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。

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.”

Inusig ni Saulo ang Iglesya

Sinang-ayunan ni Saulo ang pagpatay kay Esteban.

Nang araw na iyon, nagsimula ang matinding pag-uusig laban sa iglesya sa Jerusalem; at maliban sa mga apostol, ang lahat ng sumasampalataya ay nagkawatak-watak at napunta sa iba't ibang lugar sa lupain ng Judea at Samaria. Si Esteban nama'y inilibing ng mga taong may takot sa Diyos at tinangisan nang gayon na lamang.

Samantala,(A) sinikap ni Saulo na wasakin ang iglesya; pinasok niya ang mga bahay-bahay at kanyang kinaladkad at ibinilanggo ang mga sumasampalataya, maging lalaki o babae.

Ipinangaral sa Samaria ang Magandang Balita

Ipinangaral ng mga mananampalatayang nagkawatak-watak sa iba't ibang lugar ang Salita saan man sila magpunta. Nagpunta si Felipe sa lungsod[a] ng Samaria at ipinahayag doon ang Cristo. Nang marinig ng mga tao si Felipe at makita ang mga himalang ginawa niya, nakinig silang mabuti sa kanyang sinasabi. Ang masasamang espiritu ay lumabas sa mga taong sinapian nila at sumisigaw habang lumalabas. Maraming lumpo at pilay ang pinagaling kaya't nagkaroon ng malaking kagalakan sa lungsod na iyon.

Doo'y may isang lalaking ang pangalan ay Simon. Noong una, pinapahanga niya ang mga Samaritano sa pamamagitan ng salamangka. Ipinagmamalaki niya na siya'y isang dakilang tao, 10 at pinapakinggan naman siya ng lahat, mula sa pinakamababa hanggang sa pinakamataas sa lipunan, “Ang lalaking ito ang kapangyarihan ng Diyos na tinatawag na Dakila,” sabi nila. 11 Mahabang panahon ding sila'y pinahanga niya sa pamamagitan ng kanyang salamangka, kaya't siya'y patuloy na pinapakinggan nila. 12 Ngunit nang sumampalataya sila nang ipangaral ni Felipe ang Magandang Balita tungkol sa kaharian ng Diyos at tungkol kay Jesu-Cristo, nagpabautismo ang mga lalaki't babae. 13 Pati si Simon ay sumampalataya rin, at nang mabautismuhan ay patuloy siyang sumama kay Felipe. Humanga si Simon nang makita niya ang mga himala.

14 Nang mabalitaan ng mga apostol sa Jerusalem na tinanggap ng mga Samaritano ang salita ng Diyos, isinugo nila roon sina Pedro at Juan. 15 Pagdating doon, ipinanalangin ng dalawang apostol ang mga Samaritano upang sila'y tumanggap din ng Espiritu Santo, 16 sapagkat hindi pa ito bumababa sa kaninuman sa kanila. Sila'y nabautismuhan pa lamang sa pangalan ng Panginoong Jesus. 17 Ipinatong nina Pedro at Juan ang kanilang kamay sa mga Samaritano at tumanggap ang mga ito ng Espiritu Santo.

18 Nakita ni Simon na ang Espiritu'y ipinagkakaloob sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatong ng kamay ng mga apostol, kaya't inalok niya ng salapi sina Pedro at Juan. 19 “Bigyan din ninyo ako ng kapangyarihang ito upang ang sinumang patungan ko ng kamay ay tumanggap ng Espiritu Santo,” sabi niya.

20 Sinagot siya ni Pedro, “Nawa'y mapapahamak ka kasama ng iyong salapi, sapagkat inakala mong mabibili ng salapi ang kaloob ng Diyos! 21 Wala kang bahagi ni karapatan sa bagay na ito, sapagkat hindi tama ang iyong puso sa paningin ng Diyos. 22 Pagsisihan mo ang kasamaan mong ito at manalangin ka sa Panginoon, na nawa'y patawarin ka niya sa iyong hangarin, 23 dahil nakikita kong puno ka ng inggit at bilanggo ng kasalanan.”

