教会受迫害

当时,扫罗也赞成杀死司提凡。从那天起,耶路撒冷的教会开始遭到极大的迫害。除了使徒之外,门徒都分散到犹太和撒玛利亚各地。 有些虔诚人将司提凡埋葬了,为他大声痛哭。

扫罗却在摧毁教会,他挨家挨户搜寻,把男女信徒抓进监里。

腓利传扬福音

但那些逃往各地的信徒逃到哪里,就将福音传到哪里。 腓利来到撒玛利亚城宣讲基督。 城里的人耳闻目睹他所行的神迹,都聚精会神地听他讲道。 当时有许多人被污鬼附身,那些污鬼大声喊叫着被赶了出来。还有不少瘫子和瘸子也被医好了。 城里洋溢着欢乐的气氛。

术士归主

有个名叫西门的术士,向来妄自尊大,曾用邪术使撒玛利亚人惊奇不已。 10 无论贵贱,众人都听从他,称他为“上帝的大能者”。 11 他们听从他,因为他长期用邪术迷惑他们。 12 后来,他们相信了腓利传的有关上帝的国度和耶稣基督的福音,男男女女都接受了洗礼。 13 西门本人也信了基督,接受了洗礼,并常常追随腓利左右。腓利所行的神迹奇事令他非常惊奇。

14 耶路撒冷的使徒听说撒玛利亚人接受了上帝的道,就派彼得和约翰去那里。 15 二人到了,为那些信徒祷告,好让他们领受圣灵, 16 因为他们只是奉耶稣的名受了洗,圣灵还没有降在他们身上。 17 使徒把手按在他们身上,他们就领受了圣灵。

18 西门看见使徒把手一按在人身上,就有圣灵赐下来,便拿钱给使徒, 19 说:“请把这能力也给我吧,以便我把手按在谁身上,就使谁领受圣灵。”

20 彼得责备他说:“你和你的钱都一同毁灭吧!因为你以为可以用钱买上帝的恩赐! 21 你在上帝面前心术不正,休想在我们的事工上有份。 22 你要悔改,离弃邪恶,向主祷告,或许主会赦免你心中的邪念。 23 我看得出你正因为嫉妒而心里充满了苦涩,被罪恶捆绑。”

24 西门说:“请为我求求主,免得我遭受你们所说的刑罚。”

25 彼得和约翰为主做见证,传讲主的道。之后,他们启程回耶路撒冷,沿途又在撒玛利亚各村庄传扬福音。

太监归主

26 有一天,主的天使对腓利说:“起来,向南走,往耶路撒冷通往迦萨的路去。”那条路很荒凉。 27 腓利立刻动身,结果在那条路上遇见一个埃塞俄比亚的太监。他是埃塞俄比亚女王甘大基手下的重臣,负责管理国库。他刚从耶路撒冷参加敬拜回来, 28 正坐在车上诵读以赛亚先知的书。 29 圣灵吩咐腓利:“赶上去,贴近那辆马车!”

30 腓利跑上前,听见太监在诵读以赛亚先知的书,就问:“你明白所读的经文吗?”

31 他说:“没有人为我解释,我怎能明白呢?”他就请腓利上车和他一起坐。 32 他刚才念的那段经文是:

“祂默然不语,
像被人牵去宰杀的羔羊,
又如在剪毛人手下一声不吭的绵羊。
33 祂忍受耻辱,
无人为祂主持公道,
谁能明白那个世代呢?
因为祂的生命竟然被夺去。”

34 太监问腓利:“请问先知是在说谁?在说他自己还是在说别人?” 35 腓利就从这段经文入手向他传耶稣的福音。 36 他们往前走的时候,经过一处有水的地方,太监说:“你看,这里有水,我可以在这里接受洗礼吗?” 37 腓利说:“只要你全心相信,当然可以。”太监说:“我相信耶稣基督是上帝的儿子!”

38 于是,太监吩咐停车,二人一同下到水里,腓利为他施洗。 39 他们从水里上来时,主的灵把腓利带走了。太监看不见腓利了,就继续前行,满心欢喜。 40 后来,腓利出现在亚锁都。他走遍那里,在各城各乡传扬福音,直到凯撒利亚。

Saul Persecutes the Church

Now Saul was consenting to his death.

