1 Saulo consentia na sua morte. Naquele dia levantou-se uma grande perseguição contra a igreja em Jerusalém; e todos, exceto os apóstolos, foram dispersos pelas regiões da Judéia e Samaria.2 Homens piedosos sepultaram a Estêvão e fizeram grande pranto sobre ele.3 Mas Saulo assolava a igreja, entrando pelas casas e, arrastando homens e mulheres, os entregava à prisão.4 Os que, porém, haviam sido dispersos, iam por toda a parte pregando a palavra.5 Filipe, descendo à cidade de Samaria, proclamava-lhes Cristo.6 A multidão unânime estava atenta às coisas que Filipe lhe dizia, ouvindo-o e vendo os milagres que estava fazendo.7 Pois os espíritos imundos de muitos possessos saíam, clamando em alta voz; e muitos paralíticos e coxos foram curados.8 E houve muito regozijo naquela cidade.9 Havia ali desde algum tempo um homem chamado Simão, que praticara a mágica e fizera pasmar o povo de Samaria, dizendo ser ele um grande homem;10 e a ele atendiam todos, desde os pequenos até os grandes, dizendo: Este homem é o poder de Deus, que se chama-Grande.11 Eles o atendiam, porque com as suas mágicas por muito tempo os tinha feito pasmar.12 Mas quando creram em Filipe que lhes pregava acerca do reino de Deus e do nome de Jesus Cristo, faziam-se batizar homens e mulheres.13 O mesmo Simão também creu e, depois de batizado, estava continuamente com Filipe e admirava-se, vendo os milagres e grandes prodígios que se faziam.14 Os apóstolos que se achavam em Jerusalém, tendo ouvido que a Samaria recebera a palavra de Deus, enviaram-lhe a Pedro e a João;15 os quais foram para lá, e oraram por eles, para que recebessem o Espírito Santo;16 porque sobre nenhum deles havia ainda ele descido, mas somente tinham sido batizados em nome do Senhor Jesus.17 Então sendo-lhes impostas as mãos de Pedro e João, recebiam o Espírito Santo.18 Quando Simão viu que pela imposição das mãos dos apóstolos se dava o Espírito, ofereceu-lhes dinheiro,19 dizendo: Dai-me também este poder, que aquele sobre quem eu impuser as mãos, receba o Espírito Santo.20 Mas Pedro disse-lhe: Pereça contigo o teu dinheiro, pois julgaste adquirir por meio dele o dom de Deus.21 Tu não tens parte, nem sorte neste ministério; porque o teu coração não é reto diante de Deus.22 Arrepende-te, portanto, desta tua maldade, e roga ao Senhor que, se é possível, te seja perdoado esse pensamento do teu coração;23 pois vejo que estás em um fel de amargura e nos laços de iniqüidade.24 Disse Simão: Rogai vós ao Senhor por mim, para que nada do que haveis dito, venha sobre mim.25 Eles, pois, havendo testificado e falado a palavra do Senhor, voltaram para Jerusalém, e evangelizavam muitas aldeias dos samaritanos.26 Um anjo do Senhor falou a Filipe, dizendo: Levanta-te e vai em direção do sul ao caminho que desce de Jerusalém a Gaza: este se acha deserto. Ele, levantando-se, partiu.27 Eis que um homem da Etiópia, eunuco, alto funcionário de Candace, rainha dos etíopes, o qual era superintendente de todos os seus tesouros, viera a Jerusalém fazer a sua adoração;28 regressava e, sentado no seu carro, lia o profeta Isaías.29 Disse o Espírito a Filipe: Aproxima-te e ajunta-te a esse carro.30 Correndo Filipe, ouviu-o ler o profeta Isaías, e perguntou: Entendes, porventura, o que estás lendo?31 Ele respondeu: Pois como poderei entender, se alguém não mo explicar? Pediu a Filipe que subisse e se assentasse com ele.32 A passagem da Escritura que estava lendo, era esta: Como ovelha foi levado ao matadouro; E como um cordeiro está mudo diante do que o tosquia, Assim ele não abre a sua boca.33 Na sua humilhação foi tirado o seu julgamento; Quem contará a sua geração? Porque a sua vida é tirada da terra.34 Perguntou o eunuco a Filipe: Peço-te que me digas de quem falou isto o profeta? de si mesmo ou de algum outro?35 Filipe abriu a boca e, principiando por esta Escritura, anunciou-lhe a Jesus.36 Indo eles pelo caminho, chegaram a um lugar onde havia água, e disse o eunuco: Eis aqui água, que impede que seja eu batizado?37 {E disse Filipe: É lícito, se crês de todo o coração. E, respondendo ele, disse: Creio que Jesus é o Filho de Deus.}38 Mandou parar o carro, e desceram ambos à água, Filipe e o eunuco, e Filipe batizou-o.39 Quando subiram da água, o Espírito do Senhor arrebatou a Filipe; o eunuco não o viu mais, pois seguia o seu caminho, regozijando-se.40 Mas Filipe achou-se em Azoto e, passando além, evangelizava todas as cidades até que chegou a Cesaréia.

1 Now Saul heartily approved of putting him to death. That day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all of them, except for the apostles, were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.2 Devout men buried Stephen as they mourned loudly for him.3 But Saul kept trying to destroy the church. Going into one house after another, he began dragging off men and women and throwing them in prison.4 Now those who were scattered went from place to place preaching the word.5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began to preach the Christ to the people.6 The crowds, hearing his message and seeing the signs that he was doing, paid close attention to what was said by Philip.7 Unclean spirits screamed with a loud voice as they came out of the many people they had possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed.8 As a result, there was great rejoicing in that city.9 Now in that city there was a man named Simon. He was practicing occult arts and thrilling the people of Samaria, claiming to be a great man.10 Everyone from the least to the greatest paid close attention to him, saying, "This man is the power of God, which is called great!"11 They paid careful attention to him because he had thrilled them for a long time with his occultic performances.12 But when Philip proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, men and women believed and were baptized.13 Even Simon believed, and after he was baptized he became devoted to Philip. He was amazed to see the signs and great miracles that were happening.14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.15 They went down and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.16 Before this he had not come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money19 and said, "Give me this power too, so that when I lay my hands on someone he will receive the Holy Spirit."20 But Peter said to him, "May your money perish with you because you thought you could obtain God's free gift with money!21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart isn't right before God.22 So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you.23 For I see that you're turning into bitter poison and that you’re being chained by wickedness!"24 Simon answered, "Both of you pray to the Lord for me that none of the things you have said will happen to me."25 After they had given their testimony and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, continuing to proclaim the good news in many Samaritan villages.26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go south by the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert road."27 So he got up and went. Now an Ethiopian eunuch was there. He was a member of the court of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, and was in charge of all her treasures. He had come to Jerusalem to worship28 and was returning home. He was seated in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah.29 The Spirit said to Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay close to it."30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah out loud.He asked, "Do you understand what you're reading?"31 He replied, "How can I unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.32 This was the passage of Scripture he was reading: "Like a sheep he was led away to be slaughtered,and like a lamb is silent before its shearer,so he does not open his mouth.33 In his humiliation, justice was denied him.Who can describe his generation?For his life is taken away from the earth."34 The eunuch said to Philip, "I ask you, about whom is the prophet speaking—about himself or about someone else?"35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, starting from this Scripture, told him the good news about Jesus.36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, "Look, there's some water. What keeps me from being baptized?"38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing and did not see Philip again.40 But Philip found himself at Azotus. As he was passing through the region, he kept proclaiming the good news in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.