1 And Saul gave approval to his death. Now at that time a violent attack was started against the church in Jerusalem; and all but the Apostles went away into all parts of Judaea and Samaria.
2 And God-fearing men put Stephen's body in its last resting-place, making great weeping over him.
3 But Saul was burning with hate against the church, going into every house and taking men and women and putting them in prison.
4 But those who had gone in flight went everywhere preaching the word.
5 And Philip went down to Samaria and was teaching them about Christ.
6 And all the people gave attention to the words which Philip said, when they saw the signs which he did.
7 For unclean spirits came out from those who had them, crying with a loud voice; and a number of those who were ill and broken in body were made well.
8 And there was much joy in that town.
9 But there was a certain man named Simon, who in the past had been a wonder-worker and a cause of surprise to the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was a great man:
10 To whom they all gave attention, from the smallest to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is named Great.
11 And they gave attention to him, because for a long time his wonder-working powers had kept them under his control.
12 But when they had faith in the good news given by Philip about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, a number of men and women had baptism.
13 And Simon himself had faith and, having had baptism, he went with Philip and, seeing the signs and the great wonders which he did, he was full of surprise.
14 Now when the Apostles at Jerusalem had news that the people of Samaria had taken the word of God into their hearts, they sent to them Peter and John;
15 Who, when they came there, made prayer for them, that the Holy Spirit might be given to them:
16 For up to that time he had not come on any of them; only baptism had been given to them in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they put their hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the touch of the Apostles' hands, he made them an offering of money, saying,
19 Give me this power, so that when I put my hands on anyone he may get the Holy Spirit.
20 But Peter said, May your money come to destruction with you, because you had the idea that what is freely given by God may be got for a price.
21 You have no part in this business, because your heart is not right before God.
22 Let your heart be changed, and make prayer to God that you may have forgiveness for your evil thoughts.
23 For I see that you are prisoned in bitter envy and the chains of sin.
24 And Simon, answering, said, Make prayer for me to the Lord, so that these things which you have said may not come on me.
25 So they, having given their witness and made clear the word of the Lord, went back to Jerusalem, giving the good news on their way in a number of the small towns of Samaria.
26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Get up, and go to the south, to the road which goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, through the waste land.
27 And he went and there was a man of Ethiopia, a servant of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, and controller of all her property, who had come up to Jerusalem for worship;
28 He was going back, seated in his carriage, and was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and get on his carriage.
30 And Philip, running up to him, saw that he was reading Isaiah the prophet, and said to him, Is the sense of what you are reading clear to you?
31 And he said, How is that possible when I have no guide? And he made Philip get up by his side.
32 Now the place in the book where he was reading was this: He was taken, like a sheep, to be put to death; and as a lamb is quiet when its wool is being cut, so he made no sound:
33 Being of low degree, his cause was not given a hearing: who has knowledge of his family? for his life is cut off from the earth.
34 And the Ethiopian said to Philip, About whom are these words said by the prophet? about himself, or some other?
35 So Philip, starting from this writing, gave him the good news about Jesus.
36 And while they were going on their way, they came to some water, and the Ethiopian said, See, here is water; why may I not have baptism?
37 []
38 And he gave orders for the carriage to be stopped, and the two of them went down into the water, and Philip gave him baptism.
39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away; and the Ethiopian saw him no more, for he went on his way full of joy.
40 But Philip came to Azotus, and went through all the towns, preaching the good news, till he came to Caesarea.
1 Saulo concordara com a morte de Estêvão. A igreja é perseguida e espalhada. Naquele dia, começou uma grande onda de perseguição contra os crentes, onda essa que varreu a igreja em Jerusalém; e todos, excepto os apóstolos, fugiram para a Judeia e Samaria. (Alguns judeus piedosos, com grande desgosto, foram enterrar Estêvão.)
3 Saulo excedia-se andando por toda a parte para destruir a igreja, chegando a entrar em casas particulares, arrastando para fora homens e mulheres e metendo-os na prisão.
