1 Y Saulo (Pablo) estaba de completo acuerdo con ellos en su muerte. Saulo Persigue a la Iglesia En aquel día se desató una gran persecución en contra de la iglesia en Jerusalén, y todos fueron esparcidos por las regiones de Judea y Samaria, excepto los apóstoles.

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 A lgunos hombres piadosos sepultaron a Esteban y lloraron a gran voz por él.

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

3 P ero Saulo hacía estragos en la iglesia entrando de casa en casa, y arrastrando a hombres y mujeres, los echaba en la cárcel. Predicación de Felipe en Samaria

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 A sí que los que habían sido esparcidos iban predicando (anunciando las buenas nuevas de) la palabra.

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

5 F elipe, descendiendo a la ciudad de Samaria, les predicaba a Cristo (el Mesías).

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

6 Y las multitudes unánimes prestaban atención a lo que Felipe decía, al oír y ver las señales (los milagros) que hacía.

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

7 P orque de muchos que tenían espíritus inmundos, éstos salían de ellos gritando a gran voz; y muchos que habían sido paralíticos y cojos eran sanados.

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 Y había gran regocijo en aquella ciudad. Simón el Mago

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

9 H acía tiempo que cierto hombre llamado Simón, estaba ejerciendo la magia en la ciudad y asombrando a la gente de Samaria, pretendiendo ser un gran personaje;

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 y todos, desde el menor hasta el mayor, le prestaban atención, y decían: “Este es el que se llama el Gran Poder de Dios.”

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

11 L e prestaban atención porque por mucho tiempo los había asombrado con sus artes mágicas.

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

12 P ero cuando creyeron a Felipe, que anunciaba las buenas nuevas (el evangelio) del reino de Dios y el nombre de Cristo Jesús, se bautizaban, tanto hombres como mujeres.

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 Y aun Simón mismo creyó; y después de bautizarse, continuó con Felipe, y estaba atónito al ver las señales y los grandes milagros que se hacían. Pedro y Juan en Samaria

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 C uando los apóstoles que estaban en Jerusalén oyeron que Samaria había recibido la palabra de Dios, les enviaron a Pedro y a Juan,

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

15 q uienes descendieron y oraron por ellos para que recibieran el Espíritu Santo.

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

16 P orque todavía no había descendido el Espíritu Santo sobre ninguno de ellos; sólo habían sido bautizados en el nombre del Señor Jesús.

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

17 E ntonces Pedro y Juan les imponían las manos, y recibían el Espíritu Santo.

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

18 C uando Simón vio que el Espíritu se daba por la imposición de las manos de los apóstoles, les ofreció dinero,

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 y les dijo: “Denme también a mí esta autoridad, de manera que todo aquél sobre quien ponga mis manos reciba el Espíritu Santo.”

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

20 E ntonces Pedro le contestó: “Que tu plata perezca contigo, porque pensaste que podías obtener el don de Dios con dinero.

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

21 N o tienes parte ni suerte en este asunto (esta enseñanza), porque tu corazón no es recto delante de Dios.

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

22 P or tanto, arrepiéntete de esta tu maldad, y ruega al Señor que si es posible se te perdone el intento de tu corazón.

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 P orque veo que estás en hiel de amargura y en cadena de iniquidad.”

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

24 P ero Simón respondió: “Rueguen ustedes al Señor por mí, para que no me sobrevenga nada de lo que han dicho.”

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

25 Y ellos, después de haber testificado solemnemente y hablado la palabra del Señor, iniciaron el regreso a Jerusalén anunciando el evangelio (las buenas nuevas) en muchas aldeas de los Samaritanos. Felipe y el Etíope Eunuco

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 U n ángel del Señor le dijo a Felipe: “Levántate y ve hacia el sur, al camino que desciende de Jerusalén a Gaza.” Este es un camino desierto.

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 E l se levantó y fue. Y había un eunuco Etíope, alto oficial de Candace, reina de los Etíopes, el cual estaba encargado de todos sus tesoros, que había venido a Jerusalén para adorar.

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 R egresaba a su país sentado en su carruaje, y leía al profeta Isaías.

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

29 Y el Espíritu dijo a Felipe: “Ve y júntate a ese carruaje.”

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

30 C uando Felipe se acercó corriendo, le oyó leer al profeta Isaías, y le preguntó: “¿Entiende usted lo que lee?”

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 E l eunuco le respondió: “¿Cómo podré, a menos que alguien me guíe?” E invitó a Felipe a que subiera y se sentara con él.

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

32 E l pasaje de la Escritura que estaba leyendo era éste: “ Como oveja fue llevado al matadero; y como cordero, mudo delante del que lo trasquila, no abre el Su boca.

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 E n Su humillacion no se Le hizo justicia; ¿ quien contara Su generacion ? Porque Su vida es quitada de la tierra.”

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 E l eunuco le dijo a Felipe: “Le ruego que me diga, ¿de quién dice esto el profeta? ¿De sí mismo, o de algún otro?”

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

35 E ntonces Felipe, comenzando con este pasaje de la Escritura, le anunció el evangelio (las buenas nuevas) de Jesús.

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

36 Y endo por el camino, llegaron a un lugar donde había agua; y el eunuco dijo: “Ahí hay agua. ¿Qué impide que yo sea bautizado ?”

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 Y Felipe le dijo: “Si usted cree con todo su corazón, puede.” “Creo que Jesucristo es el Hijo de Dios,” respondió el eunuco.

(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 Y mandó parar el carruaje; ambos descendieron al agua, y Felipe lo bautizó.

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

39 A l salir ellos del agua, el Espíritu del Señor arrebató a Felipe; y no lo vio más el eunuco, que continuó su camino gozoso.

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 P ero Felipe se encontró en Azoto, y por donde pasaba, anunciaba el evangelio en todas las ciudades, hasta que llegó a Cesarea.

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.