Hechos 8
1 Saulo consintió en su muerte. Se levantó una gran persecución contra la asamblea que estaba en Jerusalén en aquel día. Todos estaban dispersos por las regiones de Judea y Samaria, excepto los apóstoles.
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 Los hombres devotos enterraron a Esteban y se lamentaron mucho por él.
Some religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for him.
3 Pero Saulo asoló la asamblea, entró en todas las casas y arrastró a la cárcel a hombres y mujeres.
But Saul began to devastate the Church; he entered house after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw them into prison.
4 Por eso, los que estaban dispersos iban por ahí predicando la palabra.
Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the Good News.
5 Felipe bajó a la ciudad de Samaria y les anunció al Cristo.
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ.
6 Las multitudes escuchaban unánimemente lo que decía Felipe, al oír y ver las señales que hacía.
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 Porque salieron espíritus inmundos de muchos de los que los tenían. Salían gritando a gran voz. Muchos paralíticos y cojos quedaron curados.
For there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them;
8 Hubo gran alegría en aquella ciudad.
and many who were paralysed or lame were cured, so that there was great rejoicing throughout that city.
9 Pero había un hombre, de nombre Simón, que practicaba la hechicería en la ciudad y asombraba a la gente de Samaria, haciéndose pasar por alguien grande,
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 a quien todos escuchaban, desde el más pequeño hasta el más grande, diciendo: “Este hombre es ese gran poder de Dios.”
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 Le escuchaban porque durante mucho tiempo les había asombrado con sus hechicerías.
And they paid attention to him because they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts.
12 Pero cuando creyeron que Felipe predicaba la buena noticia del Reino de Dios y el nombre de Jesucristo, se bautizaron, tanto hombres como mujeres.
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 También Simón creyó. Al ser bautizado, siguió con Felipe. Al ver que se producían señales y grandes milagros, quedó maravillado.
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 Cuando los apóstoles que estaban en Jerusalén se enteraron de que Samaria había recibido la palabra de Dios, enviaron a Pedro y a Juan a ellos,
When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God’s Message, they sent Peter and John to them;
15 quienes, al bajar, oraron por ellos para que recibieran el Espíritu Santo;
and they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 porque todavía no había caído sobre ninguno de ellos. Sólo habían sido bautizados en el nombre de Cristo Jesús.
(As yet the Spirit had not descended upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the Faith of the Lord Jesus).
17 Entonces les impusieron las manos, y recibieron el Espíritu Santo.
Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Al ver Simón que el Espíritu Santo se daba por la imposición de las manos de los apóstoles, les ofreció dinero,
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 diciendo: “Dadme también a mí este poder, para que todo aquel a quien imponga las manos reciba el Espíritu Santo.”
“Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands upon any one, he may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Pero Pedro le dijo: “¡Que tu plata perezca contigo, porque pensaste que podías obtener el don de Dios con dinero!
“A curse upon you and upon your money,” Peter exclaimed, “for thinking that God’s free gift can be bought with gold!
21 No tienes parte ni suerte en este asunto, porque tu corazón no es recto ante Dios.
You have no share or part in our Message, for your ‘heart is not right with God.’
22 Arrepiéntete, pues, de esta tu maldad, y pide a Dios si acaso te perdona el pensamiento de tu corazón.
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that, if possible, you may be forgiven for such a thought;
23 Porque veo que estás en el veneno de la amargura y en la esclavitud de la iniquidad.”
for I see that you have fallen into the ‘bitterness of envy’ and the ‘fetters of sin.’”
24 Simón respondió: “Ruega por mí al Señor, para que no me suceda nada de lo que has dicho”.
“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 Ellos, pues, después de haber dado testimonio y pronunciado la palabra del Señor, volvieron a Jerusalén y predicaron la Buena Nueva en muchas aldeas de los samaritanos.
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 Entonces un ángel del Señor habló a Felipe, diciendo: “Levántate y ve hacia el sur por el camino que baja de Jerusalén a Gaza. Este es un desierto”.
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 Se levantó y fue; y he aquí que había un hombre de Etiopía, un eunuco de gran autoridad bajo Candace, reina de los etíopes, que estaba sobre todo su tesoro, que había venido a Jerusalén para adorar.
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 Volvía y estaba sentado en su carro, y leía el profeta Isaías.
and was now on his way home, sitting in his carriage and reading the Prophet Isaiah.
29 El Espíritu dijo a Felipe: “Acércate y únete a este carro”.
The Spirit said to Philip: “Go up to the carriage yonder and keep close to it.”
30 Felipe corrió hacia él y le oyó leer al profeta Isaías, y le dijo: “¿Entiendes lo que estás leyendo?”
So Philip ran up, and he heard the Abyssinian reading the Prophet Isaiah. “Do you understand what you are reading?” he asked.
31 Dijo: “¿Cómo voy a hacerlo si no me lo explican?”. Le rogó a Felipe que subiera y se sentara con él.
“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 El pasaje de la Escritura que estaba leyendo era éste, “Fue llevado como una oveja al matadero. Como un cordero mudo ante su esquilador, Así que no abrió su boca.
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 En su humillación, su juicio fue quitado. ¿Quién declarará su generación? Porque su vida es quitada de la tierra”.
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 El eunuco respondió a Felipe: “¿De quién habla el profeta? ¿De sí mismo, o de otro?”
“Now,” said the Treasurer, addressing Philip, “tell me, of whom is the Prophet speaking? Of himself, or of some one else?”
35 Felipe abrió la boca y, partiendo de esta Escritura, le predicó acerca de Jesús.
Then Philip began, and, taking this passage as his text, told him the Good News about Jesus.
36 Mientras iban por el camino, llegaron a un poco de agua; y el eunuco dijo: “Mira, aquí hay agua. ¿Qué me impide ser bautizado?”
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 Mandó que se detuviera el carro, y ambos bajaron al agua, tanto Felipe como el eunuco, y lo bautizó.
So he ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water — both Philip and the Treasurer — and Philip baptized him.
39 Cuando salieron del agua, el Espíritu del Señor arrebató a Felipe, y el eunuco no lo vio más, pues siguió su camino alegremente.
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 Pero Felipe se encontró en Azoto. De paso, predicó la Buena Nueva a todas las ciudades hasta llegar a Cesarea.
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.
