Hechos de los Apóstoles 8

1Saulo, empero, consentía en la muerte de él ( de Esteban). Levantose en aquellos días una gran persecución contra la Iglesia de Jerusalén, por lo cual todos, menos los apóstoles se dispersaron por las regiones de Judea y Samaria.

2A Esteban le dieron sepultura algunos hombres piadosos e hicieron sobre él gran duelo.

3Entretanto, Saulo devastaba la Iglesia, y penetrando en las casas arrastraba a hombres y mujeres y los metía en la cárcel.

4Los dispersos andaban de un lugar a otro predicando la palabra.

5Felipe bajó a la ciudad de Samaria y predicoles a Cristo.

6Mucha gente atendía a una a las palabras de Felipe, oyendo y viendo los milagros que obraba.

7De muchos que tenían espíritus inmundos, estos salían, dando grandes gritos, y muchos paralíticos y cojos fueron sanados;

8por lo cual se llenó de gozo aquella ciudad.

9Había en la ciudad, desde tiempo atrás, un hombre llamado Simón, el cual ejercitaba la magia y asombraba al pueblo de Samaria diciendo ser él un gran personaje.

10A él escuchaban todos, atentos desde el menor hasta el mayor, diciendo: Este es la virtud de Dios, la que se llama grande.

11Le prestaban atención porque por mucho tiempo los tenía asombrados con sus artes mágicas.

12Mas, cuando creyeron a Felipe, que predicaba el reino de Dios y el nombre de Jesucristo, hombres y mujeres se bautizaron.

13Creyó también el mismo Simón, y después de bautizado se allegó a Felipe y quedó atónito al ver los milagros y portentos grandes que se hacían.

14Cuando los apóstoles que estaban en Jerusalén oyeron que Samaria había recibido la palabra de Dios les enviaron a Pedro y a Juan,

15los cuales habiendo bajado, hicieron oración por ellos para que recibiesen al Espíritu Santo;

16porque no había aún descendido sobre ninguno de ellos, sino que tan solo habían sido bautizados en el nombre del Señor Jesús.

17Entonces les impusieron las manos y ellos recibieron al Espíritu Santo.

18Viendo Simón que por la imposición de las manos de los apóstoles se daba el Espíritu Santo, les ofreció bienes,

19diciendo: “Dadme a mí también esta potestad, para que todo aquel a quien imponga yo las manos reciba al Espíritu Santo”.

20Mas Pedro le respondió: “Tu dinero sea contigo para perdición tuya, por cuanto has creído poder adquirir el don de Dios por dinero.

21Tú no tienes parte ni suerte en esta palabra, pues tu corazón no es recto delante de Dios.

22Por tanto haz arrepentimiento de esta maldad tuya y ruega a Dios, tal vez te sea perdonado lo que piensas en tu corazón.

23Porque te veo lleno de amarga hiel y en lazo de iniquidad”.

24Respondió Simón y dijo: “Rogad vosotros por mí al Señor, para que no venga sobre mí ninguna de las cosas que habéis dicho”.

25Ellos, pues, habiendo dado testimonio y predicado la palabra de Dios, regresaron a Jerusalén y evangelizaron muchas aldeas de los samaritanos.

26Un ángel del Señor habló a Felipe, diciendo: Levántate y ve hacia el mediodía, al camino que baja de Jerusalén a Gaza, el cual es el desierto.

27Levantose y se fue, y he aquí que un hombre etíope, eunuco, valido de Candace, reina de los etíopes, y superintendente de todos los tesoros de ella, había venido a Jerusalén a hacer adoración.

28Iba de regreso y, sentado en el carruaje, leía al profeta Isaías.

29Dijo entonces el Espíritu a Felipe: “Acércate y allégate a ese carruaje”.

30Corrió, pues, Felipe hacia allá y oyendo su lectura del profeta Isaías, le preguntó: “¿Entiendes lo que estás leyendo?”

31Respondió él: “¿Cómo podría si no hay quien me sirva de guía?” Invitó, pues, a Felipe, a que subiese y se sentase a su lado.

32El pasaje de la Escritura que estaba leyendo era este “Como una oveja fue conducido al matadero, y como un cordero enmudece delante del que lo trasquila, así él no abre su boca.

