Acts 8 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
1 Y SAULO consentía en su muerte. Y en aquel día se hizo una grande persecución en la iglesia que estaba en Jerusalem; y todos fueron esparcidos por las tierras de Judea y de Samaria, salvo los apóstoles.
2 God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
2 Y llevaron [á enterrar] á Esteban varones piadosos, é hicieron gran llanto sobre él.
3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
3 Entonces Saulo asolaba la iglesia, entrando por las casas: y trayendo hombres y mujeres, los entregaba en la cárcel.
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
4 Mas los que fueron esparcidos, iban por todas partes anunciando la palabra.
5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
5 Entonces Felipe, descendiendo á la ciudad de Samaria, les predicaba á Cristo.
6 The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.
6 Y las gentes escuchaban atentamente unánimes las cosas que decía Felipe, oyendo y viendo las señales que hacía.
7 With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
7 Porque de muchos que tenían espíritus inmundos, salían [éstos] dando grandes voces; y muchos paralíticos y cojos eran sanados:
8 So there was great joy in that city.
8 Así que había gran gozo en aquella ciudad.
9 Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,
9 Y había un hombre llamado Simón, el cual había sido antes mágico en aquella ciudad, y había engañado la gente de Samaria, diciéndose ser algún grande:
10 and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.”
10 Al cual oían todos atentamente desde el más pequeño hasta el más grande, diciendo: Este es la gran virtud de Dios.
11 They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
11 Y le estaban atentos, porque con sus artes mágicas los había embelesado mucho tiempo.
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
12 Mas cuando creyeron á Felipe, que anunciaba el evangelio del reino de Dios y el nombre de Jesucristo, se bautizaban hombres y mujeres.
13 Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.
13 El mismo Simón creyó también entonces, y bautizándose, se llegó á Felipe: y viendo los milagros y grandes maravillas que se hacían, estaba atónito.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
14 Y los apóstoles que estaban en Jerusalem, habiendo oído que Samaria había recibido la palabra de Dios, les enviaron á Pedro y á Juan:
15 On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
15 Los cuales venidos, oraron por ellos, para que recibiesen el Espíritu Santo;
16 For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
16 (Porque aun no había descendido sobre ninguno de ellos, mas solamente eran bautizados en el nombre de Jesús.)
17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
17 Entonces les impusieron las manos, y recibieron el Espíritu Santo.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
18 Y como vió Simón que por la imposición de las manos de los apóstoles se daba el Espíritu Santo, les ofreció dinero,
19 “Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
19 Diciendo: Dadme también á mí esta potestad, que á cualquiera que pusiere las manos encima, reciba el Espíritu Santo.
20 But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
20 Entonces Pedro le dijo: Tu dinero perezca contigo, que piensas que el don de Dios se gane por dinero.
21 You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
21 No tienes tú parte ni suerte en este negocio; porque tu corazón no es recto delante de Dios.
22 Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
22 Arrepiéntete pues de esta tu maldad, y ruega á Dios, si quizás te será perdonado el pensamiento de tu corazón.
23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
23 Porque en hiel de amargura y en prisión de maldad veo que estás.
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
24 Respondiendo entonces Simón, dijo: Rogad vosotros por mí al Señor, que ninguna cosa de estas que habéis dicho, venga sobre mí.
25 And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.
25 Y ellos, habiendo testificado y hablado la palabra de Dios, se volvieron á Jerusalem, y en muchas tierras de los Samaritanos anunciaron el evangelio.
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
26 Empero el ángel del Señor habló á Felipe, diciendo: Levántate y ve hacia el mediodía, al camino que desciende de Jerusalem á Gaza, el cual es desierto.
