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Acts 8
New Catholic Bible
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
King James Version
Acts 8
King James Version
8 And Saul was consenting unto 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 havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For 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.
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 of God.
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 of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, 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 of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
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 spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And 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,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man 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: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And 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?
37 And 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.
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.
Falimaha Rasuullada 8
Somali Bible
Falimaha Rasuullada 8
Somali Bible
Masiixiyiintii Ayaa La Silciyey Oo La Kala Firdhiyey
8 Sawlosna raalli buu ka ahaa diliddiisa.
Oo maalintaas kiniisaddii Yeruusaalem ku tiil aad baa loo silciyey; oo dhammaantoodna rasuulladii mooyaane waxay ku kala firdheen dalalka Yahuudiya iyo Samaariya. 2 Markaasaa niman cibaado leh Istefanos aaseen oo aad ugu baroorteen. 3 Laakiin Sawlos aad buu kiniisadda u rafaadiyey, oo intuu guri walba galay, ayuu rag iyo dumarba ka soo jiiday, oo xabsi ku riday.
Filibos Oo Samaariya Jooga
4 Haddaba kuwii kala firidhsanaa, meel walba oo ay mareenba ereygii bay ku wacdiyeen. 5 Markaasaa Filibos wuxuu tegey magaalada Samaariya, oo wuxuu dadka ku wacdiyey Masiixa. 6 Oo dadkii badnaa, iyagoo isku wada qalbi ah, ayay dhegaysteen wuxuu Filibos ku hadlay markay waxyaalahaas maqleen oo ay arkeen calaamooyinkuu sameeyey. 7 Waayo, kuwo badan oo jinniyo wasakh leh qabay, jinniyadii oo cod weyn ku qaylinaya ayaa ka soo baxay, oo kuwo badan oo curyaan ahaa iyo laangadhayaashiiba waa la bogsiiyey. 8 Magaaladaasna aad baa looga farxay.
Simoon Oo Ahaa Sixiroole
9 Waxaa jiray nin Simoon la odhan jiray oo markii hore magaalada wax ku sixri jiray oo dadka reer Samaariya ka yaabin jiray, isagoo isugu sheegaya inuu yahay nin weyn. 10 Isagay dhammaantood, yar iyo weynba, wada dhegaysan jireen oo odhan jireen, Ninkanu waa xooggii Ilaah oo la odhan jiray Weyne. 11 Sababtii ay u dhegaysteenna waxay ahayd inuu wakhti dheer iyaga sixirkiisa kaga yaabiyey. 12 Laakiin markay rumaysteen injiilka boqortooyada Ilaah iyo magaca Ciise Masiix oo Filibos ku wacdiyey ayaa iyaga rag iyo dumarba la baabtiisay. 13 Simoon qudhiisuna waa rumaystay, oo markii la baabtiisay dabadeed, had iyo goorba wuxuu la socon jiray Filibos, wuuna la yaabay markuu arkay calaamooyinkii iyo yaababkii waaweynaa oo uu sameeyey.
Butros Iyo Yooxanaa Oo Samaariya Jooga
14 Haddaba markii rasuulladii Yeruusaalem joogay maqleen in Samaariya ereygii Ilaah aqbashay, ayay waxay u soo direen Butros iyo Yooxanaa, 15 kuwaasoo markay yimaadeen, u duceeyey iyaga inay Ruuxa Quduuska ah helaan; 16 maxaa yeelay, midkoodna weli kuma uu soo degin; laakiinse magaca Rabbi Ciise oo keliya ayaa lagu baabtiisay. 17 Markaasay gacmahooda saareen, oo waxay heleen Ruuxa Quduuska ah.
