教會受迫害

當時,掃羅也贊成殺死司提凡。從那天起,耶路撒冷的教會開始遭到極大的迫害。除了使徒之外,門徒都分散到猶太和撒瑪利亞各地。 有些虔誠人將司提凡埋葬了,為他大聲痛哭。

掃羅卻在摧毀教會,他挨家挨戶搜尋,把男女信徒抓進監裡。

腓利傳揚福音

但那些逃往各地的信徒逃到哪裡,就將福音傳到哪裡。 腓利來到撒瑪利亞城宣講基督。 城裡的人耳聞目睹他所行的神蹟,都聚精會神地聽他講道。 當時有許多人被污鬼附身,那些污鬼大聲喊叫著被趕了出來。還有不少癱子和瘸子也被醫好了。 城裡洋溢著歡樂的氣氛。

術士歸主

有個名叫西門的術士,向來妄自尊大,曾用邪術使撒瑪利亞人驚奇不已。 10 無論貴賤,眾人都聽從他,稱他為「上帝的大能者」。 11 他們聽從他,因為他長期用邪術迷惑他們。 12 後來,他們相信了腓利所傳關於上帝的國度和耶穌基督的福音,男男女女都接受了洗禮。 13 西門本人也信了基督,接受了洗禮,並常常追隨腓利左右。腓利所行的神蹟奇事令他非常驚奇。

14 耶路撒冷的使徒聽說撒瑪利亞人接受了上帝的道,就派彼得和約翰去那裡。 15 二人到了,為那些信徒禱告,好讓他們領受聖靈, 16 因為他們只是奉耶穌的名受了洗,聖靈還沒有降在他們身上。 17 使徒把手按在他們身上,他們就領受了聖靈。

18 西門看見使徒把手一按在人身上,就有聖靈賜下來,便拿錢給使徒, 19 說:「請把這能力也給我吧,以便我把手按在誰身上,就使誰領受聖靈。」

20 彼得責備他說:「你和你的錢都一同毀滅吧!因為你以為可以用錢買上帝的恩賜! 21 你在上帝面前心術不正,休想在我們的事工上有份。 22 你要悔改,離棄邪惡,向主禱告,或許主會赦免你心中的邪念。 23 我看得出你正因為嫉妒而心裡充滿了苦澀,被罪惡捆綁。」

24 西門說:「請為我求求主,免得我遭受你們所說的刑罰。」

25 彼得和約翰為主做見證,傳講主的道。之後,他們啟程回耶路撒冷,沿途又在撒瑪利亞各村莊傳揚福音。

太監歸主

26 有一天,主的天使對腓利說:「起來,向南走,往耶路撒冷通往迦薩的路去。」那條路很荒涼。 27 腓利立刻動身,結果在那條路上遇見一個衣索匹亞的太監。他是衣索匹亞女王甘大基手下的重臣,負責管理國庫。他剛從耶路撒冷參加敬拜回來, 28 正坐在車上誦讀以賽亞先知的書。 29 聖靈吩咐腓利:「趕上去,貼近那輛馬車!」

30 腓利跑上前,聽見太監在誦讀以賽亞先知的書,就問:「你明白所讀的經文嗎?」

31 他說:「沒有人為我解釋,我怎能明白呢?」他就請腓利上車和他一起坐。 32 他剛才念的那段經文是:

「祂默然不語,
像被人牽去宰殺的羔羊,
又如在剪毛人手下一聲不吭的綿羊。
33 祂忍受恥辱,
無人為祂主持公道,
誰能明白那個世代呢?
因為祂的生命竟然被奪去。」

34 太監問腓利:「請問先知是在說誰?在說他自己還是在說別人?」 35 腓利就從這段經文入手向他傳耶穌的福音。 36 他們往前走的時候,經過一處有水的地方,太監說:「你看,這裡有水,我可以在這裡接受洗禮嗎?」 37 腓利說:「只要你全心相信,當然可以。」太監說:「我相信耶穌基督是上帝的兒子!」

38 於是,太監吩咐停車,二人一同下到水裡,腓利為他施洗。 39 他們從水裡上來時,主的靈把腓利帶走了。太監看不見腓利了,就繼續前行,滿心歡喜。 40 後來,腓利出現在亞鎖都。他走遍那裡,在各城各鄉傳揚福音,直到凱撒利亞。

And Saul approved of their killing him.

