使徒行傳 8
1 從這日起，耶路撒冷的教會大遭逼迫，除了使徒以外，門徒都分散在猶太和撒馬利亞各處。
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.
2 有虔誠的人把司提反埋葬了，為他捶胸大哭。
Some religious men buried Stephen, with loud lamentations for him.
3 掃羅卻殘害教會，進各人的家，拉着男女下在監裏。
But Saul began to devastate the Church; he entered house after house, dragged out men and women alike, and threw them into prison.
4 那些分散的人往各處去傳道。
Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the Good News.
5 腓利下撒馬利亞城去，宣講基督。
Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and there began to preach the Christ.
6 眾人聽見了，又看見腓利所行的神蹟，就同心合意地聽從他的話。
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 因為有許多人被污鬼附着，那些鬼大聲呼叫，從他們身上出來；還有許多癱瘓的、瘸腿的，都得了醫治。
For there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them;
8 在那城裏，就大有歡喜。
and many who were paralysed or lame were cured, so that there was great rejoicing throughout that city.
9 有一個人，名叫西門，向來在那城裏行邪術，妄自尊大，使撒馬利亞的百姓驚奇；
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.
10 無論大小都聽從他，說：「這人就是那稱為上帝的大能者。」
Every one, high and low, paid attention to him. ‘This man,’ they used to say, ‘must be that Power of God which men call “The Great Power.”’
11 他們聽從他，因他久用邪術，使他們驚奇。
And they paid attention to him because they had for a long time been mystified by his magic arts.
12 及至他們信了腓利所傳上帝國的福音和耶穌基督的名，連男帶女就受了洗。
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 西門自己也信了；既受了洗，就常與腓利在一處，看見他所行的神蹟和大異能，就甚驚奇。
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 使徒在耶路撒冷聽見撒馬利亞人領受了上帝的道，就打發彼得、約翰往他們那裏去。
When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God’s Message, they sent Peter and John to them;
15 兩個人到了，就為他們禱告，要叫他們受聖靈。
and they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 因為聖靈還沒有降在他們一個人身上，他們只奉主耶穌的名受了洗。
(As yet the Spirit had not descended upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the Faith of the Lord Jesus).
17 於是使徒按手在他們頭上，他們就受了聖靈。
Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 西門看見使徒按手，便有聖靈賜下，就拿錢給使徒，
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:
19 說：「把這權柄也給我，叫我手按着誰，誰就可以受聖靈。」
“Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands upon any one, he may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 彼得說：「你的銀子和你一同滅亡吧！因你想上帝的恩賜是可以用錢買的。
“A curse upon you and upon your money,” Peter exclaimed, “for thinking that God’s free gift can be bought with gold!
21 你在這道上無分無關；因為在上帝面前，你的心不正。
You have no share or part in our Message, for your ‘heart is not right with God.’
22 你當懊悔你這罪惡，祈求主，或者你心裏的意念可得赦免。
Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that, if possible, you may be forgiven for such a thought;
23 我看出你正在苦膽之中，被罪惡捆綁。」
for I see that you have fallen into the ‘bitterness of envy’ and the ‘fetters of sin.’”
24 西門說：「願你們為我求主，叫你們所說的，沒有一樣臨到我身上。」
“Pray to the Lord for me, all of you,” Simon answered, “so that none of the things you have spoken of may befall me.”
25 使徒既證明主道，而且傳講，就回耶路撒冷去，一路在撒馬利亞好些村莊傳揚福音。
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 有主的一個使者對腓利說：「起來！向南走，往那從耶路撒冷下迦薩的路上去。」那路是曠野。
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 腓利就起身去了，不料，有一個衣索匹亞人，是個有大權的太監，在衣索匹亞女王甘大基的手下總管銀庫，他上耶路撒冷禮拜去了。
So Philip set out on a journey; and on his way he came upon 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,
28 現在回來，在車上坐着，念先知以賽亞的書。
and was now on his way home, sitting in his carriage and reading the Prophet Isaiah.
29 聖靈對腓利說：「你去！貼近那車走。」
The Spirit said to Philip: “Go up to the carriage yonder and keep close to it.”
30 腓利就跑到太監那裏，聽見他念先知以賽亞的書，便問他說：「你所念的，你明白嗎？」
So Philip ran up, and he heard the Abyssinian reading the Prophet Isaiah. “Do you understand what you are reading?” he asked.
31 他說：「沒有人指教我，怎能明白呢？」於是請腓利上車，與他同坐。
“How can I,” the other answered, “unless some one will explain it to me?” and he invited Philip to get up and sit by his side.
32 他所念的那段經，說： 他像羊被牽到宰殺之地， 又像羊羔在剪毛的人手下無聲； 他也是這樣不開口。
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.
33 他卑微的時候， 人不按公義審判他； 誰能述說他的世代？ 因為他的生命從地上奪去。
In his lowly condition justice was denied him. Who will tell the story of his generation? For his life is cut off from earth.’
34 太監對腓利說：「請問，先知說這話是指着誰？是指着自己呢？是指着別人呢？」
“Now,” said the Treasurer, addressing Philip, “tell me, of whom is the Prophet speaking? Of himself, or of some one else?”
35 腓利就開口從這經上起，對他傳講耶穌。
Then Philip began, and, taking this passage as his text, told him the Good News about Jesus.
36 二人正往前走，到了有水的地方，太監說：「看哪，這裏有水，我受洗有甚麼妨礙呢？」
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?”
38 於是吩咐車站住，腓利和太監二人同下水裏去，腓利就給他施洗。
So he ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water — both Philip and the Treasurer — and Philip baptized him.
39 從水裏上來，主的靈把腓利提了去，太監也不再見他了，就歡歡喜喜地走路。
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 後來有人在亞鎖都遇見腓利；他走遍那地方，在各城宣傳福音，直到凱撒利亞。
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, till he came to Caesarea.
