使徒行传 8
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
8 司提反被害,掃羅也欣然同意。
掃羅迫害教會
從那天起,耶路撒冷的教會大受迫害;除了使徒以外,所有的人都分散到猶太和撒瑪利亞各地。 2 有些虔誠的人安葬了司提反,為他大大悲痛一番。 3 掃羅卻殘害教會,逐家進去,連男帶女拉去坐監。
福音傳到撒瑪利亞
4 那些分散的人,經過各地,傳揚福音真道。 5 腓利下到撒瑪利亞城,宣講基督。 6 群眾聽了腓利所講的,看見他所行的神蹟,就同心聽從了他的話。 7 許多人有污靈附在他們身上,污靈大聲喊叫了之後,就出來了;還有許多癱子瘸子都醫好了。 8 在那城裡,就大有歡樂。
9 有一個人名叫西門,從前在城裡行過邪術,使撒瑪利亞的居民驚奇,他又自命不凡, 10 城裡大大小小都聽從他,說:“這就是那稱為‘ 神的大能’的人。” 11 他們聽從他,因為他長久用邪術,使他們驚奇。 12 等到腓利向他們傳了 神的國的福音,和耶穌基督的名,他們就信了腓利,連男帶女都受了洗。 13 連西門自己也信了,他受洗之後,常和腓利在一起,看見所發生的神蹟和大能的事,就覺得很驚奇。
14 在耶路撒冷的使徒,聽見撒瑪利亞居民領受了 神的道,就差派彼得和約翰到他們那裡去。 15 二人到了,就為大家禱告,要讓他們接受聖靈。 16 因為聖靈還沒有降在他們任何一個身上,他們只是受了洗歸入主耶穌的名下。 17 於是使徒為他們按手,他們就受了聖靈。 18 西門看見使徒一按手,就有聖靈賜下來,就拿錢給他們, 19 說:“請把這權柄也給我,叫我為誰按手,誰就可以受聖靈。” 20 彼得對他說:“你的銀子跟你一同滅亡吧!因為你以為 神的恩賜,是可以用錢買的。 21 你和這件事是毫無關係的,因為你在 神面前存心不正。 22 所以,你要悔改離棄這罪惡,要祈求主,也許你心中的意念可以得到赦免。 23 我看出你正在苦膽之中,邪惡捆綁著你。” 24 西門回答:“請你們為我求主,好讓你們所說的,沒有一樣臨到我身上。”
25 使徒作了見證,講了主的道,就回耶路撒冷去,一路上在撒瑪利亞人的許多村莊裡傳揚福音。
腓利對太監傳講耶穌
26 有主的一位使者對腓利說:“起來,向南走,往那從耶路撒冷下迦薩的路上去。”那條路在曠野裡。 27 他就動身去了。有一個衣索匹亞人,是衣索匹亞女王干大基有權力的太監,掌管女王全部國庫。他上耶路撒冷去禮拜。 28 他回去的時候,坐在車上讀以賽亞先知的書。 29 聖靈對腓利說:“你往前去,靠近那車子!” 30 腓利就跑過去,聽見他讀以賽亞先知的書,就問他:“你所讀的,你明白嗎?” 31 他說:“沒有人指導我,怎能明白呢?”於是請腓利上車,同他坐在一起。 32 他所讀的那段經文,就是:
“他像羊被牽去宰殺,
又像羊羔在剪毛的人面前無聲,
他總是這樣不開口。
33 他受屈辱的時候,
得不到公平的審判,
誰能說出他的身世呢?