4 Mas os que tinham fugido de Jerusalém pregavam em todo o lado a palavra de Jesus! Filipe, por exemplo, foi para a cidade de Samaria onde falou de Cristo ao povo. As multidões escutavam atentas aquilo que ele dizia por causa dos milagres que fazia. Espíritos maus foram expulsos, largando as vítimas com gritos, e paralíticos e coxos foram curados, pelo que era grande a alegria naquela cidade!
9 Havia ali um homem chamado Simão que desde há anos era feiticeiro. Gozava de grande influência e orgulhava-se das coisas espantosas que fazia. O povo samaritano dizia até que era uma grande homem de Deus. Mas agora esse mesmo povo acreditava antes na mensagem de Filipe, que lhes anunciava Jesus Cristo e o reino de Deus. Como resultado, muitos homens e mulheres foram baptizados. O próprio Simão creu e foi baptizado, começando a acompanhar Filipe por onde quer que andasse, assistindo com pasmo aos milagres que realizava.
14 Quando os apóstolos em Jerusalém souberam que o povo de Samaria aceitara a mensagem de Deus, mandaram Pedro e João até lá. Logo que chegaram, começaram a orar pelos novos crentes para que recebessem o Espírito Santo, pois o Espírito não descera ainda sobre nenhum deles. Tinham sido baptizados apenas em nome do Senhor Jesus. Então Pedro e João puseram as mãos sobre esses crentes e receberam o Espírito Santo.
18 Quando Simão viu isto, que o Espírito Santo era dado quando os apóstolos colocavam as mãos sobre a cabeça das pessoas, ele ofereceu dinheiro para adquirir esse poder: Quero tê-lo também para que, quando eu puser as minhas mãos sobre as pessoas, elas recebam o Espírito Santo!
20 Mas Pedro respondeu: Que o teu dinheiro morra contigo por pensares que o dom de Deus se pode comprar! Não podes ter parte nisto porque o teu coração não é recto diante de Deus. Arrepende-te dessa perversidade e ora. Talvez Deus ainda perdoe os teus maus pensamentos, pois vejo que há ciúme e pecado no teu coração.
24 Orem por mim, exclamou Simão, para que essas coisas terríveis não me aconteçam.
25 Depois de darem testemunho e de pregarem a palavra do Senhor na Samaria, Pedro e João voltaram para Jerusalém, parando em várias aldeias samaritanas ao longo do caminho para aí pregarem também as boas novas.
26 E quanto a Filipe, um anjo do Senhor disse-lhe: Vai até à estrada que sai de Jerusalém e que atravessa o deserto de Gaza na direcção do sul. Filipe assim fez, e veio encontrar viajando naquela estrada um administrador do reino da Etiópia, um eunuco que era alto funcionário da rainha Candace! Fora a Jerusalém adorar no templo e voltava agora no seu carro, lendo em voz alta no livro do profeta Isaías.
29 O Espírito Santo disse a Filipe: Vai e caminha ao lado do carro!
30 Filipe aproximou-se a correr e ouvindo o que ele lia perguntou-lhe: Compreendes o que lês?
31 Claro que não!, exclamou o homem. Como posso eu compreender se não há quem me ensine? E pediu a Filipe que entrasse no carro e se sentasse ao seu lado.
34 O eunuco perguntou a Filipe: Isaías falava acerca de si próprio ou de outra pessoa? Então Filipe, começando com este mesmo texto da Escritura e, usando muitas outras passagens, falou-lhe de Jesus.
36 Entretanto chegaram a um local onde havia água e o eunuco disse: Água já aqui temos! Porque é que eu não hei-de ser baptizado?
37 Com certeza que sim, respondeu Filipe, se creres de todo o teu coração.E o eunuco: Creio que Jesus Cristo é o Filho de Deus. Parou o carro e, descendo ambos para dentro da água, Filipe baptizou-o.
39 Quando saíram da água, o Espírito do Senhor arrebatou Filipe, e o eunuco, que nunca mais o viu, continuou alegremente a sua viagem.
40 Filipe deu por si em Azoto. Aí pregou as boas novas; não só aí como também em todas as cidades no caminho até Cesareia.