1 S aul îşi dăduse consimţământul la uciderea lui Ştefan. Chiar în ziua aceea a izbucnit o mare persecuţie împotriva bisericii din Ierusalim şi toţi, în afară de apostoli, s-au împrăştiat prin regiunile Iudeii şi ale Samariei.

And Saul was consenting to death '> pleased and entirely approving]. On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers).

2 N işte oameni evlavioşi l-au îngropat pe Ştefan şi l-au jelit mult.

devout men with others helped to carry out and bury Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

3 S aul însă făcea prăpăd în biserică, intrând prin case, luând cu forţa bărbaţi şi femei şi aruncându-i în închisoare.

But Saul shamefully treated and laid waste the church continuously; and entering house after house, he dragged out men and women and committed them to prison.

4 C ei ce fuseseră împrăştiaţi vesteau Cuvântul pe oriunde treceau.

Now those who were scattered abroad went about preaching the glad tidings, the Word '> the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God].

5 F ilip s-a coborât într-o cetate a Samariei şi le-a predicat pe Cristos.

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the Messiah) to them;

6 M ulţimile luau aminte în acelaşi gând la cele spuse de Filip, când au auzit şi au văzut semnele pe care le făcea.

And great crowds of people with one accord listened to and heeded what was said by Philip, as they heard him and watched the miracles and wonders which he kept performing.

7 C ăci din mulţi demoniaci ieşeau duhuri rele, scoţând strigăte puternice, şi mulţi paralitici şi şchiopi erau vindecaţi.

For foul spirits came out of many who were possessed by them, screaming and shouting with a loud voice, and many who were suffering from palsy or were crippled were restored to health.

8 A stfel, a fost o mare bucurie în cetatea aceea.

And there was great rejoicing in that city.

9 Î n cetate era un om pe nume Simon, care practica vrăjitoria şi uimea neamul Samariei, pretinzând că ar fi cineva important.

But there was a man named Simon, who had formerly practiced magic arts in the city to the utter amazement of the Samaritan nation, claiming that he himself was an extraordinary and distinguished person.

10 Ş i toţi, de la cel mai mic până la cel mai mare, luau aminte la el şi spuneau: „El este puterea lui Dumnezeu, cea numită «mare»!“

They all paid earnest attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that exhibition of the power of God which is called great (intense).

11 Î l ascultau cu luare-aminte pentru că de mult timp îi uimise cu vrăjitoriile lui.

And they were attentive and made much of him, because for a long time he had amazed and bewildered and dazzled them with his skill in magic arts.

12 D ar când au crezut pe Filip, care vestea Evanghelia despre Împărăţia lui Dumnezeu şi despre Numele lui Isus Cristos, au fost botezaţi atât bărbaţi, cât şi femei.

But when they believed the good news (the Gospel) about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) as Philip preached it, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 C hiar şi Simon însuşi a crezut şi, după ce a fost botezat, stătea tot timpul cu Filip şi se mira văzând semnele şi minunile mari care se făceau.

Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized, devoted himself constantly to him. And seeing signs and miracles of great power which were being performed, he was utterly amazed.

14 A postolii care erau în Ierusalim, când au auzit că Samaria primise Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu, i-au trimis la ei pe Petru şi pe Ioan.

Now when the apostles (special messengers) at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted and welcomed the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

15 C ând au ajuns, s-au rugat pentru ei ca să primească Duhul Sfânt.

And they came down and prayed for them that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit;

16 C ăci Duhul Sfânt nu Se coborâse încă peste nici unul dintre ei, ci fuseseră doar botezaţi în Numele Domnului Isus.

For He had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 A tunci şi-au pus mâinile peste ei, iar aceia au primit Duhul Sfânt.

