1-2 Saul approved the stoning of Stephen. Some faithful followers of the Lord buried Stephen and mourned very much for him.
Saul Makes Trouble for the Church
At that time the church in Jerusalem suffered terribly. All of the Lord's followers, except the apostles, were scattered everywhere in Judea and Samaria. 3 Saul started making a lot of trouble for the church. He went from house to house, arresting men and women and putting them in jail.
The Good News Is Preached in Samaria
4 The Lord's followers who had been scattered went from place to place, telling the good news. 5 Philip went to the city of Samaria and told the people about Christ. 6 They crowded around Philip because they were eager to hear what he was saying and to see him work miracles. 7 Many people with evil spirits were healed, and the spirits went out of them with a shout. A lot of paralyzed and lame people were also healed. 8 Everyone in that city was very glad because of what was happening.
9 For some time a man named Simon had lived there and had amazed the people of Samaria. He practiced witchcraft and claimed to be somebody great. 10 Everyone, rich and poor, crowded around him. They said, “This man is the power of God called ‘The Great Power.’ ”
11 For a long time, Simon had used witchcraft to amaze the people, and they kept crowding around him. 12 But when they believed what Philip was saying about God's kingdom and about the name of Jesus Christ, they were all baptized. 13 Even Simon believed and was baptized. He stayed close to Philip, because he marveled at all the miracles and wonders.
14 The apostles in Jerusalem heard that some people in Samaria had accepted God's message, and they sent Peter and John. 15 When the two apostles arrived, they prayed that these people would be given the Holy Spirit. 16 Before this, the Holy Spirit had not been given to any of them, though some of them had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Peter and John then placed their hands on everyone who had faith in the Lord, and they were given the Holy Spirit.
18 Simon noticed that the Spirit was given only when the apostles placed their hands on the people. So he brought money 19 and said to Peter and John, “Let me have this power too! Then anyone I place my hands on will also be given the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter said to him, “You and your money will both end up in hell if you think you can buy God's gift! 21 You don't have any part in this, and God sees that your heart isn't right. 22 Get rid of these evil thoughts and ask God to forgive you. 23 I can see that you are jealous and bound by your evil ways.”
24 Simon said, “Please pray to the Lord, so that what you said won't happen to me.”
25 After Peter and John had preached about the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem. On their way they told the good news in many villages of Samaria.
Philip and an Ethiopian Official
26 The Lord's angel said to Philip, “Go south along the desert road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So Philip left.
An important Ethiopian official happened to be going along that road in his chariot. He was the chief treasurer for Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia. The official had gone to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was now on his way home. He was sitting in his chariot, reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.
29 The Spirit told Philip to catch up with the chariot. 30 Philip ran up close and heard the man reading aloud from the book of Isaiah. Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 The official answered, “How can I understand unless someone helps me?” He then invited Philip to come up and sit beside him.
32 The man was reading the passage that said,
“He was led like a sheep
on its way to be killed.
He was silent as a lamb
whose wool
is being cut off,
and he did not say
a word.
33 He was treated like a nobody
and did not receive
a fair trial.
How can he have children,
if his life
is snatched away?”
34 The official said to Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or about someone else?” 35 So Philip began at this place in the Scriptures and explained the good news about Jesus.
36-37 As they were going along the road, they came to a place where there was some water. The official said, “Look! Here is some water. Why can't I be baptized?” 38 He ordered the chariot to stop. Then they both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39 After they had come out of the water, the Lord's Spirit took Philip away. The official never saw him again, but he was very happy as he went on his way.
40 Philip later appeared in Azotus. He went from town to town, all the way to Caesarea, telling people about Jesus.
Sauls vajā Kristus mācekļus
1 Bet Saulam Stefana nogalināšana bija pa prātam. Tajā dienā sākās lielas vajāšanas pret draudzi Jeruzālemē, un visi, izņemot apustuļus, izklīda pa Jūdejas un Samarijas zemēm. 2 Stefanu apglabāja dievbijīgi vīri un viņu gauži apraudāja. 3 Bet Sauls postīja draudzi, gāja pa mājām, rāva no tām ārā vīrus un sievas un meta cietumā.
