Acts 8
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 8
1 Now Saul was consenting to his execution.(A)
Persecution of the Church. On that day, there broke out a severe persecution[a] of the church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.[b] 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him. 3 Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the church;[c] entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment.(B)
III. The Mission in Judea and Samaria
Philip in Samaria. 4 Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.(C) 5 Thus Philip went down to [the] city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.(D) 6 With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.(E) 8 There was great joy in that city.
Simon the Magician. 9 A man named Simon used to practice magic[d] in the city and astounded the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. 10 All of them, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him, saying, “This man is the ‘Power of God’ that is called ‘Great.’” 11 They paid attention to him because he had astounded them by his magic for a long time, 12 but once they began to believe Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike were baptized.(F) 13 Even Simon himself believed and, after being baptized, became devoted to Philip; and when he saw the signs and mighty deeds that were occurring, he was astounded.
14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Spirit, 16 for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.[e] 17 Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit.(G)
18 [f]When Simon saw that the Spirit was conferred by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me this power too, so that anyone upon whom I lay my hands may receive the holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your money perish with you, because you thought that you could buy the gift of God with money. 21 You have no share or lot in this matter, for your heart is not upright before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your intention may be forgiven. 23 For I see that you are filled with bitter gall and are in the bonds of iniquity.” 24 Simon said in reply, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” 25 So when they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the good news to many Samaritan villages.
Philip and the Ethiopian.[g] 26 Then the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” 27 So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace,[h] that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,(H) 28 and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.” 30 [i]Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.(I) 32 This was the scripture passage he was reading:(J)
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
33 In (his) humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will tell of his posterity?
For his life is taken from the earth.”
34 Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him. 36 (K)As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?” [37 ][j] 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 out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing.(L) 40 Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.(M)
Footnotes
- 8:1–40 Some idea of the severity of the persecution that now breaks out against the Jerusalem community can be gathered from Acts 22:4 and Acts 26:9–11. Luke, however, concentrates on the fortunes of the word of God among people, indicating how the dispersal of the Jewish community resulted in the conversion of the Samaritans (Acts 8:4–17, 25). His narrative is further expanded to include the account of Philip’s acceptance of an Ethiopian (Acts 8:26–39).
- 8:1 All were scattered…except the apostles: this observation leads some modern scholars to conclude that the persecution was limited to the Hellenist Christians and that the Hebrew Christians were not molested, perhaps because their attitude toward the law and temple was still more in line with that of their fellow Jews (see the charge leveled against the Hellenist Stephen in Acts 6:13–14). Whatever the facts, it appears that the Twelve took no public stand regarding Stephen’s position, choosing, instead, to await the development of events.
- 8:3 Saul…was trying to destroy the church: like Stephen, Saul was able to perceive that the Christian movement contained the seeds of doctrinal divergence from Judaism. A pupil of Gamaliel, according to Acts 22:3, and totally dedicated to the law as the way of salvation (Gal 1:13–14), Saul accepted the task of crushing the Christian movement, at least insofar as it detracted from the importance of the temple and the law. His vehement opposition to Christianity reveals how difficult it was for a Jew of his time to accept a messianism that differed so greatly from the general expectation.
- 8:9–13, 18–24 Sorcerers were well known in the ancient world. Probably the incident involving Simon and his altercation with Peter is introduced to show that the miraculous charisms possessed by members of the Christian community (Acts 8:6–7) were not to be confused with the magic of sorcerers.
- 8:16 Here and in Acts 10:44–48 and Acts 19:1–6, Luke distinguishes between baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus and the reception of the Spirit. In each case, the Spirit is conferred through members of the Twelve (Peter and John) or their representative (Paul). This may be Luke’s way of describing the role of the church in the bestowal of the Spirit. Elsewhere in Acts, baptism and the Spirit are more closely related (Acts 1:5; 11:16).
- 8:18–20 Simon attempts to buy the gift of God (Acts 8:20) with money. Peter’s cursing of Simon’s attempt so to use his money expresses a typically Lucan attitude toward material wealth (cf. Lk 6:24; 12:16–21; 16:13).
- 8:26–40 In the account of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, Luke adduces additional evidence to show that the spread of Christianity outside the confines of Judaism itself was in accord with the plan of God. He does not make clear whether the Ethiopian was originally a convert to Judaism or, as is more probable, a “God-fearer” (Acts 10:1), i.e., one who accepted Jewish monotheism and ethic and attended the synagogue but did not consider himself bound by other regulations such as circumcision and observance of the dietary laws. The story of his conversion to Christianity is given a strong supernatural cast by the introduction of an angel (Acts 8:26), instruction from the holy Spirit (Acts 8:29), and the strange removal of Philip from the scene (8:39).
