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Og Saul syntes det var godt, at han blev dræbt.

Forfølgelse i Jerusalem

Samme dag blev der iværksat en voldsom forfølgelse mod de troende i Jerusalem. De fleste disciple af Jesus forlod byen og spredtes over hele Judæa og Samaria. Apostlene blev dog i Jerusalem. Nogle gudfrygtige jøder begravede Stefanus og sørgede dybt over ham. Men Saul søgte at komme de Jesus-troende til livs. Han gik fra hus til hus og arresterede både mænd og kvinder og fik dem sat i fængsel.

Filip bringer Guds rige til Samaria

De disciple, som nu var blevet spredt, forkyndte budskabet om Jesus overalt, hvor de kom frem. Filip kom til byen Samaria og fortalte folk dér, at Jesus var Messias. Store menneskeskarer lyttede opmærksomt til, hvad han havde at fortælle, for de så de mirakler, han gjorde. Mange onde ånder blev drevet ud og forlod deres ofre med høje skrig. Mange handicappede blev helbredt, og der blev stor glæde i byen.

Nu boede der i Samaria en mand ved navn Simon. Han beskæftigede sig med sort magi, imponerede folk og gav sig ud for at være noget stort. 10-11 Alle, både unge og ældre, var stærkt optaget af ham på grund af hans magiske evner, og man sagde om ham: „Han må være den, som kaldes ‚Guds store kraft’.”

12 De mennesker, som ved at høre Filips budskab om Guds rige var kommet til tro på, at Jesus er den lovede Frelser, lod sig døbe, både mænd og kvinder. 13 Også Simon kom til tro og blev døbt. Han fulgte i hælene på Filip overalt, hvor han gik, og han var meget imponeret over de tegn og mirakler, som Filip udførte.

Helligånden falder på de troende i Samaria

14 Da apostlene i Jerusalem hørte, at folk i Samaria havde taget imod Guds ord, sendte de Peter og Johannes derhen. 15 Så snart de var ankommet, begyndte de at bede for de troende om, at de måtte få Helligåndens kraft, 16 for indtil nu var Ånden ikke faldet på nogen af dem. De var kun blevet døbt til at tilhøre Jesus som deres Herre. 17 Peter og Johannes lagde nu hænderne på dem, og de fik Helligåndens kraft.

18 Da Simon så, at Åndens kraft blev givet til de troende, når apostlene lagde hænderne på dem, tilbød han dem penge og sagde: 19 „Giv også mig en sådan magt, så dem jeg lægger mine hænder på, får Helligåndens kraft.”

20 Peter svarede: „Gid dine penge må gå til grunde—og du selv med—siden du kunne få den tanke, at Guds gave kan købes for penge! 21 Du har ingen andel i det her, for du står ikke i et ret forhold til Gud. 22 Du skal vende om fra dine onde tanker og bede Herren om at tilgive din selviskhed. 23 Jeg kan se, at du er fuld af magtbegær og bundet af synd.”

24 „Åh nej!” udbrød Simon. „Bed for mig til Herren, så det, I har sagt, ikke skal ske med mig.”

25 Efter at Peter og Johannes havde forkyndt budskabet om Jesus i Samaria, vendte de tilbage til Jerusalem. Undervejs gjorde de ophold i adskillige samaritanske landsbyer, for at budskabet om Jesus også kunne blive forkyndt dér.

Filip og den etiopiske hofembedsmand

26 Imidlertid kom der en engel til Filip og sagde: „Tag ned til den vej, der går sydpå fra Jerusalem gennem de øde områder til Gaza.” 27 Det gjorde han så. Hen ad den samme vej kom en etiopisk hofembedsmand kørende. Det var dronning Kandakes skatmester. Han havde været i Jerusalem for at tilbede i templet, 28 og han sad nu på hjemvejen i sin vogn og læste højt for sig selv af profeten Esajas’ bog. 29 Helligånden sagde til Filip: „Gå hen til den vogn.” 30 Filip løb så frem til vognen, og han kunne nu høre etiopieren læse op af Esajas’ bog. „Forstår du betydningen af det, du læser?” spurgte han.

31 „Nej,” svarede etiopieren, „hvordan skulle jeg kunne forstå det, når der ikke er nogen til at forklare mig det?” Han bad derefter Filip om at komme op i vognen og sætte sig ved siden af ham. 32 Det afsnit af Skriften, som han var i færd med at læse, var:

„Tavs gik han i døden,
    som et får, der føres til slagtning,
        som et lam, der lader sig klippe uden at klynke.
33 I ydmygelsen blev hans rettigheder taget fra ham.
Efterkommere har han ingen af,
    for hans liv på jorden endte brat.”[a]

34 Hofembedsmanden spurgte nu Filip: „Sig mig, taler profeten om sig selv her eller om en anden?”

35 Så begyndte Filip at fortælle om Jesus, idet han tog udgangspunkt i det oplæste skriftafsnit. 36 Da de havde kørt en tid, kom de til et sted, hvor der var vand, og hofembedsmanden udbrød: „Se, her er der vand! Er der noget i vejen for, at jeg kan blive døbt?”[b]

38 Så standsede han vognen, og både Filip og hofembedsmanden gik ud i vandet, hvor Filip døbte ham. 39 Så snart de var kommet op af vandet, tog Herrens Ånd Filip bort.[c] Hofembedsmanden så ham ikke mere, men rejste glad hjem.