Filips sludina evaņģēliju Samarijā
4 Bet izklīdinātie, staigādami apkārt, sludināja vārdu. 5 Filips, nogājis uz Samarijas pilsētu, vēstīja tur par Kristu. 6 Ļaužu pūlis lielā vienprātībā uztvēra Filipa sacīto, tie klausījās un redzēja zīmes, ko viņš darīja. 7 Jo no daudziem izgāja nešķīsti gari, kliegdami skaļā balsī, un daudzi paralizēti un kropli tika dziedināti. 8 Un liels prieks bija tajā pilsētā. 9 Bet kāds vīrs, vārdā Sīmanis, šajā pilsētā jau agrāk bija nodarbojies ar buršanu, radīdams izbrīnu Samarijas tautā, viņš sacīja, ka esot liels vīrs. 10 Un visi, no maza līdz lielam, viņā klausījās, sacīdami: “Šis ir tas lielais Dieva spēks.” 11 Ļaudis viņam bija pieķērušies, tādēļ ka viņš jau ilgāku laiku tos bija apstulbinājis ar savu buršanu. 12 Bet, kad tie ticēja Filipa sludinātajam evaņģēlijam par Dieva valstību un par Jēzus Kristus vārdu, viņi tika kristīti – gan vīri, gan sievas. 13 Tad arī Sīmanis pats sāka ticēt un nokristīts pastāvīgi turējās pie Filipa un bija ļoti pārsteigts, redzot notiekam zīmes un lielus brīnumus. 14 Bet, kad apustuļi Jeruzālemē dzirdēja, ka Samarija ir pieņēmusi Dieva vārdu, tie nosūtīja pie viņiem Pēteri un Jāni, 15 kuri nogājuši lūdza Dievu par viņiem, lai viņi saņemtu Svēto Garu, 16 jo ne pār vienu no viņiem tas vēl nebija nācis; viņi bija tikai kristīti Kunga Jēzus vārdā. 17 Tad tie uzlika viņiem rokas, un viņi saņēma Svēto Garu. 18 Sīmanis, redzēdams, ka Gars tiek dots ar apustuļu roku uzlikšanu, piedāvāja viņiem naudu 19 un teica: “Dodiet arī man šo spēju, lai ikviens, kam es uzlieku rokas, saņemtu Svēto Garu.” 20 Bet Pēteris viņam sacīja: “Lai tava nauda iet pazušanā līdz ar tevi, jo tu iedomājies Dieva dāvanu iegūt par naudu. 21 Nav tev daļas, ne tiesību pie šī vārda, jo tava sirds nav taisna Dieva priekšā. 22 Atgriezies no sava ļaunuma un lūdz Kungu, varbūt tev tiks piedota tavas sirds iedoma. 23 Jo es redzu tevi, žults rūgtuma pilnu un nelietības saistītu.” 24 Bet Sīmanis sacīja: “Lūdziet jūs par mani Kungu, lai pār mani nenāk nekas no tā, ko jūs teicāt.” 25 Kad Pēteris un Jānis bija apliecinājuši un mācījuši Kunga vārdu, viņi devās atpakaļ uz Jeruzālemi, sludinādami evaņģēliju daudzos Samarijas ciemos.
Filips un etiopiešu augstmanis
26 Bet Kunga eņģelis uzrunāja Filipu, sacīdams: “Celies un ej uz dienvidiem pa ceļu, kas ved no Jeruzālemes uz Gazu; tur ir tuksnesis.” 27 Viņš cēlās un gāja. Un, redzi, tur bija kāds vīrs, etiopietis, Etiopijas ķēniņienes Kandakes varens augstmanis, viņas mantnīcas pārzinis, kas bija nācis uz Jeruzālemi pielūgt Dievu. 28 Nu viņš bija atceļā un sēdēja savos ratos un lasīja pravieti Jesaju. 29 Tad Gars sacīja Filipam: “Ej klāt un turies līdzi šiem ratiem.” 30 Pieskrējis klāt, Filips dzirdēja viņu lasām pravieti Jesaju un jautāja: “Vai tu arī saproti, ko tu lasi?” 31 Tas atbildēja: “Kā gan es to varētu, ja neviens man nepaskaidro?” – un viņš uzaicināja Filipu iekāpt un apsēsties sev līdzās. 32 Bet vieta, ko viņš Rakstos lasīja, bija šī: viņš ir kā avs, ko ved uz kaušanu, kā jērs cirpēja priekšā kluss, un viņš neatver savu muti. 33 Viņa pazemošanas dēļ taisnīga tiesa viņam likta. Kas izskaidros viņa paaudzi ? Jo viņa dzīvība tiek paņemta prom no zemes. – 34 Ķēniņienes augstmanis Filipam jautāja: “Saki, lūdzams, par ko pravietis te runā? Par sevi vai par kādu citu?” 35 Tad Filips, ar šo Rakstu vietu sākdams, pasludināja viņam evaņģēliju par Jēzu. 36 Turpinot braukt pa ceļu, tie nonāca pie ūdens, un augstmanis sacīja: “Redz, kur ūdens! Kas gan kavē mani, lai es tiktu kristīts?” 37 Filips viņam atbildēja: “Ja tu no visas sirds tici, tad var.” Tas teica: “Es ticu, ka Jēzus Kristus ir Dieva Dēls.” 38 Tad viņš lika apturēt ratus, un viņi abi, Filips un augstmanis, iekāpa ūdenī, un Filips viņu kristīja. 39 Kad viņi iznāca no ūdens, Kunga Gars aizrāva Filipu prom, un augstmanis viņu vairs neredzēja. Viņš līksms turpināja savu ceļu. 40 Bet Filips, nokļuvis Azotā, gāja pa visām pilsētām un sludināja evaņģēliju, līdz kamēr nonāca Cēzarejā.
