Actuum Apostolorum 8
1 Saulus autem erat consentiens neci eius. Facta est autem in illa die persecutio magna in Ecclesia, quæ erat Ierosolymis, et omnes dispersi sunt per regiones Iudææ, et Samariæ præter Apostolos.
And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
2 Curaverunt autem Stephanum viri timorati, et fecerunt planctum magnum super eum.
God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
3 Saulus autem devastabat Ecclesiam per domos intrans, et trahens viros, ac mulieres, tradebat in custodiam.
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
4 Igitur qui dispersi erant pertransibant, evangelizantes verbum Dei.
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
5 Philippus autem descendens in civitatem Samariæ, prædicabant illis Christum.
Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
6 Intendebant autem turbæ his, quæ a Philippo dicebantur unanimiter audientes, et videntes signa quæ faciebat.
The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.
7 Multi enim eorum, qui habebant spiritus immundos, clamantes voce magna exibant.
With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 Multi autem paralytici, et claudi curati sunt.
So there was great joy in that city.
9 Factum est ergo gaudium magnum in illa civitate. Vir autem quidam nomine Simon, qui ante fuerat in civitate magus, seducens gentem Samariæ, dicens se esse aliquem magnum:
Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,
10 cui auscultabant omnes a minimo usque ad maximum, dicentes: Hic est virtus Dei, quæ vocatur magna.
and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.”
11 Attendebant autem eum: propter quod multo tempore magiis suis dementasset eos.
They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
12 Cum vero credidissent Philippo evangelizanti de regno Dei, in nomine Iesu Christi baptizabantur viri, ac mulieres.
But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Tunc Simon et ipse credidit: et cum baptizatus esset, adhærebat Philippo. Videns etiam signa, et virtutes maximas fieri, stupens admirabatur.
Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.
14 Cum autem audissent Apostoli, qui erant Ierosolymis, quod recepisset Samaria verbum Dei, miserunt ad eos Petrum, et Ioannem:
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
15 Qui cum venissent, oraverunt pro ipsis ut acciperent Spiritum Sanctum:
On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
16 Nondum enim in quemquam illorum venerat, sed baptizati tantum erant in nomine Domini Iesu.
For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Tunc imponebant manus super illos, et accipiebant Spiritum Sanctum.
Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Cum vidisset autem Simon quia per impositionem manus Apostolorum daretur Spiritus Sanctus, obtulit eis pecuniam,
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
19 dicens: Date et mihi hanc potestatem, ut cuicumque imposuero manus, accipiat Spiritum Sanctum. Petrus autem dixit ad eum:
“Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Pecunia tua tecum sit in perditionem: quoniam donum Dei existimasti pecunia possideri.
But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
21 Non est tibi pars, neque sors in sermone isto. Cor enim tuum non est rectum coram Deo.
You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22 Pœnitentiam itaque age ab hac nequitia tua: et roga Deum, si forte remittatur tibi hæc cogitatio cordis tui.
Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
23 In felle enim amaritudinis, et obligatione iniquitatis video te esse.
For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
24 Respondens autem Simon, dixit: Precamini vos pro me ad Dominum, ut nihil veniat super me horum, quæ dixistis.
Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25 Et illi quidem testificati, et locuti verbum Domini, redibant Ierosolymam, et multis regionibus Samaritanorum evangelizabant.
And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.
26 Angelus autem Domini locutus est ad Philippum, dicens: Surge, et vade contra meridianum ad viam, quæ descendit ab Ierusalem in Gazam: hæc est deserta.
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
27 Et surgens abiit. Et ecce vir Æthiops, eunuchus, potens Candacis Reginæ Æthiopum, qui erat super omnes gazas eius: venerat adorare in Ierusalem:
So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
28 et revertebatur sedens super currum suum, legensque Isaiam prophetam.
and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
29 Dixit autem Spiritus Philippo: Accede, et adiunge te ad currum istum.
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
30 Accurrens autem Philippus, audivit eum legentem Isaiam prophetam, et dixit: Putasne intelligis quæ legis?
So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 Qui ait: Et quomodo possum, si non aliquis ostenderit mihi? Rogavitque Philippum ut ascenderet, et sederet secum.
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 Locus autem Scripturæ, quem legebat, erat hic: Tamquam ovis ad occisionem ductus est: et sicus agnus coram tondente se, sine voce, sic non aperuit os suum.
The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
33 In humilitate iudicium eius sublatum est. Generationem eius quis enarrabit, quoniam tolletur de terra vita eius?
In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth.”
34 Respondens autem eunuchus Philippo, dixit: Obsecro te, de quo Propheta dicit hoc? de se, an de alio aliquo?
“Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
35 Aperiens autem Philippus os suum, et incipiens a Scriptura ista, evangelizavit illi Iesum.
Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 Et dum irent per viam, venerunt ad quamdam aquam: et ait Eunuchus: Ecce aqua, quid prohibet me baptizari?
As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”
37 Dixit autem Philippus: Si credis ex toto corde, licet. Et respondens ait: Credo, Filium Dei esse Iesum Christum.
38 Et iussit stare currum: et descenderunt uterque in aquam, Philippus et Eunuchus, et baptizavit eum.
And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39 Cum autem ascendissent de aqua, Spiritus Domini rapuit Philippum, et amplius non vidit eum Eunuchus. Ibat autem per viam suam gaudens.
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.
40 Philippus autem inventus est in Azoto, et pertransiens evangelizabat civitatibus cunctis, donec veniret Cæsaream.
But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
