Acts of the Apostles 8

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 And 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.	1 Saul approved of the killing. That day a bitter persecution started against the church in Jerusalem, andeveryone except the apostles scattered to the country districts of Judaea and Samaria.
2 And devout men took order for Stephen's funeral, and made great mourning over him.	2 There were some devout people, however, who buried Stephen and made great mourning for him.
3 But Saul made havock of the church, entering in from house to house, and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison.	3 Saul then began doing great harm to the church; he went from house to house arresting both men andwomen and sending them to prison.
4 They therefore that were dispersed, went about preaching the word of God.	4 Once they had scattered, they went from place to place preaching the good news.
5 And Philip going down to the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them.	5 And Philip went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them.
6 And the people with one accord were attentive to those things which were said by Philip, hearing, and seeing the miracles which he did.	6 The people unanimously welcomed the message Philip preached, because they had heard of themiracles he worked and because they saw them for themselves.
7 For many of them who had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out.	7 For unclean spirits came shrieking out of many who were possessed, and several paralytics and crippleswere cured.
8 And many, taken with the palsy, and that were lame, were healed.	8 As a result there was great rejoicing in that town.
9 There 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:	9 Now a man cal ed Simon had for some time been practising magic arts in the town and astounded theSamaritan people. He had given it out that he was someone momentous,
10 To whom they all gave ear, from the least to the greatest, saying: This man is the power of God, which is called great.	10 and everyone believed in him; eminent citizens and ordinary people alike had declared, 'He is thedivine power that is called Great.'
11 And they were attentive to him, because, for a long time, he had bewitched them with his magical practices.	11 He had this fol owing because for a considerable period they had been astounded by his wizardry.
12 But when they had believed Philip preaching of the kingdom of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.	12 But when they came to accept Philip's preaching of the good news about the kingdom of God and thename of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women,
13 Then 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.	13 and even Simon himself became a believer. After his baptism Simon went round constantly with Philipand was astonished when he saw the wonders and great miracles that took place.
14 Now when the apostles, who were in Jerusalem, had heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.	14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peterand John to them,
15 Who, when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.	15 and they went down there and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit,
16 For he was not as yet come upon any of them; but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.	16 for as yet he had not come down on any of them: they had only been baptised in the name of the LordJesus.
17 Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.	17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 And when Simon saw, that by the imposition of the hands of the apostles, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,	18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offeredthem money,
19 Saying: Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I shall lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said to him:	19 with the words, 'Give me the same power so that anyone I lay my hands on wil receive the Holy Spirit.'
20 Keep thy money to thyself, to perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.	20 Peter answered, 'May your silver be lost for ever, and you with it, for thinking that money could buywhat God has given for nothing!
21 Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter. For thy heart is not right in the sight of God.	21 You have no share, no part, in this: God can see how your heart is warped.
22 Do penance therefore for this thy wickedness; and pray to God, that perhaps this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.	22 Repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that this scheme of yours may be forgiven;
23 For I see thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity.	23 it is plain to me that you are held in the bitterness of gal and the chains of sin.'
24 Then Simon answering, said: Pray you for me to the Lord, that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me.	24 Simon replied, 'Pray to the Lord for me yourselves so that none of the things you have spoken aboutmay happen to me.'
25 And they indeed having testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many countries of the Samaritans.	25 Having given their testimony and proclaimed the word of the Lord, they went back to Jerusalem,preaching the good news to a number of Samaritan vil ages.
26 Now 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.	26 The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, 'Set out at noon and go along the road that leads fromJerusalem down to Gaza, the desert road.'
27 And 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.	27 So he set off on his journey. Now an Ethiopian had been on pilgrimage to Jerusalem; he was a eunuchand an officer at the court of the kandake, or queen, of Ethiopia; he was her chief treasurer.
28 And he was returning, sitting in this chariot, and reading Isaias the prophet.	28 He was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.	29 The Spirit said to Philip, 'Go up and join that chariot.'
30 And Philip running thither, heard him reading the prophet Isaias. And he said: Thinkest thou that thou understandest what thou readest?	30 When Philip ran up, he heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, 'Do you understand what youare reading?'
31 Who said: And how can I, unless some man shew me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.	31 He replied, 'How could I, unless I have someone to guide me?' So he urged Philip to get in and sit byhis side.
32 And 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.	32 Now the passage of scripture he was reading was this: Like a lamb led to the slaughter-house, like asheep dumb in front of its shearers, he never opens his mouth.
33 In humility his judgment was taken away. His generation who shall declare, for his life shall be taken from the earth?	33 In his humiliation fair judgement was denied him. Who wil ever talk about his descendants, since hislife on earth has been cut short?
34 And the eunuch answering Philip, said: I beseech thee, of whom doth the prophet speak this? of himself, or of some other man?	34 The eunuch addressed Philip and said, 'Tel me, is the prophet referring to himself or someone else?'
35 Then Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached unto him Jesus.	35 Starting, therefore, with this text of scripture Philip proceeded to explain the good news of Jesus to him.
36 And 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?	36 Further along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'Look,is some water; is thereanything to prevent my being baptised?'
37 And 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.	37
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch: and he baptized him.	38 He ordered the chariot to stop, then Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water and hebaptised him.
39 And 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.	39 But after they had come up out of the water again Philip was taken away by the Spirit of the Lord, andthe eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found in Azotus; and passing through, he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.	40 Philip appeared in Azotus and continued his journey, proclaiming the good news in every town as faras Caesarea.