18 Haddaba Simoon markuu arkay in markii rasuulladu gacmahooda saareen, waxaa la siiyey Ruuxa Quduuska ah, ayuu lacag u taagay, 19 isagoo leh, Anigana i siiya xooggan in nin kastoo aan gacmahayga saaroba, uu helo Ruuxa Quduuska ah. 20 Laakiin Butros baa wuxuu ku yidhi, Lacagtaadu ha kula baabba'do, maxaa yeelay, waxaad u malaysay in hadiyadda Ilaah lacag lagu helo. 21 Xaalkan kuma lihid ama qayb ama badh; maxaa yeelay, qalbigaagu Ilaah hortiisa kuma qummana. 22 Sidaas aawadeed xumaantaadan ka toobadkeen, Rabbigana ka bari in fikirka qalbigaaga lagaa cafiyo. 23 Waayo, waxaan arkaa adigoo ku jira xammeetida qadhaadhnimada, kuna xidhan xaqdarrada. 24 Markaasaa Simoon u jawaabay oo wuxuu ku yidhi, Rabbiga ii barya inaan waxyaalahaas aad ku hadasheen midkoodna igu dhicin.
25 Haddaba iyagu markay marag fureen oo Rabbiga ereygiisa ku hadleen, waxay ku noqdeen Yeruusaalem, waxayna tuulooyin badan oo reer Samaariya ah ku wacdiyeen injiilka.
Filibos Iyo Bohonkii Xabashiga Ahaa
26 Laakiin Rabbiga malaa'igtiisa ayaa waxay la hadashay Filibos, iyadoo ku leh, Kac oo aad xagga koonfureed, oo waxaad raacdaa jidka Yeruusaalem ka taga ilaa Gaasa taasoo cidla ah. 27 Wuuna u kacay oo aaday; oo waxaana ku soo baxay nin bohon oo Xabashi ah oo amar weyn ka hoos hayay Kandake boqoraddii Xabashida, wuuna u talin jiray maalkeeda oo dhan, wuxuuna Yeruusaalem u yimid inuu Ilaah caabudo. 28 Kolkuu ka soo noqonayay, ayuu ku fadhiyey gaadhifaraskiisa, oo wuxuu akhriyeyey kitaabka nebi Isayos. 29 Ruuxuna wuxuu Filibos ku yidhi, Ku dhowow, oo gaadhigan raac. 30 Oo Filibos markuu ku orday, wuxuu maqlay isagoo akhriyaya kitaabka nebi Isayos, wuxuuna ku yidhi, Ma garanaysaa waxaad akhriyaysid? 31 Kolkaasuu yidhi, Sidee baan ku garan karaa in lay toosiyo mooyaane? Markaasuu Filibos ka baryay inuu soo fuulo oo la fadhiisto. 32 Haddaba meeshuu Qorniinka ka akhriyeyey waa tan,
Isaga sidii wan la qalayo baa loo kaxeeyey;
Oo sidii lax ku aamusan ninka dhogorta ka xiira hortiisa,
Isagu afkiisa ma uu furo;
33 Intuu is-hoosaysiiyey baa gartiisii laga qaaday;
Farcankiisii yaa sheegi doona?
Maxaa yeelay, noloshiisa dhulkaa laga qaaday.
34 Bohonku wuxuu Filibos u jawaabay oo ku yidhi, Waxaan kaa baryayaa, Nebigu yuu ka hadlayaa? Ma isaga qudhiisaa mise waa mid kale? 35 Filibos baa afkiisa furay, oo intuu Qorniinkan ka bilaabay ayuu isaga ku wacdiyey Ciise. 36 Kolkay waddada marayeen waxay yimaadeen meel biyah, bohonkuna wuxuu yidhi, Bal eeg, waa biyo. Maxaa iga celinaya in lay baabtiiso? 37 Oo Filibos wuxuu ku yidhi, Haddaad qalbigaaga oo dhan ka rumaysatid, waa suurtowdaa. Wuuna u jawaabay oo yidhi, Waxaan rumaysanahay in Ciise Masiix yahay Wiilka Ilaah. 38 Markaasuu amray in gaadhigu joogsado; labadooduna biyahay galeen, Filibos iyo bohonkuba, oo wuu baabtiisay isaga. 39 Oo markay biyihii ka soo baxeen, ayuu Ruuxii Rabbigu dhuftay Filibos, bohonkuna mar dambe ma uu arkin isagii, maxaa yeelay, jidkiisii ayuu iska qaaday isagoo faraxsan. 40 Laakiin Filibos waxaa laga helay Asootos, oo magaalooyinkuu dhex marayay oo dhan wuxuu ku wacdiyey injiilka ilaa intuu gaadhay Kaysariya.
Acts 8
New International Version
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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