Actuum Apostolorum 8
1 Saulus autem erat consentiens neci eius. Facta est autem in illa die persecutio magna in Ecclesia, quæ erat Ierosolymis, et omnes dispersi sunt per regiones Iudææ, et Samariæ præter Apostolos.
Saul approved of his being put to death. On that very day a great persecution broke out against the Church which was in Jerusalem; and its members, with the exception of the Apostles, were all scattered over the districts of Judea and Samaria.
2 Curaverunt autem Stephanum viri timorati, et fecerunt planctum magnum super eum.
Some religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for him.
3 Saulus autem devastabat Ecclesiam per domos intrans, et trahens viros, ac mulieres, tradebat in custodiam.
But Saul began to devastate the Church; he entered house after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw them into prison.
4 Igitur qui dispersi erant pertransibant, evangelizantes verbum Dei.
Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the Good News.
5 Philippus autem descendens in civitatem Samariæ, prædicabant illis Christum.
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ.
6 Intendebant autem turbæ his, quæ a Philippo dicebantur unanimiter audientes, et videntes signa quæ faciebat.
The people, one and all, listened attentively to what Philip told them, when they heard of, and saw, the miracles which he was working.
7 Multi enim eorum, qui habebant spiritus immundos, clamantes voce magna exibant. Multi autem paralytici, et claudi curati sunt.
For there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them;
8 Factum est ergo gaudium magnum in illa civitate.
and many who were paralysed or lame were cured, so that there was great rejoicing throughout that city.
9 Vir autem quidam nomine Simon, qui ante fuerat in civitate magnus, seducens gentem Samariæ, dicens se esse aliquem magnum:
There was staying in the city a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic there and mystifying the Samaritan people, giving himself out to be some great Being.
10 cui auscultabant omnes a minimo usque ad maximum, dicentes: Hic est virtus Dei, quæ vocatur magna.
Every one, high and low, paid attention to him. ‘This man,’ they used to say, ‘must be that Power of God which men call “The Great Power.”’
11 Attendebant autem eum: propter quod multo tempore magiis suis dementasset eos.
And they paid attention to him because they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts.
12 Cum vero credidissent Philippo evangelizanti de regno Dei, in nomine Iesu Christi baptizabantur viri, ac mulieres.
However, when they came to believe Philip, as he told them the Good News about the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Tunc Simon et ipse credidit: et cum baptizatus esset, adhærebat Philippo. Videns etiam signa, et virtutes maximas fieri, stupens admirabatur.
Even Simon believed, and after his baptism attached himself to Philip, and was in his turn mystified at seeing signs and great miracles constantly occurring.
14 Cum autem audissent Apostoli, qui erant Ierosolymis, quod recepisset Samaria verbum Dei, miserunt ad eos Petrum, et Ioannem:
When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God’s Message, they sent Peter and John to them;
15 Qui cum venissent, oraverunt pro ipsis ut acciperent Spiritum sanctum:
and they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 Nondum enim in quemquam illorum venerat, sed baptizati tantum erant in nomine Domini Iesu.
(As yet the Spirit had not descended upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the Faith of the Lord Jesus).
17 Tunc imponebant manus super illos, et accipiebant Spiritum sanctum.
Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Cum vidisset autem Simon quia per impositionem manus Apostolorum daretur Spiritus sanctus, obtulit eis pecuniam,
When Simon saw that it was through the placing of the Apostles’ hands on them that the Spirit was given, he brought them a sum of money and said:
19 dicens: Date et mihi hanc potestatem, ut cuicumque imposuero manus, accipiat Spiritum sanctum. Petrus autem dixit ad eum:
“Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands upon any one, he may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Pecunia tua tecum sit in perditionem: quoniam donum Dei existimasti pecunia possideri.
“A curse upon you and upon your money,” Peter exclaimed, “for thinking that God’s free gift can be bought with gold!
21 Non est tibi pars, neque sors in sermone isto. cor enim tuum non est rectum coram Deo.
You have no share or part in our Message, for your ‘heart is not right with God.’
22 Pœnitentiam itaque age ab hac nequitia tua: et roga Deum, si forte remittatur tibi hæc cogitatio cordis tui.
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that, if possible, you may be forgiven for such a thought;
23 In felle enim amaritudinis, et obligatione iniquitatis video te esse.
for I see that you have fallen into the ‘bitterness of envy’ and the ‘fetters of sin.’”
