lord, so that these things which you have said may not come on me.  

 

 

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25


 

  So they, having given their witness and made clear the word of the Lord, went back to Jerusalem, giving the good news on their way in a number of the small towns of Samaria.  

 

 

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26


 

  But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Get up, and go to the south, to the road which goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, through the waste land.  

 

 

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27


 

  And he went and there was a man of Ethiopia, a servant of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, and controller of all her property, who had come up to Jerusalem for worship;  

 

 

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28


 

  He was going back, seated in his carriage, and was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.  

 

 

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29


 

  And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and get on his carriage.  

 

 

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30


 

  And Philip, running up to him, saw that he was reading Isaiah the prophet, and said to him, Is the sense of what you are reading clear to you?  

 

 

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31


 

  And he said, How is that possible when I have no guide? And he made Philip get up by his side.  

 

 

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32


 

  Now the place in the book where he was reading was this: He was taken, like a sheep, to be put to death; and as a lamb is quiet when its wool is being cut, so he made no sound:  

 

 

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33


 

  Being of low degree, his cause was not given a hearing: who has knowledge of his family? for his life is cut off from the earth.  

 

 

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34


 

  And the Ethiopian said to Philip, About whom are these words said by the prophet? about himself, or some other?  

 

 

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35


 

  So Philip, starting from this writing, gave him the good news about Jesus.  

 

 

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36


 

  And while they were going on their way, they came to some water, and the Ethiopian said, See, here is water; why may I not have baptism?  

 

 

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37


 

  []  

 

 

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38


 

  And he gave orders for the carriage to be stopped, and the two of them went down into the water, and Philip gave him baptism.  

 

 

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39


 

  And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away; and the Ethiopian saw him no more, for he went on his way full of joy.  

 

 

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40


 

  But Philip came to Azotus, and went through all the towns, preaching the good news, till he came to Caesarea.  

 

 

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Acts 9

 

 

 

 

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