33En la humillación suya ha sido terminado su juicio. ¿Quién explicará su generación, puesto que su vida es arrancada de la tierra?”

34Respondiendo el eunuco preguntó a Felipe: “Ruégote ¿de quién dice esto el profeta? ¿De sí mismo o de algún otro?”

35Entonces Felipe, abriendo su boca, y comenzando por esta Escritura, le anunció la Buena Nueva de Jesús.

36Prosiguiendo el camino, llegaron a un lugar donde había agua, y dijo el eunuco: “Ve ahí agua. ¿Qué me impide ser bautizado?”

38Y mandó parar el carruaje, y ambos bajaron al agua, Felipe y el eunuco, y ( Felipe) le bautizó.

39Cuando subieron del agua, el Espíritu del Señor arrebató a Felipe, de manera que el eunuco no le vio más; el cual prosiguió su viaje lleno de gozo.

40Mas Felipe se encontró en Azoto, y pasando por todas las ciudades anunció el Evangelio hasta llegar a Cesarea.

1Facta est autem in illa die persecutio magna in ecclesia quæ erat Jerosolymis, et omnes dispersi sunt per regiones Judææ et Samariæ præter Apostolos.

2Curaverunt autem Stephanum viri timorati, et fecerunt planctum magnum super eum.

3Saulus autem devastabat ecclesiam per domos intrans, et trahens viros ac mulieres, tradebat in custodiam.

4Igitur qui dispersi erant pertransibant, evangelizantes verbum Dei.

5Philippus autem descendens in civitatem Samariæ, prædicabant illis Christum.

6Intendebant autem turbæ his quæ a Philippo dicebantur, unanimiter audientes, et videntes signa quæ faciebat.

7Multi enim eorum qui habebant spiritus immundos, clamantes voce magna exibant. Multi autem paralytici et claudi curati sunt.

8Factum est ergo gaudium magnum in illa civitate.

9Vir autem quidam nomine Simon, qui ante fuerat in civitate magus, seducens gentem Samariæ, dicens se esse aliquem magnum:

10cui auscultabant omnes a minimo usque ad maximum, dicentes: Hic est virtus Dei, quæ vocatur magna.

11Attendebant autem eum: propter quod multo tempore magiis suis dementasset eos.

12Cum vero credidissent Philippo evangelizanti de regno Dei, in nomine Jesu Christi baptizabantur viri ac mulieres.

13Tunc Simon et ipse credidit: et cum baptizatus esset, adhærebat Philippo. Videns etiam signa et virtutes maximas fieri, stupens admirabatur.

14Cum autem audissent Apostoli qui erant Jerosolymis, quod recepisset Samaria verbum Dei, miserunt ad eos Petrum et Joannem.

15Qui cum venissent, oraverunt pro ipsis ut acciperent Spiritum Sanctum:

16nondum enim in quemquam illorum venerat, sed baptizati tantum erant in nomine Domini Jesu.

17Tunc imponebant manus super illos, et accipiebant Spiritum Sanctum.

18Cum vidisset autem Simon quia per impositionem manus Apostolorum daretur Spiritus Sanctus, obtulit eis pecuniam,

19dicens: Date et mihi hanc potestatem, ut cuicumque imposuero manus, accipiat Spiritum Sanctum. Petrus autem dixit ad eum:

20Pecunia tua tecum sit in perditionem: quoniam donum Dei existimasti pecunia possideri.

21Non est tibi pars neque sors in sermone isto: cor enim tuum non est rectum coram Deo.

22Pœnitentiam itaque age ab hac nequitia tua: et roga Deum, si forte remittatur tibi hæc cogitatio cordis tui.

23In felle enim amaritudinis, et obligatione iniquitatis, video te esse.

24Respondens autem Simon, dixit: Precamini vos pro me ad Dominum, ut nihil veniat super me horum quæ dixistis.

25Et illi quidem testificati, et locuti verbum Domini, redibant Jerosolymam, et multis regionibus Samaritanorum evangelizabant.

26Angelus autem Domini locutus est ad Philippum, dicens: Surge, et vade contra meridianum, ad viam quæ descendit ab Jerusalem in Gazam: hæc est deserta.

