Actuum Apostolorum 8
1 Saulus autem erat consentiens neci eius facta est autem in illa die persecutio magna in ecclesia quae erat Hierosolymis et omnes dispersi sunt per regiones Iudaeae et Samariae praeter 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 illum
Some religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for him.
3 Saulus vero 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 pertransiebant evangelizantes verbum
Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the Good News.
5 Philippus autem descendens in civitatem Samariae praedicabat illis Christum
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ.
6 intendebant autem turbae his quae a Philippo dicebantur unianimiter audientes et videntes signa quae 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 inmundos clamantes voce magna exiebant 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 magnum gaudium 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 magus seducens gentem Samariae dicens esse se 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 quae 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 adtendebant autem eum propter quod multo tempore magicis 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 et 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 adherebat 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 Hierosolymis quia recepit Samaria verbum Dei miserunt ad illos Petrum et Iohannem
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 inponebant 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 inpositionem 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 inposuero 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 paenitentiam itaque age ab hac nequitia tua et roga Deum si forte remittatur tibi haec 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 quae 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 rediebant Hierosolymam 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 quae descendit ab Hierusalem in Gazam haec 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 aethiops eunuchus potens Candacis reginae Aethiopum qui erat super omnes gazas eius venerat adorare in Hierusalem
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 prophetam Esaiam
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 adcurrens autem Philippus audivit illum legentem Esaiam prophetam et dixit putasne intellegis quae 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 scripturae quam legebat erat hic tamquam ovis ad occisionem ductus est et sicut 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 illius quis enarrabit quoniam tollitur 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 ab 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 quandam 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?”
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 enim 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 Caesaream
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.