- 8:27 The Candace: Candace is not a proper name here but the title of a Nubian queen.
- 8:30–34 Philip is brought alongside the carriage at the very moment when the Ethiopian is pondering the meaning of Is 53:7–8, a passage that Christianity, from its earliest origins, has applied to Jesus; cf. note on Acts 3:13.
- 8:37 The oldest and best manuscripts of Acts omit this verse, which is a Western text reading: “And Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he said in reply, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’”
使徒行傳 8
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
教會受迫害
8 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。 2 有些虔誠人將司提凡埋葬了，為他大聲痛哭。
3 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
4 但那些逃往各地的信徒逃到哪裡，就將福音傳到哪裡。 5 腓利來到撒瑪利亞城宣講基督。 6 城裡的人耳聞目睹他所行的神蹟，都聚精會神地聽他講道。 7 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。 8 城裡洋溢著歡樂的氣氛。
術士歸主
9 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。
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.
Mga Gawa 8
Ang Bagong Tipan: Filipino Standard Version
8 Kasang-ayon si Saulo sa pagpaslang kay Esteban.
Ang Pag-usig ni Saulo sa Iglesya
Nang araw na iyon, sumiklab ang isang malawakang pag-uusig laban sa iglesya na nasa Jerusalem. Maliban sa mga apostol, nagkahiwa-hiwalay ang lahat ng mananampalataya sa buong lupain ng Judea at Samaria. 2 Inilibing si Esteban ng mga lalaking masigasig sa kabanalan. Tumangis sila nang malakas dahil sa kanya. 3 Samantala'y winawasak ni Saulo ang iglesya. (A) Pinapasok niya ang mga bahay-bahay, kinakaladkad at ibinibilanggo ang mga lalaki't babae.
Ang Pangangaral sa Samaria
4 Ang mga nagkawatak-watak nama'y naglakbay na ipinapahayag ang salita. 5 Si Felipe ay bumaba sa lungsod ng Samaria at ipinangaral sa kanila ang Cristo. 6 Nang marinig ng maraming tao ang mga sinabi ni Felipe at nang makita ang mga himalang ginawa niya, nagkaisa silang bigyan ng pansin ang kanyang sinasabi. 7 Sapagkat lumalabas ang masasamang espiritu na sumisigaw nang malakas mula sa maraming taong sinapian; at maraming lumpo at pilay ang pinagaling. 8 Kaya't nagkaroon ng malaking kagalakan sa lungsod na iyon. 9 Ngunit isang taong nagngangalang Simon, ang gumagamit noong una ng salamangka sa lungsod; pinahahanga niya ang mga mamamayan ng Samaria at sinasabi niyang siya'y magaling. 10 Nakinig sa kanya ang lahat, buhat sa pinakaaba hanggang sa pinakadakila. Sabi nila, “Ang taong ito ang tinatawag na dakilang kapangyarihan ng Diyos.” 11 Nakinig sila sa kanya, sapagkat sa loob ng mahabang panahon ay napahanga niya sila ng kanyang mga salamangka. 12 Ngunit nang naniwala sila kay Felipe na nangangaral ng Magandang Balita tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos at sa pangalan ni Jesu-Cristo, sila ay nabautismuhan, mga lalaki at mga babae. 13 Mismong si Simon ay naniwala, at pagkatapos mabautismuhan ay nanatiling kasama ni Felipe. Namangha siya nang makakita ng mga himala at ng mga makapangyarihang gawa.