Saul Persecutes the Church

That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.

Philip Preaches in Samaria

Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city[a] of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah[b] to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralysed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.

Now a certain man named Simon had previously practised magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. 10 All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, ‘This man is the power of God that is called Great.’ 11 And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place.

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come[c] upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John[d] laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, ‘Give me also this power 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 you could obtain God’s gift with money! 21 You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.’ 24 Simon answered, ‘Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you[e] have said may happen to me.’

25 Now after Peter and John[f] had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south[g] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’ 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ 31 He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:

‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
    and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
        so he does not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
    Who can describe his generation?
        For his life is taken away from the earth.’

34 The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’[h] 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip[i] baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 8:5 Other ancient authorities read a city
  2. Acts 8:5 Or the Christ
  3. Acts 8:16 Gk fallen
  4. Acts 8:17 Gk they
  5. Acts 8:24 The Greek word for you and the verb pray are plural
  6. Acts 8:25 Gk after they
  7. Acts 8:26 Or go at noon
  8. Acts 8:36 Other ancient authorities add all or most of verse 37, And Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he replied, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’
  9. Acts 8:38 Gk he

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.

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

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

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

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.

And there was great joy in that city.

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.

2 The godly make lamentation for Stephen. 3 Saul maketh havoc of the Church.  5 Philip preacheth Christ at Samaria. 9 Simon Magus,  13 his covetousness reproved. 26 Philip 27 cometh to the Ethiopian Eunuch, 38 and baptizeth him.

And [a]Saul consented 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 Judea and of Samaria, except the Apostles.

[b]Then certain men fearing God, [c]carried Stephen among them, to be buried, and made great lamentation for him.

[d]But Saul made havoc of the Church, and entered into every house, and drew out both men and women, and put them into prison.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad, went to and fro preaching the word.

[e]Then came Philip into the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

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

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

And there was great joy in that city.

[f]And there was before in the city, a certain man called Simon, which used [g]witchcraft, and [h]bewitched the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was some great man,

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

11 And they gave heed unto him, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12 But as soon as they believed Philip, which preached the things that concerned the kingdom of God, and the Name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women.

13 [i]Then Simon himself believed also, and was baptized, and continued with Philip, and wondered, when he saw the signs and great miracles which were done.

14 [j]Now when the Apostles, which were at Jerusalem, heard say, that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.

15 Which when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the [k]holy Ghost.

16 (For as yet he was fallen down on none of them, but they were baptized only in the Name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the holy Ghost.

18 [l]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 the hands, he may receive the holy Ghost.

20 [m]Then said Peter unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou thinkest that the gift of God may be obtained with money.

21 Thou hast neither part nor fellowship in this [n]business: for thine heart is not [o]right in the sight of God.

22 [p]Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, that if it be possible, the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23 For I see that thou art in the [q]gall of bitterness, and in the [r]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 ¶ So they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Gospel in many towns of the Samaritans.

26 [s]Then 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 waste.

27 And he arose and went on: and behold, a certain Eunuch of Ethiopia, Candace the Queen of the Ethiopians’ [t]chief Governor, who had the rule of all her treasure, and came to Jerusalem to worship.

28 And as he returned sitting in his chariot, he read Isaiah the Prophet.

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

30 And Philip ran thither, and heard him read the Prophet Isaiah, and said, But understandest thou what thou readest?

31 And he said, How can I, except I had [u]a guide? And he desired Philip, that he would come up and sit with him.

32 [v]Now the place of the Scripture which he read, was this, (A)He was lead as a sheep to the slaughter: and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.

