1 و َكانَ شاوُلُ مُوافِقاً عَلَى قَتلِهِ. وَفِي ذَلِكَ اليَومِ بَدَأ اضطِهادٌ شَدِيدٌ عَلَى الكَنِيسَةِ فِي مَدينَةِ القُدسِ. فَتَفَرَّقَ الجَمِيعُ فِي جَمِيعِ أنحاءِ اليَهُودِيَّةِ وَالسّامِرَةِ باسْتِثناءِ الرُّسُلِ. ضِيقٌ لِلمُؤمِنِين

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 و َدَفَنَ بَعضُ الرِّجالِ الأتقِياءِ إستِفانُوسَ، وَناحُوا عَلَيهِ نَوحاً شَدِيداً.

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

3 و َكانَ شاوُلُ يُحاوِلُ تَدمِيرَ الكَنِيسَةِ، فَكانَ يَدخُلُ مِنْ بَيتٍ إلَى آخَرَ، وَيَجُرُّ الرِّجالَ وَالنِّساءَ عَلَى حَدٍّ سَواءٍ، وَيَزُجُّ بِهِمْ فِي السِّجنِ.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

4 أ مّا الَّذِينَ تَشَتَّتُوا مِنَ الكَنِيسَةِ فِي كُلِّ مَكانٍ، فَأخَذُوا يَنشُرُونَ البِشارَةَ فِي كُلِّ مَكانٍ. فِيلِبُّسُ يُعلِنُ البِشارَةَ فِي السّامِرَة

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

5 و َذَهَبَ فِيلِبُّسُ إلَى مَدِينَةِ السّامِرَةِ مُبَشِّراً بِالمَسِيحِ.

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6 ف َلَمّا سَمِعَهُ النّاسُ وَرَأَوْا المُعْجِزاتِ الَّتِي كانَ يُجرِيها، انتَبَهُوا انتِباهاً خاصّاً إلَى ما كانَ يَقُولُهُ.

And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7 ف َقَدْ كانَتِ الأرواحُ النَّجِسَةُ تَخرُجُ بِصَرْخاتٍ عالِيَةٍ مِنْ أشخاصٍ كَثِيرِينَ مَسكُونِينَ بِها، كَما شُفِيَ مَشلُولُونَ وَعُرجٌ كَثِيرُونَ.

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

8 ف َكانَ هُناكَ فَرَحٌ عَظِيمٌ فِي تِلكَ المَدِينَةِ.

And there was great joy in that city.

9 و َكانَ هُناكَ رَجُلٌ اسْمُهُ سِيمُونُ، مارَسَ السِّحرَ فِي تِلكَ المَدِينَةِ مُنذُ زَمَنٍ. وَكانَ يُثِيرُ دَهشَةَ أهلِ السّامِرَةِ بِسِحرِهِ مُدَّعِياً أنَّهُ شَخصٌ عَظِيمٌ.

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

10 و َكانَ كُلُّ النّاسِ، مِنْ صَغِيرِهِمْ إلَى كَبِيرِهِمْ، يَهْتَمُّونَ بِهِ اهتِماماً كَبِيراً، فَكانُوا يَقُولُونَ: «هَذا الرَّجُلُ هُوَ قُوَّةُ اللهِ الَّتِي تُدعَى ‹القُوَّةَ العَظِيمَةَ.›»

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11 ك انُوا مُهتَمِّيْنَ بِهِ لِأنَّهُ كانَ قَدْ أدهَشَهُمْ بِسِحرِهِ مُنذُ مُدَّةٍ طَوِيلَةٍ.

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12 ل َكِنَّهُمْ صَدَّقُوا فِيلِبُّسَ عِندَما أعلَنَ لَهُمْ بِشارَةَ مَلَكُوتِ اللهِ وَاسْمَ يَسُوعَ المَسِيحِ، وَتَعَمَّدُوا رِجالاً وَنِساءً.

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 و َآمَنَ سِيمُونُ نَفسُهُ. وَبَعدَ أنْ تَعَمَّدَ بَقِيَ قَرِيباً مِنْ فِيلِبُّسَ. وَذُهِلَ لَمّا رَأى الْعَجائِبَ وَالمُعجِزاتِ العَظِيمَةَ الَّتِي كانَتْ تُجرَى.

Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14 ف َلَمّا سَمِعَ الرُّسُلُ المَوجُودُونَ فِي القُدسِ بِأنَّ أهلَ السّامِرَةِ قَبِلُوا رِسالَةَ اللهِ، أرسَلُوا بُطرُسَ وَيُوحَنّا إلَيْهِمْ.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15 و َعِندَ وُصُولِهِما، صَلَّيا مِنْ أجلِ المُؤمِنِينَ السّامِرِيِّيْنَ لِكَي يَقْبَلُوا الرُّوحَ القُدُسَ.

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16 ذ َلِكَ لِأنَّ الرُّوحَ لَمْ يَكُنْ بَعدُ قَدْ حَلَّ عَلَى أيٍّ مِنهُمْ، إلّا أنَّهُمْ كانوا قَدْ تَعَمَّدُوا بِاسْمِ الرَّبِّ يَسُوعَ المَسِيحِ.

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 ث ُمَّ وَضَعا أيدِيَهُما عَلَيهِمْ، فَقَبِلُوا الرُّوحَ القُدُسَ.

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

18 ف َلَمّا رَأى سِيمُونُ أنَّ الرُّوحَ القُدُسَ يُعطَى بِوَضْعِ أيدِي الرَّسُولَينِ، عَرَضَ عَلَيهِما مالاً.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 و َقالَ: «أعطِيانِي أيضاً هَذِهِ المَقدِرَةَ، حَتَّى يَقْبَلَ الرُّوحَ القُدُسَ كُلُّ مَنْ أضَعُ يَدَيَّ عَلَيهِ.»

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 ف َقالَ بُطرُسُ: «لِتَهلِكْ أنتَ وَمالُكَ إلَى الأبَدِ، لِأنَّكَ اعتَقَدتَ أنَّكَ تَستَطِيعُ شِراءَ عَطِيَّةِ اللهِ بِمالٍ.

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21 و َلَيسَ لَكَ حِصَّةٌ أوْ نَصِيبٌ فِي هَذا الأمرِ، لِأنَّ قَلبَكَ لَيسَ سَلِيماً أمامَ اللهِ.

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 ف َتُبْ عَنْ شَرِّكَ هَذا وَصَلِّ إلَى الرَّبِّ، لَعَلَّهُ يُسامِحُكَ عَلَى الفِكرَةِ الآثِمَةِ الَّتِي فِي قَلبِكَ.

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23 ف َأنا أراكَ مُمتَلِئاً مَرارَةً وَعَبداً لِلخَطِيَّةِ.»

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

24 ف َأجابَ سِيمُونُ: «صَلِّيا أنتُما إلَى الرَّبِّ مِنْ أجلِي حَتَّى لا يُصِيبَنِي شَيءٌ مِمّا ذَكَرتُما.»

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

25 و َبَعدَ أنْ قَدَّمَ الرَّسُولانِ شَهادَتَهُما وَتَكَلَّما بِكَلِمَةِ الرَّبِّ، عادا إلَى القُدسِ. وَكانا فِي طَرِيقِ عَودَتِهِما يُبَشِّرانِ قُرَىً سامِرِيَّةً كَثِيرَةً. فِيلِبُّسُ وَالَّرَجُلُ الحَبَشيّ

And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

26 و َكَلَّمَ مَلاكٌ مِنْ عِندِ الرَّبِّ فِيلِبُّسَ فَقالَ: «قُمْ وَاذْهَبْ جَنُوباً إلَى الطَّرِيقِ الصَّحراوِيَّةِ النّازِلَةِ مِنَ القُدسِ إلَى غَزَّةَ.»

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27 ف َاسْتَعَدَّ وَذَهَبَ. وَكانَ هُناكَ رَجُلٌ حَبَشِيٌّ هُوَ أحَدُ الخِصْيانِ المَسؤُولِينَ لَدَى المَلِكَةِ كَنداكَةَ مَلِكَةِ الحَبَشَةِ. كانَ مَسؤُولاً عَنْ خَزنَتِها كُلِّها، وَقَدْ ذَهَبَ إلَى القُدسِ لِيَعبُدَ اللهَ.