27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
27 Entonces él se levantó, y fué: y he aquí un Etiope, eunuco, gobernador de Candace, reina de los Etiopes, el cual era puesto sobre todos sus tesoros, y había venido á adorar á Jerusalem,
28 and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
28 Se volvía sentado en su carro, y leyendo el profeta Isaías.
29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
29 Y el Espíritu dijo á Felipe: Llégate, y júntate á este carro.
30 So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
30 Y acudiendo Felipe, le oyó que leía el profeta Isaías, y dijo: Mas ¿entiendes lo que lees?
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
31 Y él dijo: ¿Y cómo podré, si alguno no me enseñare? Y rogó á Felipe que subiese, y se sentase con él.
32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
32 Y el lugar de la Escritura que leía, era éste: Como oveja á la muerte fué llevado; y como cordero mudo delante del que le trasquila, así no abrió su boca:
33 In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”
33 En su humillación su juicio fué quitado: mas su generación, ¿quién la contará? porque es quitada de la tierra su vida.
34 “Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
34 Y respondiendo el eunuco á Felipe, dijo: Ruégote ¿de quién el profeta dice esto? ¿de sí, ó de otro alguno?
35 Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
35 Entonces Felipe, abriendo su boca, y comenzando desde esta escritura, le anunció el evangelio de Jesús.
36◆ As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”
36 Y yendo por el camino, llegaron á cierta agua; y dijo el eunuco: He aquí agua; ¿qué impide que yo sea bautizado?
37 Not in this translation
37 Y Felipe dijo: Si crees de todo corazón, bien puedes. Y respondiendo, dijo: Creo que Jesucristo es el Hijo de Dios.
38◆ And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
38 Y mandó parar el carro: y descendieron ambos al agua, Felipe y el eunuco; y bautizóle.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.
39 Y como subieron del agua, el Espíritu del Señor arrebató á Felipe; y no le vió más el eunuco, y se fué por su camino gozoso.
40 But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
40 Felipe empero se halló en Azoto: y pasando, anunciaba el evangelio en todas las ciudades, hasta que llegó á Cesarea.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Philip
One of the seven chosen at Jerusalem; he preached in Samaria, baptized the Ethiopian official, and later hosted Paul at Caesarea with his four prophesying daughters.
Cited in the guide: Acts 6:5; Acts 8:5; Acts 8:38
Simon
A sorcerer in Samaria who believed and was baptized, then tried to buy the power to give the Holy Spirit and was rebuked by Peter.
Cited in the guide: Acts 8:9; Acts 8:13; Acts 8:18
Stephen
One of the seven chosen to serve tables, full of faith and the Holy Spirit; he was stoned after his speech to the Sanhedrin and became the first martyr.
Cited in the guide: Acts 6:5; Acts 7:59; Acts 8:2
Cross references (39)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Daniel 3:16–18; Acts 22:20; Acts 5:40; Acts 1:8; Acts 7:58
- 2 Genesis 50:10–11; Jeremiah 22:18; Genesis 23:2; 2 Chronicles 35:25; 2 Chronicles 32:33
- 3 1 Timothy 1:13; Philippians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13; Acts 9:21
- 4 Matthew 10:23; Acts 11:19; Acts 8:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:2; Acts 15:35
- 5 Acts 6:5; Acts 21:8; Acts 8:40; Acts 8:35–36; Acts 5:42
- 6 John 4:41–42; Matthew 20:15–16; Acts 13:44; 2 Chronicles 30:12
- 7 Matthew 10:1; Acts 14:8–10; Mark 16:17–18; Acts 5:16; Hebrews 2:4
- 8 Acts 13:52; Psalm 96:10–12; Acts 13:48; Luke 2:10–11; Romans 15:9–12
- 9 Acts 13:6; John 7:18; Acts 5:36; Exodus 8:18–19; Acts 19:18–20
- 10 2 Peter 2:2; Revelation 13:3; Jeremiah 31:34; Jeremiah 8:10; Jonah 3:5
- 11 Acts 8:9; Galatians 3:1; Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 47:9–13; Isaiah 44:25
- 12 Acts 2:38; Acts 1:3; Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; 1 Peter 3:21