因為他的生命從地上被奪去。”
34 太監對腓利說:“請問先知這話是指誰說的?指他自己呢?還是指別人?” 35 腓利就開口,從這段經文開始,向他傳講耶穌。 36 他們一路走,到了有水的地方,太監說:“你看,這裡有水,有甚麼可以阻止我受洗呢?”(有些抄本在此有第37節:“腓利說:‘你若全心相信,就可以受洗。’他回答說:‘我信耶穌基督是 神的兒子。’”) 38 於是太監吩咐停車,腓利和他兩人下到水中,腓利就給他施洗。 39 他們從水裡上來的時候,主的靈就把腓利提去了,太監再也看不見他,就歡歡喜喜地上路。 40 後來有人在亞鎖都遇見腓利。他走遍各城,傳講福音,直到該撒利亞。
使徒行传 8
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
8 司提反被害,扫罗也欣然同意。
扫罗迫害教会
从那天起,耶路撒冷的教会大受迫害;除了使徒以外,所有的人都分散到犹太和撒玛利亚各地。 2 有些虔诚的人安葬了司提反,为他大大悲痛一番。 3 扫罗却残害教会,逐家进去,连男带女拉去坐监。
福音传到撒玛利亚
4 那些分散的人,经过各地,传扬福音真道。 5 腓利下到撒玛利亚城,宣讲基督。 6 群众听了腓利所讲的,看见他所行的神迹,就同心听从了他的话。 7 许多人有污灵附在他们身上,污灵大声喊叫了之后,就出来了;还有许多瘫子瘸子都医好了。 8 在那城里,就大有欢乐。
9 有一个人名叫西门,从前在城里行过邪术,使撒玛利亚的居民惊奇,他又自命不凡, 10 城里大大小小都听从他,说:“这就是那称为‘ 神的大能’的人。” 11 他们听从他,因为他长久用邪术,使他们惊奇。 12 等到腓利向他们传了 神的国的福音,和耶稣基督的名,他们就信了腓利,连男带女都受了洗。 13 连西门自己也信了,他受洗之后,常和腓利在一起,看见所发生的神迹和大能的事,就觉得很惊奇。
14 在耶路撒冷的使徒,听见撒玛利亚居民领受了 神的道,就差派彼得和约翰到他们那里去。 15 二人到了,就为大家祷告,要让他们接受圣灵。 16 因为圣灵还没有降在他们任何一个身上,他们只是受了洗归入主耶稣的名下。 17 于是使徒为他们按手,他们就受了圣灵。 18 西门看见使徒一按手,就有圣灵赐下来,就拿钱给他们, 19 说:“请把这权柄也给我,叫我为谁按手,谁就可以受圣灵。” 20 彼得对他说:“你的银子跟你一同灭亡吧!因为你以为 神的恩赐,是可以用钱买的。 21 你和这件事是毫无关系的,因为你在 神面前存心不正。 22 所以,你要悔改离弃这罪恶,要祈求主,也许你心中的意念可以得到赦免。 23 我看出你正在苦胆之中,邪恶捆绑着你。” 24 西门回答:“请你们为我求主,好让你们所说的,没有一样临到我身上。”
25 使徒作了见证,讲了主的道,就回耶路撒冷去,一路上在撒玛利亚人的许多村庄里传扬福音。
腓利对太监传讲耶稣
26 有主的一位使者对腓利说:“起来,向南走,往那从耶路撒冷下迦萨的路上去。”那条路在旷野里。 27 他就动身去了。有一个衣索匹亚人,是衣索匹亚女王干大基有权力的太监,掌管女王全部国库。他上耶路撒冷去礼拜。 28 他回去的时候,坐在车上读以赛亚先知的书。 29 圣灵对腓利说:“你往前去,靠近那车子!” 30 腓利就跑过去,听见他读以赛亚先知的书,就问他:“你所读的,你明白吗?” 31 他说:“没有人指导我,怎能明白呢?”于是请腓利上车,同他坐在一起。 32 他所读的那段经文,就是:
“他像羊被牵去宰杀,
又像羊羔在剪毛的人面前无声,
他总是这样不开口。
33 他受屈辱的时候,
得不到公平的审判,
谁能说出他的身世呢?