27Et surgens abiit. Et ecce vir Æthiops, eunuchus, potens Candacis reginæ Æthiopum, qui erat super omnes gazas ejus, venerat adorare in Jerusalem:

28et revertebatur sedens super currum suum, legensque Isaiam prophetam.

29Dixit autem Spiritus Philippo: Accede, et adjunge te ad currum istum.

30Accurrens autem Philippus, audivit eum legentem Isaiam prophetam, et dixit: Putasne intelligis quæ legis?

31Qui ait: Et quomodo possum, si non aliquis ostenderit mihi? Rogavitque Philippum ut ascenderet, et sederet secum.

32Locus autem Scripturæ quem legebat, erat hic: [Tamquam ovis ad occisionem ductus est: et sicut agnus coram tondente se, sine voce, sic non aperuit os suum.

33In humilitate judicium ejus sublatum est. Generationem ejus quis enarrabit? quoniam tolletur de terra vita ejus.]

34Respondens autem eunuchus Philippo, dixit: Obsecro te, de quo propheta dicit hoc? de se, an de alio aliquo?

35Aperiens autem Philippus os suum, et incipiens a Scriptura ista, evangelizavit illi Jesum.

36Et dum irent per viam, venerunt ad quamdam aquam: et ait eunuchus: Ecce aqua: quid prohibet me baptizari?

37Dixit autem Philippus: Si credis ex toto corde, licet. Et respondens ait: Credo Filium Dei esse Jesum Christum.

38Et jussit stare currum: et descenderunt uterque in aquam, Philippus et eunuchus, et baptizavit eum.

39Cum autem ascendissent de aqua, Spiritus Domini rapuit Philippum, et amplius non vidit eum eunuchus. Ibat autem per viam suam gaudens.

40Philippus autem inventus est in Azoto, et pertransiens evangelizabat civitatibus cunctis, donec veniret Cæsaream.

1And at that time there was raised a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea, and Samaria, except the apostles.

2And devout men took order for Stephen’s funeral, and made great mourning over him.

3But Saul made havock of the church, entering in from house to house, and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison.

4They therefore that were dispersed, went about preaching the word of God.

5And Philip going down to the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them.

6And the people with one accord were attentive to those things which were said by Philip, hearing, and seeing the miracles which he did.

7For many of them who had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out.

8And many, taken with the palsy, and that were lame, were healed.

9There was therefore great joy in that city. Now there was a certain man named Simon, who before had been a magician in that city, seducing the people of Samaria, giving out that he was some great one:

10To whom they all gave ear, from the least to the greatest, saying: This man is the power of God, which is called great.

11And they were attentive to him, because, for a long time, he had bewitched them with his magical practices.

12But when they had believed Philip preaching of the kingdom of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13Then Simon himself believed also; and being baptized, he adhered to Philip. And being astonished, wondered to see the signs and exceeding great miracles which were done.

14Now when the apostles, who were in Jerusalem, had heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.

15Who, when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.

16For he was not as yet come upon any of them; but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

17Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

18And when Simon saw, that by the imposition of the hands of the apostles, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19Saying: Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I shall lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said to him:

20Keep thy money to thyself, to perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter. For thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22Do penance therefore for this thy wickedness; and pray to God, that perhaps this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.

23For I see thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity.

24Then Simon answering, said: Pray you for me to the Lord, that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me.

25And they indeed having testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many countries of the Samaritans.

26Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise, go towards the south, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem into Gaza: this is desert.

27And rising up, he went. And behold a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch, of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge over all her treasures, had come to Jerusalem to adore.

28And he was returning, sitting in this chariot, and reading Isaias the prophet.

29And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30And Philip running thither, heard him reading the prophet Isaias. And he said: Thinkest thou that thou understandest what thou readest?

31Who said: And how can I, unless some man shew me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

32And the place of the scripture which he was reading was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb without voice before his shearer, so openeth he not his mouth.

33In humility his judgment was taken away. His generation who shall declare, for his life shall be taken from the earth?

34And the eunuch answering Philip, said: I beseech thee, of whom doth the prophet speak this? of himself, or of some other man?

35Then Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached unto him Jesus.

36And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water; and the eunuch said: See, here is water: what doth hinder me from being baptized?

37And Philip said: If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answering, said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch: and he baptized him.

39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more. And he went on his way rejoicing.

40But Philip was found in Azotus; and passing through, he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.