- 13 Acts 19:11; Acts 8:6–7; John 5:20; John 8:30–31; Mark 16:17
- 14 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; Acts 8:1; Galatians 2:9; Acts 2:41
- 15 Acts 2:38; John 16:23–24; Matthew 18:19; John 14:13–14; Philippians 1:19
- 16 Acts 2:38; Acts 19:2; Matthew 28:19; Acts 19:5–6; Acts 11:15–17
- 17 Acts 19:6; Acts 6:6; 2 Timothy 1:6; Acts 8:18; Acts 2:4
- 18 1 Timothy 6:5; Matthew 10:8; 2 Kings 8:9; Ezekiel 13:19; 2 Kings 5:15–16
- 19 Luke 14:7–11; Matthew 18:1–3; 3 John 9; John 5:44; Acts 8:17
- 20 Daniel 5:17; Acts 2:38; Matthew 10:8; Revelation 18:15; 2 Peter 2:14–17
- 21 Hebrews 4:13; Matthew 6:22–24; Psalm 36:1; John 21:17; Revelation 22:19
- 22 2 Timothy 2:25–26; Daniel 4:27; Hebrews 4:12; Acts 9:11; Luke 11:9–13
- 23 Isaiah 58:6; Proverbs 5:22; John 8:34; Hebrews 12:15; Titus 3:3
- 24 Exodus 8:8; Numbers 21:7; Job 42:8; Genesis 20:7; James 5:16
- 25 Acts 20:21; Acts 28:23; 1 Peter 5:12; Acts 28:28; Acts 8:40
- 26 2 Kings 1:3; Acts 5:19; Hebrews 1:14; Acts 27:23; Acts 12:23
- 27 Zephaniah 3:10; Psalm 68:31; Isaiah 56:3–8; Jeremiah 38:7; Psalm 87:4
- 28 Colossians 3:16; Isaiah 1:1; Acts 28:25; Proverbs 2:1–6; 2 Timothy 3:15–17
- 29 Acts 10:19; Acts 11:12; Acts 13:2–4; Acts 20:22–23; Acts 16:6–7
- 30 Luke 24:44–45; John 5:39; Ephesians 5:17; Matthew 15:10; Matthew 13:23
- 31 Romans 10:14; Isaiah 29:18–19; Psalm 73:16–17; Proverbs 30:2–3; Psalm 25:8–9
- 32 Isaiah 53:7–8; 1 Peter 2:21–24; Jeremiah 51:40; Jeremiah 11:19; Romans 8:36
- 33 Isaiah 53:12; Isaiah 53:8; Philippians 2:8–9; Zechariah 13:7; Isaiah 53:10
- 34 Matthew 15:15; Matthew 13:36; Matthew 2:2–4
- 35 Luke 24:27; Acts 18:28; 1 Corinthians 2:2; Acts 28:23; Matthew 5:2
- 36 Acts 10:47; John 3:5; John 3:23; Titus 3:5–6; 1 John 5:6
- 38 John 4:1; John 3:22–23
- 39 1 Kings 18:12; 2 Kings 2:16; Ezekiel 8:3; Ezekiel 43:5; Ezekiel 11:1
- 40 Acts 21:8; Acts 23:33; Acts 25:4; Acts 10:1; Acts 23:23
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
Why does my Bible say something different?
- Acts 8:37: the eunuch’s confession of faith
In some Bibles, before Philip baptizes the Ethiopian, he says, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest,” and the eunuch answers, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” This verse is missing from the oldest Greek manuscripts and from most Byzantine ones, but it was known to St Irenaeus in the second century. It appears to be an early baptismal confession added to the story.
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
It seems to me, this (Philip) was one of the seven; for from Jerusalem he would not have gone southwards, but to the north; but from Samaria it was "towards the south. The same is desert:" so that there is no fear of an attack from the Jews. And he did not ask, Wherefore? but "arose and went.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had driven them mad by his sorceries." This Simon, then--who feigned faith, supposing that the apostles themselves performed their cures by the art of magic, and not by the power of God; and with respect to their filling with the Holy Ghost, through the imposition of hands, those …
… when we hear, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;" we do not of course understand it of one who believes in such a way "as the devils believe and tremble;" nor of those who receive baptism in such sort as Simon Magus, who though he could be baptized, could not be saved.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
For indeed this is his great power. This power caused Christ to die, that He might put an end to it.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
The inventor of all heresy was Simon Magus: that Simon, who in the Acts of the Apostles thought to purchase with money the unsaleable grace of the Spirit, and heard the words, Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, and the rest: concerning whom also it is written, They went out from us, but they were not …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)