ⲚⲒⲠⲢⲀⲜⲒⲤ 8
1 ⲁ̅ ⲥⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲥⲩⲛⲉⲩⲇⲟⲕⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲡⲉϥϩⲱⲧⲃ̅· ⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲟⲩⲑⲗⲓⲯⲓⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ⲇⲓⲱⲅⲙⲟⲥ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉϫⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲉⲧϩⲛ̅ⲑⲓⲗⲏ̅ⲙ̅. ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲩϫⲱⲱⲣⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲛⲉⲭⲱⲣⲁ ⲛ̅ϯⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲁⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ϣⲁⲧⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲁⲩ ⲉⲁⲩϭⲱ ϩⲛ̅ⲑⲓⲗⲏ̅ⲙ̅.
Saul approved of his being put to death. On that very day a great persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and its members, with the exception of the apostles, were all scattered over the districts of Judea and Samaria.
Some religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for him.
3 ⲅ̅ ⲥⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲉϥϣⲱϥ ⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ. ⲉϥⲃⲏⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲛⲏⲓ̈ ⲉϥⲥⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ⲛⲉϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ ⲉϥⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲡⲉϣⲧⲉⲕⲟ.
But Saul began to devastate the church; he entered house after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw them into prison.
Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the good news.
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ.
6 ⲋ̅ ⲙ̅ⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲛⲉⲩϯ ⲛ̅ϩⲧⲏⲩ ϩⲓⲟⲩⲥⲟⲡ ⲉⲛⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉⲫⲓⲗⲓⲡⲡⲟⲥ ϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲟⲩ. ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲧⲣⲉⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲙⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲉⲛⲉϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲟⲩ.
The people, one and all, listened attentively to what Philip told them, when they heard of, and saw, the miracles which he was working.
7 ⲍ̅ ϩⲁϩ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉⲛⲉⲡ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ ⲛ̅ⲁⲕⲁⲑⲁⲣⲧⲟⲛ ϩⲓⲱⲟⲩ. ⲛⲉⲩⲱϣ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ⲥⲙⲏ ⲉⲩⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧⲟⲩ. ⲟⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲛ ⲉⲩⲥⲏϭ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ϭⲁⲗⲉ ⲁϥⲧⲁⲗϭⲟⲟⲩ.
For there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them; and many who were paralysed or lame were cured,
so that there was great rejoicing throughout that city.
9 ⲑ̅ ⲛⲉⲩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲇⲉ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲥⲓⲙⲱⲛ ⲉϥⲣ̅ϩⲓⲕ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉϥⲡⲱϣⲥ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲁⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲡⲉ.
There was staying in the city a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic there and mystifying the Samaritan people, giving himself out to be some great being.
Everyone, high and low, paid attention to him. “This man,” they used to say, “must be that power of God which people call ‘The Great Power.’”
And they paid attention to him because they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts.
12 ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲫⲓⲗⲓⲡⲡⲟⲥ ⲉϥⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲍⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣⲁⲛ ⲛ̅ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅. ⲁⲩϫⲓⲃⲁⲡⲧⲓⲥⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲛ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ.
However, when they came to believe Philip, as he told them the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ ⲥⲓⲙⲱⲛ ϩⲱⲱϥ ⲟⲛ ⲁϥⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲉϥϫⲓⲃⲁⲡⲧⲓⲥⲙⲁ. ⲛⲉϥⲡⲣⲟⲥⲕⲁⲣⲧⲉⲣⲓ ⲉⲫⲓⲗⲓⲡⲡⲟⲥ. ⲉϥ(ⲛⲁⲩ) ⲇⲉ ⲉϩⲉⲛⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲙⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ϭⲟⲙ ⲉϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲁϥⲡⲱϣⲥ̅.
Even Simon believed, and after his baptism attached himself to Philip, and was in his turn mystified at seeing signs and great miracles constantly occurring.
14 ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲉⲧϩⲛ̅ⲑⲓⲗⲏ̅ⲙ̅ ϫⲉ ⲁⲧⲥⲁⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ϣⲱⲡ ⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ. ⲁⲩϫⲟⲟⲩ ϣⲁⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ⲓ̈ⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ.