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28 و َكانَ فِي طَرِيقِ عَودَتِهِ جالِساً فِي عَرَبَتِهِ يَقرَأُ كِتابَ النَّبِيِّ إشَعْياءَ.

Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 ف َقالَ الرُّوحُ لِفِيلِبُّسَ: «اذْهَبْ إلَى تِلكَ العَرَبَةِ وَلازِمها.»

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 و َعِندَما رَكَضَ فِيلِبُّسُ إلَى العَرَبَةِ، سَمِعَ الرَّجُلَ يَقرَأُ كِتابَ النَّبِيِّ إشَعْياءَ. فَقالَ لَهُ فِيلِبُّسُ: «أتَفهَمُ ما تَقرَأُهُ؟»

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31 ف َقالَ: «وَكَيفَ يُمكِنُنِي أنْ أفهَمَ إنْ لَمْ يُفَسِّرْهُ لِي أحَدٌ؟» وَدَعا فِيلِبُّسَ أنْ يَصْعَدَ وَيَجلِسَ مَعَهُ.

And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

32 و َأمّا الفَقَرَةُ الَّتِي كانَ يَقرَأُها فَكانَتْ: «كَخَرُوفٍ يُساقُ إلَى الذَّبْحِ، وَكَحَمَلٍ صامِتٍ أمامَ الَّذِين يَجُزُّونَ صُوفَهُ، فَلا يَفتَحُ فَمَهُ.

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

33 ت َذَلَّلَ وَسُلِبَتْ حُقُوقُهُ. وَلَنْ يَذْكُرَ لَهُ أحَدٌ نَسلاً، لأنَّ حَياتَهُ انتُزِعَتْ مِنَ الأرْضِ.»

In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 ف َقالَ الرَّجُلُ لِفِيلِبُّسَ: «قُلْ لِي، أرجُوكَ، عَمَّنْ يَتَحَدَّثُ النَّبِيُّ هُنا؟ هَلْ يَتَحَدَّثُ عَنْ نَفسِهِ أمْ عَنْ شَخصٍ آخَرَ؟»

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35 ف َبَدَأ فِيلِبُّسُ يَتَحَدَّثُ، وَبَشَّرَهُ بِيَسُوعَ، مُبتَدِئاً مِنْ تِلكَ الفِقْرَةِ.

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36 و َبَينَما كانا نازِلَينِ فِي الطَّرِيقِ، وَصَلا إلَى بُقعَةٍ فِيها ماءٌ. فَقالَ الرَّجُلُ: «انظُرْ! يُوجَدُ ماءٌ هُنا! فَهَلْ هُناكَ مانِعٌ مِنْ أنْ أتَعَمَّدَ؟»

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 ف َأجابَ فِيلِبُّسُ: «إنْ كُنتَ قَدْ آمَنْتَ مِنْ كُلِّ قَلبِكَ، يُمكِنُ أنْ تَتَعَمَّدَ.» فَقالَ الرَّجُلُ: «أنا أؤمِنُ بِأنَّ يَسوعَ هُوَ ابْنُ اللهِ.»

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 و َأمَرَ أنْ تَقِفَ العَرَبَةُ. فَنَزَلَ فِيلِبُّسُ وَالرَّجُلُ مَعاً إلَى الماءِ، وَعَمَّدَهُ فِيلِبُّسُ.

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39 و َعِندَما خَرَجا مِنَ الماءِ، نَقَلَ رُوحُ الرَّبِّ فِيلِبُّسُ بَعِيداً، فَلَمْ يَعُدِ الرَّجُلُ يَراهُ، لَكِنَّهُ تابَعَ طَرِيقَهُ مُبتَهِجاً.

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

40 و َأمّا فِيلِبُّسُ، فَوَجَدَ نَفسَهُ فِي مَدِينَةِ أشدُودَ. وَارتَحَلَ عَبرَ كُلِّ البَلداتِ مُبَشِّراً، حَتَّى وَصَلَ إلَى مَدِينَةِ قَيصَرِيَّةَ.

But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.