33 In his [w]humility his judgment hath been exalted: but who shall declare his [x]generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 Then 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 let me to be baptized?

37 [y]And Philip said unto him, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. Then he answered, and said, [z]I believe that that Jesus Christ is that Son of God.

38 Then 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 as soon as they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the Eunuch saw him no more: so he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus, and he walked to and fro preaching in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 8:1 Christ useth the rage of his enemies to the spreading forth and enlarging of his kingdom.
  2. Acts 8:2 The godly mourn for Stephen after his death, and bury him, showing therein an example of singular faith and charity: but no man prayeth to him.
  3. Acts 8:2 Amongst all the duties of charity which the godly use, there is no mention made of shrining up of relics.
  4. Acts 8:3 The dispersion or scattering abroad of the faithful, is the joining together of Churches.
  5. Acts 8:5 Philip, who was before a Deacon in Jerusalem, is made of God extraordinarily an Evangelist.
  6. Acts 8:9 Christ overcometh Satan so oft as he listeth, and carrieth him about as it were in a triumph in the sight of them, whom he deceived and bewitched.
  7. Acts 8:9 The word which is used in this place was at the first taken in good part, and is borrowed out of the Persians’ language, who call their wise men by that name, but afterward it was taken in evil part.
  8. Acts 8:9 He had so allured the Samaritans with his witchcrafts, that as blind and mad harebrains they were wholly addicted to him.
  9. Acts 8:13 The wicked and the very reprobate are constrained oftentimes to taste of the good gift of God, but they cast it up again forthwith.
  10. Acts 8:14 Peter not chief, but as an ambassador sent from the whole company of the Apostles, and John his companion according to the authority which was committed unto them, confirm and build up the Churches of Samaria, whose foundation had been laid afore by Philip.
  11. Acts 8:15 Those excellent gifts, which are necessary, especially for them that were to be appointed rulers and governors of the Church.
  12. Acts 8:18 Ambition and covetousness do at length pluck the hypocrites out of their dens.
  13. Acts 8:20 They are the successors of Simon Magus, and not of Simon Peter, which either buy or sell holy things.
  14. Acts 8:21 In this doctrine which I preach.
  15. Acts 8:21 Is not upright in deed, and without dissembling.
  16. Acts 8:22 We must hope well even of the vilest sinners, so long and so far forth as we may.
  17. Acts 8:23 He calleth the inward malice of the heart, and that venomous and devilish wickedness wherewith this Magician was wholly replenished, the gall of bitterness: and he is said to be in the gall as though he were wholly overwhelmed with gall, and buried in it.
  18. Acts 8:23 Entangled in the bonds of iniquity.
  19. Acts 8:26 Christ who calleth freely whom he listeth, doth now use Philip who thought on no such matter, to instruct and baptize the Eunuch at unawares, and by this means extendeth the limits of his kingdom even into Ethiopia.
  20. Acts 8:27 A man of great wealth and authority with Candaces: Now this word Candaces is a common name to all the Queens of Ethiopia.
  21. Acts 8:31 To show me the way how to understand it.
  22. Acts 8:32 Those things which seem most to come by chance or fortune (as men term it) are governed by the secret providence of God.
  23. Acts 8:33 The Hebrew text readeth it thus, Out of a narrow strait, and out of judgment was he taken: whereby the narrow strait, he meaneth the grave and the very bands of death, and by judgment, the punishment which was laid upon him, and the miserable state which Christ took upon him for our sakes, in bearing his Father’s wrath.
  24. Acts 8:33 How long his age shall last: for Christ having once risen from the dead, dieth no more, Rom. 6:9.
  25. Acts 8:37 Profession of faith is requisite in baptizing of them which are of years, and therefore it is evident that we are not then first ingrafted into Christ, when we are baptized, but being already ingrafted are then confirmed.
  26. Acts 8:37 The sum of the confession which is necessary for baptism.