When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God’s message, they sent Peter and John to them;
and they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit.
(As yet the Spirit had not descended on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).
Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲥⲓⲙⲱⲛ ϫⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̅ⲡⲧⲁⲗⲟ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ϭⲓϫ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲉⲩϯ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲡ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅. ⲁϥⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛⲭⲣⲏⲙⲁ
When Simon saw that it was through the placing of the apostles’ hands on them that the Spirit was given, he brought them a sum of money and said,
‘Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands on anyone, he may receive the Holy Spirit.’
20 ⲕ̅ ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲡⲉⲕϩⲁⲧ ⲉϥⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲕ ⲉⲡⲧⲁⲕⲟ. ϫⲉ ⲁⲕⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ϫⲉ ⲧⲇⲱⲣⲉⲁ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉϣⲁⲩϫⲡⲟⲥ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛⲭⲣⲏⲙⲁ.
‘A curse on you and on your silver,’ Peter exclaimed, ‘for thinking that God’s free gift can be bought with money!
You have no share or part in our message, for your heart is not right with God.
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that, if possible, you may be forgiven for such a thought;
for I see that you have fallen into the bitterness of envy and the fetters of sin.’
24 ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲱϣⲃ̅ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲥⲓⲙⲱⲛ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲥⲟⲡⲥ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲱⲧⲛ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲓ̈ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ϫⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉϫⲱⲓ̈.
‘Pray to the Lord for me, all of you,’ Simon answered, ‘so that none of the things you have spoken of may happen to me.’
25 ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲩ ϭⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲣ̅ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩϫⲱ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ. ⲁⲩⲕⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲉⲑⲓⲗⲏ̅ⲙ̅. ⲉⲩⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲛ̅ϯⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲙⲁⲣⲓⲧⲏⲥ ⲁⲩⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲍⲉ ⲛⲁⲩ·
Peter and John, having borne their testimony and delivered the Lord’s message, returned to Jerusalem, telling the good news, as they went, in many Samaritan villages.
26 ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ ⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲁϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ⲫⲓⲗⲓⲡⲡⲟⲥ. ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲛⲅ̅ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲙⲉⲉⲣⲉ. ϩⲓⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ ⲉⲧⲟ ⲛ̅ⲉⲣⲏⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲑⲓⲗⲏ̅ⲙ̅ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲅⲁⲍⲁ.
Meanwhile an angel of the Lord had said to Philip, ‘Set out on a journey southwards, along the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (It is now deserted).
27 ⲕ̅ⲍ̅ ⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲓⲥⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲉϭⲱϣ ⲛ̅ⲥⲓⲟⲩⲣ ⲛ̅ⲇⲩⲛⲁⲥⲧⲏⲥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲕⲁⲛⲇⲁⲕⲏ ⲧⲣ̅ⲣⲱ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉϭⲟⲟϣ. ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲛⲉϥϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉϫⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲥⲭⲣⲏⲙⲁ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ. ⲛⲉⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲑⲓⲗⲏ̅ⲙ̅ ⲉⲟⲩⲱϣⲧ̅.
So Philip set out on a journey; and on his way he came on an official of high rank, in the service of Candace, Queen of the Abyssinians. He was her treasurer, and had been to Jerusalem to worship,
and was now on his way home, sitting in his carriage and reading the prophet Isaiah.
The Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go up to the carriage over there and keep close to it.’
30 ⲗ̅ ⲁϥϯⲡⲉϥⲟⲩⲟⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲫⲓⲗⲓⲡⲡⲟⲥ ⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉϥⲱϣ ⲛ̅ⲏⲥⲁⲓ̈ⲁⲥ ⲡⲉⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ. ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲓⲟⲩⲣ ϫⲉ ⲁⲣⲁ ⲕⲛⲟⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲕ̅ⲱϣ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲟⲩ.
So Philip ran up, and he heard the Abyssinian reading the prophet Isaiah. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ he asked.
