Acts Chapter 8: Demon Possession Deliverance Miracles and Sorcery



    1: And Saul was consenting to his death And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria except the apostles 2: And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him 3: As for Saul he made havoc of the church entering into every house and haling men and women committed them to prison 4: Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word 5: Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christos to them 6: And the people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip spoke hearing and seeing the miracles which he did 7: For unclean spirits crying with loud voices came out of many that were possessed by them and many taken with palsies and that were lame were healed 8: And there was great joy in that city 9: But there was a certain man called Simon which beforetime in the same city used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria giving out that himself was some great one 10: To whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest saying This man is the great power Ton Theon 11: And to him they had regard because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries 12: But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom Ton Theon and the name of Iesous Christos they were baptized both men and women 13: Then Simon himself believed also and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and wondered beholding the miracles and signs which were done 14: Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word Ton Theon they sent to them Peter and John 15: Who, when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16: For as yet he was fallen upon none of them only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Iesous 17: Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit 18: And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given he offered them money 19: Saying Give me also this power that on whomsoever I lay hands they may receive the Holy Spirit 20: But Peter said to him your money with you may it be to destruction because the gift Ton Theon you did think by riches may be obtained 21: you have neither part nor lot in this matter for your heart is not right in the sight ton Theon 22: Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and supplicate Ton Theon if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you 23: For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity 24: Then answered Simon and said Pray you to the Lord for me that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me[1] 25: And they when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans 26: And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying Arise and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza which is desert 27: And he arose and went and behold a man of Ethiopia a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians who had the charge of all her treasure and had come to Jerusalem for to worship 28: Was returning and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet 29: Then the Spirit said to Philip Go near and join yourself to this chariot 30: And Philip ran there to him and heard him read the prophet Esaias and said Understand thou what you read 31: And he said How can I except someone should guide me And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him 32: The place of the scripture which he read was this He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and like a lamb dumb before his shearer so opened he not his mouth 33: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away so who declares his generation / geneology (genea) for its life is taken from the earth[2] 34: And the eunuch answered Philip and said I pray thee of whom speaks the prophet this of himself or of some other man 35: Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture and preached to him Jesus 36: And as they went on their way they came to a certain water and the eunuch said See here is water what hinders me [from being] baptized 37: 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 38: And he commanded the chariot to stand still and they went down both into the water both Philip and the eunuch and he baptized him 39: And when they were come up out of the water the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip that the eunuch saw him no more and he went on his way rejoicing 40: But Philip was found at Azotus and passing through he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea


[1] Simon was no doubt aware of the deadly accuracy of Peter’s words regarding the consequences of his sin due to the fate of Ananias and Sapphira.
[2] Genea G1074 Generation (denoting geneology rather than posterity); fathered; birth; nativity; that which has been begotten; whole multitude of people living at the same time—a generation; a presumed derivative of G1085 genos kindred; offspring; descent

This verse is a quote from the Old Testament, Isaiah 53:8, which contains no hint of posterity—only geneology—so the Hebrew must be taken into account. 

From, God’s Word to Women, Study 495: “The suggestion is this: There being no neuter gender in Hebrew, the word for "generation" is masculine in form; but following English usage we should translate the pronoun "it," not "he.” "Who considered His generation, for it was cut off out of the land of the living.” And so it was; by setting aside female kinship, and reckoning kinship by males only, no place was left to record the unique generation of Christ Jesus, of a woman only.” -Katherine Bushnell 

Additional commentary pending for this chapter. Questions and comments are welcome.

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