Acts of the Apostles 8

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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 Now Saul was consenting to his execution.On that day, there broke out a severe persecution of the church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men took order for Stephen's funeral, and made great mourning over him.	2 Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over 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, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment.
4 They therefore that were dispersed, went about preaching the word of God.	4 Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
5 And Philip going down to the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them.	5 Thus Philip went down to (the) city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah 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 With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
7 For many of them who had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out.	7 For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.
8 And many, taken with the palsy, and that were lame, were healed.	8 There was great joy in that city.
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 A man named Simon used to practice magic in the city and astounded the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.
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 All of them, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him, saying, "This man is the 'Power of God' 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 They paid attention to him because he had astounded them by his magic for a long time,
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 once they began to believe Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike were baptized.
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 Even Simon himself believed and, after being baptized, became devoted to Philip; and when he saw the signs and mighty deeds that were occurring, he was astounded.
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 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,
15 Who, when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.	15 who went down and prayed for them, that they might 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 it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
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 conferred by the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them 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 and said, "Give me this power too, so that anyone upon whom I lay my hands may 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 But Peter said to him, "May your money perish with you, because you thought that you could buy the gift of God with money.
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 or lot in this matter, for your heart is not upright before God.
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, if possible, your intention may be forgiven.
23 For I see thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity.	23 For I see that you are filled with bitter gall and are in the bonds of iniquity."
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 said in reply, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon 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 So when they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the good news to many Samaritan villages.
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 Then the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, "Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route."
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 got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 And he was returning, sitting in this chariot, and reading Isaias the prophet.	28 and was returning home. Seated 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 and join up with 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 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, "Do you understand what you are 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 can I, unless someone instructs me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.
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 This was the scripture passage he was reading: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not 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 justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth."
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 Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, "I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?"
35 Then Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached unto him Jesus.	35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this scripture passage, he proclaimed 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 As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?"
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 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized 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 When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued 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 came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.