Philip

1And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

In those days more and more people were following Jesus. Some of these followers spoke Greek. Others spoke Hebrew. The Greek-speaking ones began to complain about the Hebrew-speaking ones. They said their widows were being left out when food was handed out each day. A widow is a woman whose husband has died.

2Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

So the twelve apostles, the men Jesus chose to lead, called all the followers together. They said, "It is not right for us to stop teaching God's word so we can hand out food."

3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

"So, friends, choose seven men from among you. Pick men that everyone speaks well of. They must be full of the Holy Spirit and full of wisdom. We will put them in charge of this job."

4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

"Then we can keep on praying and keep on teaching God's word."

5And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

Everyone liked this idea. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit. They also chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch. Nicolas was not born Jewish. He had joined the Jewish faith later.

6Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

They brought these seven men to the apostles. The apostles prayed and laid their hands on them.

5Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

Philip went down to a city in Samaria. He told the people there about Christ. Christ means the special King God had promised to send.

6And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

The crowds all listened carefully to what Philip said. They heard his words and saw the wonders he did.

7For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

Evil spirits screamed loudly and came out of many people. Many people who could not move or walk were made well.

8And there was great joy in that city.

So there was great joy in that city.

9But 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:

A man named Simon lived in that city. Before this he had done magic there. He amazed the people of Samaria. He told everyone that he was someone great.

10To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

Everyone listened to him, the least important and the greatest. They said, "This man has the great power of God."

11And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

They listened to him because his magic had amazed them for a long time.

12But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Then Philip told them the good news about God's kingdom and about Jesus Christ. They believed him. Men and women were baptized. To be baptized is to be dipped in water to show you now belong to Jesus.

13Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Simon himself believed too. He was baptized and stayed close to Philip. He was amazed at the great signs and wonders he saw.

26And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip. He said, "Get up and go south. Take the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."

27And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an 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,

So Philip got up and went. On the road he met a man from Ethiopia. This man was a eunuch and an important officer for Candace, the queen of Ethiopia. He took care of all her money. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship God.

28Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

Now he was going home. He sat in his chariot and read from Isaiah the prophet. A chariot is a cart pulled by horses. A prophet is someone who told people what God said.

29Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to that chariot and stay close to it."

30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

Philip ran over to him. He heard the man reading from Isaiah the prophet. Philip asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

The man said, "How can I? I need someone to explain it to me." He asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

32The 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:

This is the part of God's book he was reading. "He was led away like a sheep going to be killed. A lamb stays quiet while its wool is cut. In the same way, he did not open his mouth."

33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

"He was treated badly, and no one judged him fairly. Who can tell about his family after him? For his life was taken away from the earth."

34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

The eunuch said to Philip, "Please tell me. Who is the prophet talking about? Himself, or someone else?"

35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

So Philip started with that very part of God's book. He told the man the good news about Jesus.

36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

They went on down the road and came to some water. The eunuch said, "Look, here is water! Is anything stopping me from being baptized?"

37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." The man answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

He gave the order to stop the chariot. Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water. Philip baptized him.

39And 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.

They came up out of the water. Then the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. The eunuch did not see him again. He went on his way full of joy.

40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Philip turned up in the town of Azotus. He walked on through the towns and told the good news. He kept going until he came to Caesarea.

8And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

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9And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

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10And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

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11And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

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12And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

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13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

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14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

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