40 Filip dukkede senere op i Ashdod, og han forkyndte budskabet om Jesus både der og i de byer, han kom igennem på vej til Cæsarea.[d]

Footnotes

  1. 8,33 Citat fra den græske oversættelse af Es. 53,7-8.
  2. 8,36 Enkelte håndskrifter har et vers 37: „Hvis du tror af hele dit hjerte, kan du blive døbt,” sagde Filip. Han svarede: „Jeg tror, at Jesus Kristus er Guds Søn.”
  3. 8,39 Nogle håndskrifter siger: „Så snart de var kommet op af vandet, faldt Helligånden på embedsmanden, men en Herrens engel tog Filip bort.”
  4. 8,40 Kong Herodes den Store byggede en stor og imponerende havneby ved Middelhavet og opkaldte byen efter den romerske kejser, Cæsar.

And Saul was [not only] consenting to [Stephen’s] death [he was [a]pleased and [b]entirely approving]. On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers).

[A party of] devout men [c]with others helped to carry out and bury Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

But Saul shamefully treated and laid waste the church continuously [with cruelty and violence]; and entering house after house, he dragged out men and women and committed them to prison.

Now those who were scattered abroad went about [through the land from place to place] preaching the glad tidings, the Word [[d]the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God].

Philip [the deacon, not the apostle] went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the Messiah) to them [the people];(A)

And great crowds of people with one accord listened to and heeded what was said by Philip, as they heard him and watched the miracles and wonders which he kept performing [from time to time].

For foul spirits came out of many who were possessed by them, screaming and shouting with a loud voice, and many who were suffering from palsy or were crippled were restored to health.

And there was great rejoicing in that city.

But there was a man named Simon, who had formerly practiced magic arts in the city to the utter amazement of the Samaritan nation, claiming that he himself was an extraordinary and distinguished person.

10 They all paid earnest attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that exhibition of the power of God which is called great (intense).

11 And they were attentive and made much of him, because for a long time he had amazed and bewildered and dazzled them with his skill in magic arts.

12 But when they believed the good news (the Gospel) about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) as Philip preached it, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Even Simon himself believed [he adhered to, trusted in, and relied on the teaching of Philip], and after being baptized, devoted himself constantly to him. And seeing signs and miracles of great power which were being performed, he was utterly amazed.

14 Now when the apostles (special messengers) at Jerusalem heard that [the country of] Samaria had accepted and welcomed the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

15 And they came down and prayed for them that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit;

16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 Then [the apostles] laid their hands on them one by one, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 However, when Simon saw that the [Holy] Spirit was imparted through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he brought money and offered it to them,

19 Saying, Grant me also this power and authority, in order that anyone on whom I place my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.

20 But Peter said to him, Destruction overtake your money and you, because you imagined you could obtain the [free] gift of God with money!

21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is all wrong in God’s sight [it is not straightforward or right or true before God].(B)

22 So repent of this depravity and wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this [e]contriving thought and purpose of your heart may be removed and disregarded and forgiven you.

23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in [f]a bond forged by iniquity [to fetter souls].(C)

24 And Simon answered, Pray for me [beseech the Lord, both of you], that nothing of what you have said may befall me!

25 Now when [the apostles] had borne their testimony and preached the message of the Lord, they went back to Jerusalem, proclaiming the glad tidings (Gospel) to many villages of the Samaritans [on the way].

26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Rise and proceed southward or at midday on the road that runs from Jerusalem down to Gaza. This is the desert [[g]route].

27 So he got up and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship.

28 And he was [now] returning, and sitting in his chariot he was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.

29 Then the [Holy] Spirit said to Philip, Go forward and join yourself to this chariot.

30 Accordingly Philip, running up to him, heard [the man] reading the prophet Isaiah and asked, Do you really understand what you are reading?

31 And he said, How is it possible for me to do so unless someone explains it to me and guides me [in the right way]? And he earnestly requested Philip to come up and sit beside him.

32 Now this was the passage of Scripture which he was reading: Like a sheep He was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so He opens not His mouth.

33 In His humiliation [h] He was taken away by distressing and oppressive judgment and justice was denied Him [caused to cease]. Who can describe or relate in full [i]the wickedness of His contemporaries (generation)? For His life is taken from the earth and [j]a bloody death inflicted upon Him.(D)

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, I beg of you, tell me about whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this portion of Scripture he announced to him the glad tidings (Gospel) of Jesus and about Him.

36 And as they continued along on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch exclaimed, See, [here is] water! What is to hinder my being baptized?

37 [k]And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart [if you have [l]a conviction, full of joyful trust, that Jesus is the Messiah and accept Him as the Author of your salvation in the kingdom of God, giving Him your obedience, then] you may. And he replied, I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he ordered that the chariot be stopped; and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and [Philip] baptized him.

39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord [[m]suddenly] caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing on he preached the good news (Gospel) to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 8:1 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  2. Acts 8:1 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon.
  3. Acts 8:2 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  4. Acts 8:4 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  5. Acts 8:22 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  6. Acts 8:23 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  7. Acts 8:26 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  8. Acts 8:33 Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with A Commentary.
  9. Acts 8:33 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  10. Acts 8:33 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  11. Acts 8:37 Many manuscripts do not contain this verse.
  12. Acts 8:37 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  13. Acts 8:39 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.

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.”