Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech: Acts | Page 9

007:052 Which of the Prophets did not your forefathers persecute? Yes, they killed those who announced beforehand the advent of the righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become-- 007:053 you who received the Law given through angels, and yet have not obeyed it." 007:054 As they listened to these words, they became infuriated and gnashed their teeth at him. 007:055 But, full of the Holy Spirit and looking up to Heaven, Stephen saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand. 007:056 "I can see Heaven wide open," he said, "and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand." 007:057 Upon this, with a loud outcry they stopped their ears, rushed upon Stephen in a body, 007:058 dragged him out of the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments and giving them into the care of a young man called Saul. 007:059 So they stoned Stephen, while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 007:060 Then, rising on his knees, he cried aloud, "Lord, do not reckon this sin against them." And with these words he fell asleep. 008:001 And Saul fully approved of his murder. At this time a great persecution broke out against the Church in Jerusalem, and all except the Apostles were scattered throughout Judaea and Samaria. 008:002 A party of devout men, however, buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. 008:003 But Saul cruelly harassed the Church. He went into house after house, and, dragging off both men and women, threw them into prison. 008:004 Those, however, who were scattered abroad went from place to place spreading the Good News of God's Message; 008:005 while Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ there. 008:006 Crowds of people, with one accord, gave attention to what they heard from him, listening, and witnessing the signs which he did. 008:007 For, with a loud cry, foul spirits came out of many possessed by them, and many paralytics and lame persons were restored to health. 008:008 And there was great joy in that city. 008:009 Now for some time past there had been a man named Simon living there, who had been practising magic and astonishing the Samaritans, pretending that he was more than human. 008:010 To him people of all classes paid attention, declaring, "This man is the Power of God, known as the great Power." 008:011 His influence over them arose from their having been, for a long time, bewildered by his sorceries. 008:012 But when Philip began to tell the Good News about the Kingdom of God and about the Name of Jesus Christ, and they embraced the faith, they were baptized, men and women alike. 008:013 Simon himself also believed, and after being baptized remained in close attendance on Philip, and was full of amazement at seeing such signs and such great miracles performed. 008:014 When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John to visit them. 008:015 They, when they came down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit: 008:016 for He had not as yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 008:017 Then the Apostles placed their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 008:018 When, however, Simon saw that it was through the laying on of the Apostles' hands that the Spirit was bestowed, he offered them money. 008:019 "Give me too," he said, "that power, so that every one on whom I place my hands will receive the Holy Spirit." 008:020 "Perish your money and yourself," replied Peter, "because you have imagined that you can obtain God's free gift with money! 008:021 No part or lot have you in this matter, for your heart is not right in God's sight. 008:022 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, in the hope that the purpose which is in your heart may perhaps be forgiven you. 008:023 For I perceive that you have fallen into the bitterest bondage of unrighteousness." 008:024 "Pray, both of you, to the Lord for me," answered Simon, "that nothing of what you have said may come upon me." 008:025 So the Apostles, after giving a solemn charge and delivering the Lord's Message, travelled back to Jerusalem, making known the Good News also in many of the Samaritan villages. 008:026 And an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and proceed south to the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza, crossing the Desert." 008:027 Upon this he rose and went. Now, as it happened, an Ethiopian eunuch who was in a position of high authority with Candace, queen of the Ethiopians,