24 Sumagot si Simon, “Idalangin ninyo ako sa Panginoon, para hindi ko sapitin ang alinman sa mga sinabi ninyo!”

25 Pagkatapos magpatotoo at mangaral ng salita ng Panginoon, bumalik sa Jerusalem sina Pedro at Juan. Ipinangaral nila ang Magandang Balita tungkol kay Cristo sa maraming nayon ng Samaria na kanilang dinaanan.

Si Felipe at ang Pinunong Taga-Etiopia

26 Pagkatapos, sinabi ng isang anghel ng Panginoon kay Felipe, “Pumunta ka sa gawing timog sa daang mula sa Jerusalem papuntang Gaza.” Halos hindi na iyon dinadaanan ngayon. 27 Pumunta nga doon si Felipe. Samantala, isang eunuko na pinunong taga-Etiopia, na ingat-yaman ng Candace, reyna ng Etiopia, ang nagtungo sa Jerusalem upang sumamba 28 at pauwi na noon, nakasakay sa kanyang karwahe at nagbabasa ng aklat ni Propeta Isaias. 29 “Sabayan mo ang sasakyang iyon,” utos ng Espiritu kay Felipe. 30 Kaya patakbong lumapit si Felipe at narinig niyang binabasa ng pinuno ang aklat ni Propeta Isaias. Tinanong ni Felipe ang pinuno, “Nauunawaan ba ninyo ang inyong binabasa?”

31 Sagot naman nito, “Paano ko mauunawaan ito kung walang magpapaliwanag sa akin?” At si Felipe ay inanyayahan niyang sumakay sa karwahe at umupo sa kanyang tabi. 32 Ito(B) ang bahagi ng kasulatang binabasa niya:

“Siya ay tulad ng isang tupang dinadala sa katayan;
    tulad ng isang korderong hindi tumututol kahit na gupitan.
    At hindi umiimik kahit kaunti man.
33 Siya'y hinamak at pinagkaitan ng katarungan.
    Walang sinumang makapagsasalaysay tungkol sa kanyang angkan,
    sapagkat kinitil nila ang kanyang buhay.”

34 Nagtanong kay Felipe ang pinuno, “Sabihin mo nga sa akin, sino ba ang tinutukoy dito ng propeta? Sarili ba niya o iba?”

35 Simula sa kasulatang ito ay isinalaysay sa kanya ni Felipe ang Magandang Balita tungkol kay Jesus. 36 Nagpatuloy sila sa paglalakbay, at dumating sa isang lugar na may tubig. Kaya't sinabi ng pinuno, “Tingnan mo, may tubig dito! Mayroon bang hadlang upang ako'y bautismuhan?” [37 Sinabi sa kanya ni Felipe, “Maaari, kung sumasampalataya ka nang buong puso.” Sumagot ang pinuno, “Sumasampalataya ako na si Jesu-Cristo ang Anak ng Diyos!”][b]

38 Pinatigil ng pinuno ang karwahe, lumusong silang dalawa sa tubig at binautismuhan siya ni Felipe. 39 Pagkaahon nila sa tubig, si Felipe ay kinuha ng Espiritu ng Panginoon at hindi na siya nakita pa ng pinuno. Ang pinuno ay tuwang-tuwang nagpatuloy sa paglalakbay. 40 Namalayan na lamang ni Felipe na siya'y nasa Azoto. Mula roon, ipinangaral niya ang Magandang Balita tungkol kay Jesus sa lahat ng bayang dinaraanan niya hanggang sa marating niya ang Cesarea.

Footnotes

  1. Mga Gawa 8:5 sa lungsod: Sa ibang manuskrito'y sa isang lungsod .
  2. Mga Gawa 8:37 Sa ibang manuskrito'y hindi nakasulat ang talatang 37.