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.
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.