24 Respondens autem Simon, dixit: Precamini vos pro me ad Dominum, ut nihil veniat super me horum, quæ dixistis.
“Pray to the Lord for me, all of you,” Simon answered, “so that none of the things you have spoken of may befall me.”
25 Et illi quidem testificati, et locuti verbum Domini, redibant Ierosolymam, et multis regionibus Samaritanorum evangelizabant.
Peter and John, having borne their testimony and delivered the Lord’s Message, returned to Jerusalem, telling the Good News, as they went, in many Samaritan villages.
26 Angelus autem Domini locutus est ad Philippum, dicens: Surge, et vade contra meridianum ad viam, quæ descendit ab Ierusalem in Gazam: hæc est deserta.
Meanwhile an angel of the Lord had said to Philip: “Set out on a journey southwards, along the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (It is now deserted).
27 Et surgens abiit. Et ecce vir Æthiops, eunuchus, potens Candacis Reginæ Æthiopum, qui erat super omnes gazas eius: venerat adorare in Ierusalem:
So Philip set out on a journey; and on his way he came upon an official of high rank, in the service of Candace, Queen of the Abyssinians. He was her treasurer, and had been to Jerusalem to worship,
28 et revertebatur sedens super currum suum, legensque Isaiam prophetam.
and was now on his way home, sitting in his carriage and reading the Prophet Isaiah.
29 Dixit autem Spiritus Philippo: Accede, et adiunge te ad currum istum.
The Spirit said to Philip: “Go up to the carriage yonder and keep close to it.”
30 Accurrens autem Philippus, audivit eum legentem Isaiam prophetam, et dixit: Putasne intelligis quæ legis?
So Philip ran up, and he heard the Abyssinian reading the Prophet Isaiah. “Do you understand what you are reading?” he asked.
31 Qui ait: Et quomodo possum, si non aliquis ostenderit mihi? Rogavitque Philippum ut ascenderet, et sederet secum.
“How can I,” the other answered, “unless some one will explain it to me?” and he invited Philip to get up and sit by his side.
32 Locus autem Scripturæ, quem legebat, erat hic: Tamquam ovis ad occisionem ductus est: et sicus agnus coram tondente se, sine voce, sic non aperuit os suum.
The passage of Scripture which he was reading was this — ‘Like a sheep, he was led away to slaughter, And as a lamb is dumb in the hands of its shearer, So he refrains from opening his lips.
33 In humilitate iudicium eius sublatum est. Generationem eius quis enarrabit, quoniam tolletur de terra vita eius?
In his lowly condition justice was denied him. Who will tell the story of his generation? For his life is cut off from earth.’
34 Respondens autem eunuchus Philippo, dixit: Obsecro te, de quo Propheta dicit hoc? de se, an de alio aliquo?
“Now,” said the Treasurer, addressing Philip, “tell me, of whom is the Prophet speaking? Of himself, or of some one else?”
35 Aperiens autem Philippus os suum, et incipiens a Scriptura ista, evangelizavit illi Iesum.
Then Philip began, and, taking this passage as his text, told him the Good News about Jesus.
36 Et dum irent per viam, venerunt ad quamdam aquam: et ait Eunuchus: Ecce aqua, quid prohibet me baptizari?
Presently, as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the Treasurer exclaimed: “Look! here is water; what is to prevent my being baptized?”
37 Dixit autem Philippus: Si credis ex toto corde, licet. Et respondens ait: Credo, Filium Dei esse Iesum Christum.
38 Et iussit stare currum: et descenderunt uterque in aquam, Philippus et Eunuchus, et baptizavit eum.
So he ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water — both Philip and the Treasurer — and Philip baptized him.
39 Cum autem ascendissent de aqua, Spiritus Domini rapuit Philippum, et amplius non vidit eum Eunuchus. Ibat autem per viam suam gaudens.
But, when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the Treasurer saw no more of him; for he continued his journey with a joyful heart.
40 Philippus autem inventus est in Azoto, et pertransiens evangelizabat civitatibus cunctis, donec veniret Cæsaream.
But Philip was found at Ashdod, and, as he went on his way, he told the Good News in all the towns through which he passed, till he came to Caesarea.
