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

Saul thought it was all right that Stephen was killed. On that day people started to work very hard against the church in Jerusalem. All the followers, except the missionaries, were made to leave. They went to parts of the countries of Judea and Samaria.

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

Good men put Stephen in a grave. There was much sorrow because of him.

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

During this time Saul was making it very hard for the church. He went into every house of the followers of Jesus and took men and women and put them in prison. Philip Preaches in Samaria

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

Those who had been made to go to other places preached the Word as they went.

5 و َذَهَبَ فِيلِبُّسُ إلَى مَدِينَةِ السّامِرَةِ مُبَشِّراً بِالمَسِيحِ.

Philip went down to a city in Samaria and preached about Christ.

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

The people all listened to what Philip said. As they listened, they watched him do powerful works.

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

There were many people who had demons in their bodies. The demons cried with loud voices when they went out of the people. Many of the people could not move their bodies or arms and legs. They were all healed.

8 ف َكانَ هُناكَ فَرَحٌ عَظِيمٌ فِي تِلكَ المَدِينَةِ.

There was much joy in that city. Simon the Witch Doctor

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

A man by the name of Simon had done witchcraft there. The people of Samaria were surprised at the things he did. He pretended that he was a great man.

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

All the people watched and listened to him. They said, “This man must be that great power of God.”

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

They kept running after him. For a long time he fooled them with his witchcraft.

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

Philip told the Good News of the holy nation of God and of Jesus Christ. Both men and women put their trust in Christ and were baptized.

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

Even Simon believed in Christ and was baptized. He went along with Philip everywhere. He was surprised when he saw the powerful works that were being done.

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

The missionaries in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had received the Word of God. They sent Peter and John to them.

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

When Peter and John got there, they prayed that the new followers might receive the Holy Spirit.

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

He had not yet come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 ث ُمَّ وَضَعا أيدِيَهُما عَلَيهِمْ، فَقَبِلُوا الرُّوحَ القُدُسَ.

They laid their hands on them and the followers received the Holy Spirit.

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

When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given when the missionaries laid their hands on the people, he wanted to give money to the missionaries.

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

He said, “Let me also have this power. Then I can give the Holy Spirit to anyone I lay my hands on.”

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

Peter said to him, “May your money be destroyed with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!

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

You have no part or place in this work. Your heart is not right in God’s sight.

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

You must be sorry for this sin of yours and turn from it. Pray to the Lord that He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

23 ف َأنا أراكَ مُمتَلِئاً مَرارَةً وَعَبداً لِلخَطِيَّةِ.»

I see that you are full of jealousy and chained by your sin.”

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

Simon said, “Pray to the Lord for me that nothing you have said will come to 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

Peter and John went back to Jerusalem after telling what they had seen and heard. They had preached the Word of the Lord also. On the way they preached the Good News in many other towns in the country of Samaria. Philip and the Man from Ethiopia

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

An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south. Take the road that goes down from Jerusalem to the country of Gaza. It goes through the 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.

Philip got up and went. A man from the country of Ethiopia had come to Jerusalem to worship. He had been made so he could not have children. He cared for all the riches that belonged to Candace who was Queen of Ethiopia.

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

As he was going back home, he was sitting in his wagon reading about the early preacher Isaiah.

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

The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that wagon and get on it.”

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

Philip ran up to him. He saw that the man from Ethiopia was reading from the writings of the early preacher Isaiah and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

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

The man from Ethiopia said, “How can I, unless someone teaches me?” Then he asked Philip to come up and sit beside him.

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

He was reading the part in the Holy Writings which says He was taken like a lamb to be put to death. A sheep does not make a sound while its wool is cut. So He made no sound.

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

No one listened to Him because of His shame. Who will tell the story of His day? For His life was taken away from the earth.

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

The man from Ethiopia said to Philip, “Who is the early preacher talking about, himself, or someone else?”

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

So Philip started with this part of the Holy Writings and preached the Good News of Jesus to him.

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

As they went on their way, they came to some water. The man from Ethiopia said, “See! Here is water. What is to stop me from being baptized?”

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

(Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The man 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.

He stopped the wagon. Then both Philip and the man from Ethiopia went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

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

When they came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit took Philip away. The man from Ethiopia did not see Philip again. He went on his way full of joy.

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

Philip found himself at the city of Azotus. Then Philip went through all the towns as far as the city of Caesarea preaching the Good News at each place.