31 ⲗ̅ⲁ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟϥ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲛⲁϣ ⲛ̅ϩⲉ ϯⲛⲁϣϭⲙ̅ϭⲟⲙ ⲉⲓⲙⲏⲧⲓ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲟⲩⲁ ⲧⲥⲉⲃⲉⲉⲓⲁⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. ⲁϥⲥⲉⲡⲥ̅ⲫⲓⲗⲓⲡⲡⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲁⲗⲉ ⲛϥ̅ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲩⲱϥ.
‘How can I,’ the other answered, ‘unless someone will explain it to me?’ and he invited Philip to get up and sit by his side.
32 ⲗ̅ⲃ̅ ⲡⲙⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲅⲣⲁⲫⲏ ⲉⲛⲉϥⲱϣ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ̈. ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲁⲩⲛ̅ⲧϥ̅ ⲉⲕⲟⲛⲥϥ̅. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϩⲓⲉⲓⲃ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲙⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧϩⲱⲱⲕⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲛϥ̅ϯ ⲁⲛ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉϥⲥⲙⲏ. ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡϥ̅ⲟⲩⲱⲛ ⲛ̅ⲣⲱϥ
The passage of scripture which he was reading was this – “Like a sheep, he was led away to slaughter, and as a lamb is dumb in the hands of its shearer, so he refrains from opening his lips.
He was humiliated and justice was denied him. Who will tell the story of his generation? For his life is cut off from earth.”
34 ⲗ̅ⲇ̅ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲱϣⲃ̅ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲡⲉⲥⲓⲟⲩⲣ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲙ̅ⲫⲓⲗⲓⲡⲡⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ϯⲥⲟⲡⲥ̅ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲕ. ⲁϫⲓⲥ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ̈ ϫⲉ ⲉⲣⲉⲡⲉⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ ϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲃⲉⲛⲓⲙ. ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧϥ̅ ϫⲛ̅ⲉⲧⲃⲉⲕⲉⲟⲩⲁ.
‘Now,’ said the Treasurer, addressing Philip, ‘tell me, of whom is the prophet speaking? Of himself, or of someone else?’
Then Philip began, and, taking this passage as his text, told him the good news about Jesus.
36 ⲗ̅ⲋ̅ ⲉⲩⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲇⲉ ϩⲓⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ ⲁⲩⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉϫⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲟⲟⲩ. ⲡⲉϫⲉⲡⲉⲥⲓⲟⲩⲣ ⲙ̅ⲫⲓⲗⲓⲡⲡⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓⲥⲡⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉⲧⲕⲱⲗⲩ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲣⲁϫⲓⲃⲁⲡⲧⲓⲥⲙⲁ.
Presently, as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the Treasurer exclaimed, ‘Look! Here is water; what is to prevent my being baptized?’
37 ⲗ̅ⲍ̅
38 ⲗ̅ⲏ̅ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲉϩⲥⲁϩⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲫⲓⲗⲓⲡⲡⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲡϩⲁⲣⲙⲁ ⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ̅. ⲁⲩⲃⲱⲕ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲡⲙⲟⲟⲩ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲫⲓⲗⲓⲡⲡⲟⲥ ⲃⲁⲡⲧⲓⲍⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ.
So he ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water – both Philip and the Treasurer – and Philip baptized him.
39 ⲗ̅ⲑ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲉⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲙⲟⲟⲩ. ⲟⲩⲡ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲁϥⲧⲱⲣⲡ̅ ⲙ̅ⲫⲓⲗⲓⲡⲡⲟⲥ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡϥ̅ⲕⲟⲧϥ̅ ⲉⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲡⲉⲥⲓⲟⲩⲣ ⲛⲉϥⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉϥϩⲓⲏ ⲉϥⲣⲁϣⲉ.
But, when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the Treasurer saw no more of him; for he continued his journey with a joyful heart.
40 ⲙ̅ ⲫⲓⲗⲓⲡⲡⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲩϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϩⲛ̅ⲁⲍⲱⲧⲟⲥ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉϥⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲉϥⲧⲁϣⲉⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛ̅ⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ. ϣⲁⲛⲧϥ̅ⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲕⲁⲓⲥⲁⲣⲓⲁ.
But Philip was found at Ashdod, and, as he went on his way, he told the good news in all the towns through which he passed, until he came to Caesarea.