因为他的生命从地上被夺去。”
34 太监对腓利说:“请问先知这话是指谁说的?指他自己呢?还是指别人?” 35 腓利就开口,从这段经文开始,向他传讲耶稣。 36 他们一路走,到了有水的地方,太监说:“你看,这里有水,有甚么可以阻止我受洗呢?”(有些抄本在此有第37节:“腓利说:‘你若全心相信,就可以受洗。’他回答说:‘我信耶稣基督是 神的儿子。’”) 38 于是太监吩咐停车,腓利和他两人下到水中,腓利就给他施洗。 39 他们从水里上来的时候,主的灵就把腓利提去了,太监再也看不见他,就欢欢喜喜地上路。 40 后来有人在亚锁都遇见腓利。他走遍各城,传讲福音,直到该撒利亚。
Acts 8
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 8
The Church Becomes Open to the Gentiles.[a] 1 Saul approved of his death. That day marked the beginning of a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles scattered to the country districts of Judea and Samaria. 2 Stephen was buried by devout men who made loud lamentations over him. 3 Saul, meanwhile, began to inflict great harm on the Church. He entered house after house, dragging off men and women and sending them to prison. 4 Now those who had been scattered went from place to place proclaiming the word.
The Mission in Judea and Samaria
Springtime in Samaria.[b] 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. 6 The crowds welcomed the message proclaimed by Philip because they had heard and seen the signs he was doing. 7 For unclean spirits emerged with loud shrieks from many people who were possessed, and many others who were paralyzed or crippled were cured. 8 Thus, there was great joy in that city.
The Encounter with Magic.[c] 9 A man named Simon had been in that city for some time practicing magic and had astounded the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. 10 All of them, from the least to the greatest, believed in him, declaring, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘The Great One.’ ”[d] 11 And they listened to him because for a long time they had been captivated by his magic.
12 However, when the people came to believe Philip as he preached about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself became a believer. After his baptism, he was constantly in Philip’s company, and he was astonished when he saw the great signs and mighty deeds that were taking place.
14 The Holy Spirit. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived there, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for as yet he had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Condemnation of Simony. When Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power too so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought that you could obtain God’s gift with money. 21 You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not upright in the eyes of God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours and beg the Lord that if possible you may be forgiven for devising your evil scheme. 23 I see that you are engulfed in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.”
24 Simon said in reply, “Pray for me to the Lord that nothing of what you have spoken about may befall me.” 25 Then, after giving their testimony and proclaiming the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the good news to many Samaritan villages.
26 Baptism of a High Official.[e] Then the angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and head south along the road that leads from Jerusalem down to Gaza, the desert road.” 27 Therefore, he got up and set out.
Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch,[f] an official at the court of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was now returning home. As he sat in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join that chariot.” 30 When Philip ran up, he heard him reading from the prophet Isaiah, and he asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless I have someone to instruct me?” Then he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.
32 This was the Scripture passage he had been reading:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter;
like a lamb that is silent before its shearer
he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will be able to speak of his posterity?
For his life on earth has been taken away.”
34 Then the eunuch said to Philip, “Please tell me, about whom is the prophet speaking—about himself or someone else?” 35 And so Philip, starting with this text of Scripture, proceeded to explain to him the good news of Jesus.
36 As they were traveling along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, here is some water. What is to prevent me from being baptized?” [ 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch said in reply, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”][g] 38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but he went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared in Azotus[h] and continued his journey, proclaiming the good news in every town until he reached Caesarea.
Footnotes
- Acts 8:1 The Hellenist Christians are driven out of Jerusalem. Their dispersion proceeds in an underground manner throughout the narrative until the moment when we will encounter a list of people who emigrate to Cyprus and Antioch. There, for the first time, the Church is opened to Gentiles (Acts 11:9ff). During this period, Luke shows the Gospel spreading to Samaria, Gaza, and the coast as far as Caesarea, Damascus in Syria, and Tarsus. The Gospel is received by many different cultures and people: the Pharisean persecutor, the functionary, the peasant of the plain of Sharon, the notable rich of Joppa, the artisan, the army, and the non-Jewish Greeks of Antioch.
