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Acts 8:4-17
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Acts 8:4-17
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
III. The Mission in Judea and Samaria
Philip in Samaria. 4 Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.(A) 5 Thus Philip went down to [the] city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.(B) 6 With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.(C) 8 There was great joy in that city.
Simon the Magician. 9 A man named Simon used to practice magic[a] in the city and astounded the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. 10 All of them, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him, saying, “This man is the ‘Power of God’ that is called ‘Great.’” 11 They paid attention to him because he had astounded them by his magic for a long time, 12 but once they began to believe Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike were baptized.(D) 13 Even Simon himself believed and, after being baptized, became devoted to Philip; and when he saw the signs and mighty deeds that were occurring, he was astounded.
14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Spirit, 16 for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.[b] 17 Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit.(E)
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- 8:9–13, 18–24 Sorcerers were well known in the ancient world. Probably the incident involving Simon and his altercation with Peter is introduced to show that the miraculous charisms possessed by members of the Christian community (Acts 8:6–7) were not to be confused with the magic of sorcerers.
- 8:16 Here and in Acts 10:44–48 and Acts 19:1–6, Luke distinguishes between baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus and the reception of the Spirit. In each case, the Spirit is conferred through members of the Twelve (Peter and John) or their representative (Paul). This may be Luke’s way of describing the role of the church in the bestowal of the Spirit. Elsewhere in Acts, baptism and the Spirit are more closely related (Acts 1:5; 11:16).
Acts 8:4-17
New International Version
Acts 8:4-17
New International Version
Philip in Samaria
4 Those who had been scattered(A) preached the word wherever they went.(B) 5 Philip(C) went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many,(D) and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.(E) 8 So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery(F) in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,(G) 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.”(H) 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God(I) and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,(J) both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles(K) he saw.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria(L) had accepted the word of God,(M) they sent Peter and John(N) to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,(O) 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them;(P) they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(Q) 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them,(R) and they received the Holy Spirit.(S)
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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