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Saul
Persecutes the Church |
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Acts 8:1
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Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him
to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem,
and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except
the apostles. |
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Acts 8:2
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Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud
lamentation over him. |
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Acts 8:3
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But Saul began ravaging the church, entering
house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. |
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Philip in Samaria |
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Acts 8:4
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Therefore, those who had been scattered went
about preaching the word. |
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Acts 8:5
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Philip went down to the city of Samaria and
began proclaiming Christ to them. |
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Acts 8:6
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The crowds with one accord were giving attention
to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.
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Acts 8:7
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For in the case of many who had unclean spirits,
they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been
paralyzed and lame were healed. |
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Acts 8:8
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So there was much rejoicing in that city. |
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Acts 8:9
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Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly
was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming
to be someone great; |
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Acts 8:10
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and they all, from smallest to greatest, were
giving attention to him, saying, "This man is what is called the Great Power of
God." |
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Acts 8:11
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And they were giving him attention because he
had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. |
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Acts 8:12
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But when they believed Philip preaching the
good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being
baptized, men and women alike. |
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Acts 8:13
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Even Simon himself believed; and after being
baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles
taking place, he was constantly amazed. |
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Acts 8:14
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Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that
Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, |
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Acts 8:15
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who came down and prayed for them that they
might receive the Holy Spirit. |
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Acts 8:16
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For He had not yet fallen upon any of them;
they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. |
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Acts 8:17
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Then they began laying their hands on them,
and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. |
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Acts 8:18
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Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed
through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, |
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Acts 8:19
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saying, "Give this authority to me as well,
so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." |
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Acts 8:20
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But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish
with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! |
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Acts 8:21
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"You have no part or portion in this matter,
for your heart is not right before God. |
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Acts 8:22
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"Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours,
and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven
you. |
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Acts 8:23
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"For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness
and in the bondage of iniquity." |
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Acts 8:24
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But Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord
for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me." |
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An Ethiopian Receives Christ |
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Acts 8:25
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So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken
the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel
to many villages of the Samaritans. |
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Acts 8:26
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But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying,
"Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This
is a desert road.) |
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Acts 8:27
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So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian
eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge
of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, |
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Acts 8:28
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and he was returning and sitting in his chariot,
and was reading the prophet Isaiah. |
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Acts 8:29
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Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join
this chariot." |
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Acts 8:30
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Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the
prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" |
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Acts 8:31
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And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone
guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. |
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Acts 8:32
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Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading
was this: "HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER
IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH. |
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Acts 8:33
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"IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH." |
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Acts 8:34
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The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please
tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?" |
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Acts 8:35
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Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning
from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. |
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Acts 8:36
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As they went along the road they came to some
water; and the eunuch *said,
"Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" |
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Acts 8:37
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[And Philip said, "If you believe with all your
heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God."] |
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Acts 8:38
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And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they
both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. |
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Acts 8:39
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When they came up out of the water, the Spirit
of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on
his way rejoicing. |
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Acts 8:40
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But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he
passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to
Caesarea. |
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