At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and (A)they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and (B)made great lamentation over him.

As for Saul, (C)he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Christ Is Preached in Samaria

Therefore (D)those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Then (E)Philip went down to [a]the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For (F)unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.

The Sorcerer’s Profession of Faith

But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously (G)practiced [b]sorcery in the city and (H)astonished the [c]people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his [d]sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things (I)concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

The Sorcerer’s Sin

14 Now when the (J)apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them (K)that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For (L)as yet He had fallen upon none of them. (M)They had only been baptized in (N)the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then (O)they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because (P)you thought that (Q)the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your (R)heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God (S)if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are (T)poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

24 Then Simon answered and said, (U)“Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Christ Is Preached to an Ethiopian(V)

26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to (W)Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is [e]desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, (X)a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and (Y)had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”

30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:

(Z)“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
(AA)So He opened not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation His (AB)justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is (AC)taken from the earth.”

34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, (AD)and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. (AE)What hinders me from being baptized?”

37 [f]Then Philip said, (AF)“If you believe with all your heart, you may.”

And he answered and said, (AG)“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, (AH)the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at [g]Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to (AI)Caesarea.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 8:5 Or a
  2. Acts 8:9 magic
  3. Acts 8:9 Or nation
  4. Acts 8:11 magic arts
  5. Acts 8:26 Or a deserted place
  6. Acts 8:37 NU, M omit v. 37. It is found in Western texts, including the Latin tradition.
  7. Acts 8:40 Same as Heb. Ashdod

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) Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 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

Those who had been scattered(F) preached the word wherever they went.(G) Philip(H) went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many,(I) and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.(J) So there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

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)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 8:27 That is, from the southern Nile region
  2. Acts 8:33 Isaiah 53:7,8 (see Septuagint)
  3. Acts 8:37 Some manuscripts include here Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

And Rav Sha’ul was giving approval to the murder of Stefanos. And there came about in that day a great pogrom keneged (against) the Brit Chadasha Kehillah in Yerushalayim, and everyone was scattered throughout the regions of Yehudah and Shomron except the Moshiach’s Shlichim.

And chasidim came and gave kevurah (burial) to Stefanos and they made loud lamentation over him.

But Rav Sha’ul was making havoc of the Moshiach’s Kehillah, barging in bais by bais, dragging off both anashim and nashim, and delivering them over to the beis hasohar.

The ones therefore having been scattered went about preaching the dvar Hashem.

Now Philippos [Ac 6:5], having gone down to the city of Shomron, was preaching to them the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

And the multitudes with one accord were paying attention to the things being said by Philippos, as they heard him and saw the otot which he was accomplishing.

For many had ruchot teme’ot coming out, crying out with a kol gadol, and many having been paralyzed and many pisechim (lame ones) were given refu’ah shleimah.

And there was great simchah in that city.

Now a certain ish by name Shimon was previously in the city practicing magic and astonishing the people of Shomron, saying that he himself was an ish of gadlus (with remarkable superiority) and gadol.

10 And to this certain Shimon everyone from katon to gadol was paying attention, saying, "Hinei! This man is the ko’ach (power) of Hashem, the ko’ach hagadol."

11 And they were giving heed to him, because he for a long time had astonished them by magic tricks.

12 But when they had emunah (faith) in what Philippos preached about the Malchut Hashem and the Shem of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, they, both anashim and nashim, were submitting to Moshiach’s tevilah of teshuva.

13 And Shimon himself also had emunah, and, having submitted to Moshiach’s tevilah of teshuva, was following Philippos, and, seeing otot and nifla’ot and moftim hagedolim taking place, he was constantly mishpoyel (standing in awe).

14 And when Moshiach’s Shlichim heard in Yerushalayim that Shomron has accepted the dvar Hashem, they sent Kefa and Yochanan to them,

15 Who, having come down, davened for them that they might receive the Ruach Hakodesh.

16 For the Ruach Hakodesh had not yet fallen upon any one of them, but only they had received a tevilah of teshuva in a mikveh mayim b’Shem Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua Adoneinu.

