1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city. 9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. 25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. 26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.

1 En Saulus het ook sy vermoording goedgekeur. En daar het in die tyd 'n groot vervolging teen die gemeente in Jerusalem ontstaan, en almal is verstrooi oor die streke van Judia en Samar¡a, behalwe die apostels.

2 En godvresende manne het St,fanus begrawe en 'n groot rou oor hom bedrywe.

3 Maar Saulus het die gemeente verwoes en in die huise gegaan en manne en vroue uitgesleep en in die gevangenis oorgelewer.

4 En die wat verstrooi was, het die land deurgegaan en die woord van die evangelie verkondig.

5 En Filippus het afgekom in 'n stad van Samar¡a en Christus aan hulle verkondig.

6 En die skare het eendragtig ag gegee op die woorde van Filippus toe hulle dit hoor en die tekens sien wat hy doen.

7 Want uit baie van die wat onreine geeste gehad het, het die geeste uitgegaan terwyl hulle met 'n groot stem skreeu; en baie wat lam en kreupel was, het gesond geword.

8 En daar was groot blydskap in daardie stad.

9 En 'n sekere man met die naam van Simon het vantevore in die stad met towery omgegaan en die bevolking van Samar¡a verbyster deur te sê dat hy iets besonders was.

10 En almal, klein en groot, het hom aangehang en gesê: Hy is die groot krag van God.

11 En hulle het hom aangehang, omdat hy hulle 'n geruime tyd deur sy towerye verbyster het.

12 Maar toe hulle Filippus geglo het, wat die evangelie aangaande die koninkryk van God en die Naam van Jesus Christus verkondig het, is hulle gedoop, manne sowel as vroue.

13 En Simon het ook self gelowig geword, en nadat hy gedoop was, gedurig by Filippus gebly; en hy was verbaas toe hy die tekens en groot kragte sien gebeur.

14 En toe die apostels in Jerusalem hoor dat Samar¡a die woord van God aangeneem het, het hulle Petrus en Johannes na hulle gestuur.

15 Hulle het afgekom en vir hulle gebid, dat hulle die Heilige Gees mag ontvang,

16 want Hy het toe nog op niemand van hulle geval nie, maar hulle was net gedoop in die Naam van die Here Jesus.

17 Hulle het hul toe die hande opgelê, en hulle het die Heilige Gees ontvang.

18 En toe Simon sien dat deur die handoplegging van die apostels die Heilige Gees gegee word, het hy hulle geld aangebied

19 en gesê: Gee aan my ook hierdie mag, sodat elkeen wat ek die hande oplê, die Heilige Gees kan ontvang.

20 Maar Petrus sê vir hom: Mag jou geld saam met jou vergaan, omdat jy gedink het om die gawe van God deur geld te verkry.

21 Jy het geen deel of lot in hierdie saak nie, want jou hart is nie reg voor God nie.

22 Bekeer jou dan van hierdie boosheid van jou, en bid God of die gedagte van jou hart jou miskien vergewe mag word.

23 Want ek sien dat jy in 'n gal van bitterheid en bande van ongeregtigheid is.

24 Maar Simon het geantwoord en gesê: Bid julle tot die Here vir my, sodat niks van wat julle gesê het, oor my mag kom nie.

25 Nadat hulle dan kragtig getuig en die woord van die Here gespreek het, het hulle na Jerusalem teruggegaan en die evangelie aan baie dorpe van die Samaritane verkondig.

26 En 'n engel van die Here het met Filippus gespreek en gesê: Staan op en gaan na die suide op die pad wat afloop van Jerusalem na Gasa. Dit is 'n eensame pad.

27 Toe het hy opgestaan en gegaan. En daar was 'n man van Ethiopië, 'n hofdienaar, 'n staatsamptenaar van Kandac,, die koningin van die Ethiopiërs, wat oor al haar skatte was en na Jerusalem gekom het om te aanbid.

28 En hy was op die terugreis en het op sy wa gesit en die profeet Jesaja gelees.

29 Toe sê die Gees vir Filippus: Gaan daarheen en bly by daardie wa.

30 En Filippus het daarheen gehardloop en hom die profeet Jesaja hoor lees; en hy sê: Verstaan u wel wat u lees?

31 En hy antwoord: Hoe kan ek tog as niemand my die weg wys nie? Toe vra hy Filippus om op te klim en by hom te kom sit.

32 En die gedeelte van die Skrif wat hy besig was om te lees, was d¡t: Soos 'n skaap is Hy gelei om geslag te word, en soos 'n lam wat stom is voor die een wat hom skeer, so maak Hy sy mond nie oop nie.

33 In sy vernedering is sy oordeel weggeneem, en wie sal sy geslag beskrywe? Want sy lewe word van die aarde weggeneem.

34 En die hofdienaar antwoord en sê vir Filippus: Ek bid u, van wie sê die profeet dit, van homself of van iemand anders?

35 En Filippus het sy mond geopen en van hierdie Skrif af begin en die evangelie van Jesus aan hom verkondig.

36 En terwyl hulle voortreis op die pad, kom hulle by water; en die hofdienaar sê vir hom: Daar is water; wat verhinder my om gedoop te word?

37 Toe sê Filippus: As u glo met u hele hart, is dit geoorloof. En hy antwoord en sê: Ek glo dat Jesus Christus die Seun van God is.

38 En hy het beveel dat die wa moes stilhou; en hulle het altwee in die water afgeklim, Filippus en die hofdienaar; en hy het hom gedoop.

39 En toe hulle uit die water opklim, het die Gees van die Here Filippus skielik weggevoer, en die hofdienaar het hom nie meer gesien nie, want hy het sy weg met blydskap gereis.

40 Maar Filippus is in Asdod gevind. En hy het die land deurgegaan en die evangelie verkondig in al die stede, totdat hy in Cesar,a gekom het.