Luke presents Paul under the somber traits of persecutor; once he becomes an apostle, Paul will remain marked by the memory of the time when he wanted to obstruct the path of the infant Gospel (see Acts 22:20; 26:10; 1 Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13, 23; Phil 3:6). - Acts 8:5 Another deacon brings about an opening of the Church to the world. Since their separation, their installation of a worship of their own, and their intermingling with other peoples, the Samaritans who were once brethren in religion with the Jews have come to be regarded by the latter as heretics every bit as evil as the Gentiles. The Gospel is a powerful means of salvation for all human beings, surpassing the ancient religions and political frontiers. Presented here is the first step. The ministry of Philip the deacon is described in the spirit of the Gospels, and Luke stresses the climate of joy that follows in the wake of the good news.
- Acts 8:9 The proclamation of the Gospel is faced with an important problem as in our day. Can human beings own spiritual forces? Under an Eastern influence, personages endowed with the power of performing prodigies circulated throughout the Empire. There were itinerant exorcists or healers (Acts 9:11, 18). Simon has an outstanding reputation in this sphere. Now the magician has come to believe in the word of the Gospel. The community at Jerusalem is troubled to hear of prodigies and conversions in Samaria, a rejected land; an apostolic inspection can only confirm the facts and give them the authentication of the Spirit.
Simon the magician is attracted by the prestige that would be given him by the Spirit, and he wants to have the Spirit at his disposal, as do the apostles. He is even ready to pay well for it (whence the word “simony”). But he receives a stern refusal. Luke wants to set aside the forgeries that one could ascribe to Christ and the Spirit. We have here an example of a faith that becomes deeper, for the author stresses the importance of intercessory prayer for one another in matters of conversion. - Acts 8:10 The Great One: perhaps a divine title, which Simon has given himself.
- Acts 8:26 In this passage, Luke shows us the encounter of the Church with a new cultural environment. The official in charge of the treasury of the queen of Ethiopia (Candace, like Pharaoh, is a title of a ruler) is interested in a passage of the Old Testament that speaks of a mysterious personage who is overwhelmed by suffering for the salvation of all; the passage is Isa 53, often used by the first community to express the mystery of Christ. The marvelous elements in this story of Philip recall God’s freedom of action in the time of the ancient Prophets: angel, Spirit, instantaneous transportation (see 1 Ki 18:12; 2 Ki 2:16; Ezek 3:12, 14; Dan 14:36). We will come across Philip the deacon again later on as the father of four daughters (Acts 21:9).
- Acts 8:27 Eunuch: may be simply a court title; for eunuch in the literal sense, see the prophecy of Isa 56:3-7.
- Acts 8:37 This verse is added by some ancient manuscripts.
- Acts 8:40 Azotus (called Ashdod in the Old Testament as one of the five Philistine cities) was about 25 miles north of Gaza. Caesarea, on the coast, was 33 miles north of the modern Tel Aviv, and served as the headquarters for the Roman governors.
Acts 8
New International Version
8 And Saul(A) approved of their killing him.
The Church Persecuted and Scattered
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered(B) throughout Judea and Samaria.(C) 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul(D) began to destroy the church.(E) Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Philip in Samaria
4 Those who had been scattered(F) preached the word wherever they went.(G) 5 Philip(H) 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,(I) and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.(J) 8 So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery(K) in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,(L) 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.”(M) 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(N) and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,(O) both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles(P) he saw.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria(Q) had accepted the word of God,(R) they sent Peter and John(S) to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,(T) 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them;(U) they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(V) 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them,(W) and they received the Holy Spirit.(X)
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!(Y) 21 You have no part or share(Z) in this ministry, because your heart is not right(AA) before God. 22 Repent(AB) of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me(AC) so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord(AD) and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.(AE)
Philip and the Ethiopian
26 Now an angel(AF) of the Lord said to Philip,(AG) “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a](AH) eunuch,(AI) an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,(AJ) 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told(AK) Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”[b](AL)
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began(AM) with that very passage of Scripture(AN) and told him the good news(AO) about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”(AP) [37] [c] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away,(AQ) and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns(AR) until he reached Caesarea.(AS)
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