17 Then Kefa and Yochanan were laying their hands upon them, and they were receiving the Ruach Hakodesh.

18 And when Shimon saw that through the laying on of hands of Moshiach’s Shlichim that the Ruach Hakodesh is given, he brought to them kesef,

19 Saying, "Give me also this samchut that on whomever I may lay my hands such may receive the Ruach Hakodesh."

20 But Kefa said to him, "May your kesef perish with you because the matnat Hashem you thought by kesef to acquire. [2Kg 5:16; Dt 5:17]

21 "There is not to you a chelek (allotted portion) nor share in this matter, for your lev (heart) is krum (deviant) and not upright before Hashem. [Neh 2:20; Ps 78:37]

22 "Therefore make teshuva from your wickedness and daven (pray) to Hashem if efsher (perhaps) you will receive selicha (forgiveness) for the intent of your lev,

23 "For I see you are in bitter gall and the bond of haresha." [Dt 29:18 TARGUM HASHIVIM; Jer 4:18; Isa 58:6]

24 And in reply Shimon said, "Daven for me to Hashem that nothing may come upon me of which you have spoken." [SHEMOT 8:8; BAMIDBAR 21:7; MELACHIM ALEF 13:6; YIRMEYAH 42:2]

25 The ones then having testified and spoken the dvar Adonoi were returning to Yerushalayim and to many villages of the Shomronim preaching the Besuras HaGeulah.

26 And a malach Adonoi spoke to Philippos, saying, "Get up and go south on the derech going down from Yerushalayim to Gaza." This is desert.

27 And having got up, Philippos went. And, hinei, an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, a court official of the Kandake of the Ethiopians! He was over all of her Otzrot (treasury) and had come worshipping to Yerushalayim, [Ps 68:31; 87:4; Zeph 3:10; Isa 56:3-5; 1Kgs 8:41-43]

28 And he was returning and sitting in his chariot and he was reading Yeshayah HaNavi.

29 And the Ruach Hakodesh said to Philippos, "Approach and join this chariot."

30 And having run, Philippos heard him reading Yeshayah HaNavi, and Philippos said, "So do you have binah of what you are reading?"

31 And he said, "How then might I be able, unless someone will guide me?" And he invited Philippos to come up and sit with him.

32 Now the keta (section) of the Tanakh which he was reading was this: KASEH LATEVACH YUVAL ("He [Moshiach] was led as a lamb to the slaughter") and as a Seh (Lamb, YESHAYAH 53:7) before the one having sheared it is silent, LO YIFTACH PIV ("He does not open his mouth").

33 ‘In humiliation his justice was taken away. The descendants of him who will tell? Because he is taken away from HA’ARETZ CHAYYIM.' [Isa 53:7,8; 57:7f TARGUM HASHIVIM]

34 And in reply the eunuch said to Philippos, "I ask you about whom the Navi (prophet) says this? About himself or about some other person?"

35 And having opened his mouth, and beginning from this keta (section) of the Kitvei Hakodesh, Philippos began to preach and fier ois (elucidate) Yehoshua/Yeshua to him.

36 And as they were going along the derech, they came upon some mayim and the eunuch says, "Hinei, mayim! What prevents me from being given Moshiach’s tevilah of teshuva in the mikveh mayim?"

37 [And Philippos said, “If you have emunah b’chol levavcha, it is mutar. And he answered, saying, Ani ma’amin ki Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua Ben HaElohim hu.]

38 And he commanded the chariot to stop and both went down into the mikveh mayim, both Philippos and the eunuch, and Philippos gave him Moshiach’s tevilah of teshuva in the mikveh mayim.

39 And when they came up from the mikveh mayim, the Ruach Hakodesh of Hashem took Philippos away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer, but was going on his way with lev same’ach. [1Kgs 18:12; 2Kgs 2:16; Ezek 3:12,14; 8:3; 11:1,24; 43:5]

40 But Philippos was found in Ashdod, and passing through, he was preaching the Besuras HaGeulah to all the towns until he came to