14 Nang mabalitaan ng mga apostol sa Jerusalem na tinanggap ng mga taga-Samaria ang salita ng Diyos, isinugo nila roon sina Pedro at Juan. 15 Pagdating doon ay ipinanalangin ng dalawa ang mga taga-Samaria upang tanggapin nila ang Banal na Espiritu. 16 Sapagkat hindi pa bumababa ang Espiritu sa kaninuman sa kanila. Sila'y nabautismuhan lamang sa pangalan ng Panginoong Jesus. 17 Ipinatong nina Pedro at Juan[a] ang kanilang mga kamay sa kanila at tinanggap nila ang Banal na Espiritu. 18 Nang makita ni Simon na ipinagkakaloob ang Espiritu sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatong ng mga kamay ng mga apostol, sila'y kanyang inalok ng salapi, 19 at sinabi, “Bigyan din ninyo ako ng kapangyarihang ito, upang sinumang patungan ko ng aking mga kamay ay tumanggap ng Banal na Espiritu.” 20 Ngunit sinabi sa kanya ni Pedro, “Mapapahamak ka kasama ng iyong salapi! Akala mo ba'y mabibili mo ang kaloob ng Diyos? 21 Wala kang bahagi ni karapatan sa bagay na ito, sapagkat hindi naaayon sa Diyos ang iyong puso. 22 Kaya't pagsisihan mo ang kasamaan mong ito. Manalangin ka sa Panginoon at baka sakaling patawarin ka sa masamang hangarin ng iyong kalooban. 23 Sapagkat nakikita kong pinaghaharian ka ng inggit at alipin ka ng kasamaan.” 24 Sumagot si Simon, “Ipanalangin ninyo ako sa Panginoon upang hindi mangyari sa akin ang mga sinabi ninyo.”
25 Matapos silang makapagpatotoo at maipahayag ang salita ng Panginoon, bumalik sina Pedro at Juan[b] sa Jerusalem na ipinangangaral ang magandang balita sa maraming nayon ng Samaria.
Si Felipe at ang Eunukong Taga-Etiopia
26 Matapos ang mga ito, inutusan ng isang anghel ng Panginoon si Felipe, “Tumindig ka at pumunta patungong timog, sa daang pababa mula sa Jerusalem patungong Gaza. Ito'y ilang na daan.” 27 Tumindig nga siya at umalis. Dumating naman ang isang eunukong taga-Etiopia, na tagapamahala ng buong kayamanan ni Candace, ang reyna ng Etiopia. Galing ang eunuko sa Jerusalem upang sumamba. 28 Pauwi na siya noon, nakasakay sa kanyang karwahe at binabasa ang aklat ni propeta Isaias. 29 Sinabi ng Espiritu kay Felipe, “Lumapit ka at makisakay sa karwaheng ito.” 30 Kaya't tumakbong palapit si Felipe at kanyang narinig na binabasa ng lalaki ang aklat ni propeta Isaias. Tinanong siya ni Felipe, “Nauunawaan mo ba ang binabasa mo?” 31 Sumagot siya kay Felipe, “Paano ko ito mauunawaan kung walang magpapaliwanag sa akin?” At kanyang inanyayahan si Felipe na sumakay at maupong kasama niya. 32 Ito (B) ang bahagi ng Kasulatang binabasa niya:
“Tulad ng tupang dinala sa katayan;
at ng korderong hindi umiimik sa harap ng kanyang manggugupit,
gayundin hindi niya ibinubuka ang kanyang bibig.
33 Sa kanyang pagpapakababa ay ipinagkait sa kanya ang katarungan.
Sino ang makapaglalarawan sa kanyang lahi?
Sapagkat inalis sa lupa ang kanyang buhay.”
34 Sinabi ng eunuko kay Felipe, “Maaari bang sabihin mo sa akin kung sino ang tinutukoy ng propeta, ang kanya bang sarili o iba?” 35 Mula sa talatang ito, ipinangaral ni Felipe sa lalaki ang Magandang Balita tungkol kay Jesus. 36 Sa kanilang paglalakbay, nakarating sila sa isang lugar na may tubig. Sinabi ng eunuko, “Tingnan mo, may tubig! Ano'ng hadlang upang ako'y mabautismuhan?” 37 [At sinabi ni Felipe, “Kung sumasampalataya ka nang buong puso ito'y mangyayari. Sumagot ang eunuko, “Sumasampalataya ako na si Jesu-Cristo ang Anak ng Diyos.”][c] 38 Pinahinto ng eunuko ang karwahe at lumusong silang dalawa sa tubig. At binautismuhan siya ni Felipe. 39 Nang umahon sila sa tubig, biglang inagaw ng Espiritu ng Panginoon si Felipe, at hindi na siya nakita ng eunuko. Nagagalak itong nagpatuloy sa kanyang paglalakbay. 40 Samantala, natagpuan si Felipe sa Azotus. Mula roon ay ipinangaral niya ang Magandang Balita sa lahat ng mga bayan hanggang sa makarating siya sa Cesarea.
Footnotes
- Mga Gawa 8:17 Sa Griyego, nila.
- Mga Gawa 8:25 Sa Griyego sila.
- Mga Gawa 8:37 Wala ang talatang ito sa mga mas naunang manuskrito.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Ang Bagong Tipan: Filipino Standard Version, Copyright © Philippine Bible Society 2009.