Then laid their hands on them one by one, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 C ând a văzut Simon că Duhul era dat prin punerea mâinilor apostolilor, le-a oferit bani,

However, when Simon saw that the Spirit was imparted through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he brought money and offered it to them,

19 s punând: – Daţi-mi şi mie autoritatea aceasta, ca oricine peste care-mi pun eu mâinile să primească Duhul Sfânt!

Saying, Grant me also this power and authority, in order that anyone on whom I place my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.

20 P etru însă i-a zis: – Banii tăi să piară împreună cu tine, pentru că ai crezut că darul lui Dumnezeu s-ar putea obţine cu bani!

But Peter said to him, Destruction overtake your money and you, because you imagined you could obtain the gift of God with money!

21 T u n-ai nici parte, nici sorţ în lucrarea aceasta, pentru că inima ta nu este cinstită înaintea lui Dumnezeu!

You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is all wrong in God’s sight.

22 P ocăieşte-te deci de această răutate a ta şi roagă-te Domnului ca, dacă este posibil, să-ţi ierte această intenţie a inimii tale,

So repent of this depravity and wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this contriving thought and purpose of your heart may be removed and disregarded and forgiven you.

23 c ăci văd că eşti plin de otravă amară şi în lanţul nedreptăţii!

For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in a bond forged by iniquity.

24 S imon a răspuns: – Rugaţi-vă voi Domnului pentru mine, ca nimic din ceea ce aţi spus să nu vină peste mine!

And Simon answered, Pray for me, that nothing of what you have said may befall me!

25 D upă ce au depus mărturie şi au vorbit despre Cuvântul Domnului, Petru şi Ioan s-au întors în Ierusalim, vestind Evanghelia în multe sate de-ale samaritenilor. Filip şi eunucul etiopian

Now when had borne their testimony and preached the message of the Lord, they went back to Jerusalem, proclaiming the glad tidings (Gospel) to many villages of the Samaritans.

26 U n înger al Domnului i-a vorbit lui Filip astfel: „Scoală-te şi du-te spre sud, pe drumul din pustie, care coboară din Ierusalim spre Gaza!“

But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Rise and proceed southward or at midday on the road that runs from Jerusalem down to Gaza. This is the desert '> route].

27 F ilip s-a sculat şi s-a dus. Şi iată că un eunuc etiopian, înalt oficial al lui Candake, regina etiopienilor, şi responsabil peste toată vistieria ei, venise să se închine în Ierusalim,

So he got up and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship.

28 i ar acum se întorcea de acolo, stând în carul lui de călătorie şi citindu-l pe profetul Isaia.

And he was returning, and sitting in his chariot he was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.

29 D uhul i-a zis lui Filip: „Du-te şi însoţeşte carul acela!“

Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go forward and join yourself to this chariot.

30 F ilip a alergat către el şi l-a auzit pe eunuc citindu-l pe profetul Isaia. El l-a întrebat: – Înţelegi ce citeşti?

Accordingly Philip, running up to him, heard reading the prophet Isaiah and asked, Do you really understand what you are reading?

31 A cesta i-a răspuns: – Cum aş putea, dacă nu mă va îndruma cineva? Şi l-a rugat pe Filip să se suie în car şi să se aşeze lângă el.

And he said, How is it possible for me to do so unless someone explains it to me and guides me ? And he earnestly requested Philip to come up and sit beside him.

32 P asajul din Scriptură pe care-l citea era acesta: „Ca o oaie care este dusă la tăiere şi ca un miel care tace înaintea celui ce-l tunde, tot aşa nici El nu Şi-a deschis gura.

Now this was the passage of Scripture which he was reading: Like a sheep He was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so He opens not His mouth.

33 Î n smerenia Lui, dreptatea I-a fost negată. Cine va putea vorbi despre generaţia Lui? Căci viaţa I-a fost luată de pe pământ!“

In His humiliation He was taken away by distressing and oppressive judgment and justice was denied Him. Who can describe or relate in full the wickedness of His contemporaries (generation)? For His life is taken from the earth and a bloody death inflicted upon Him.

34 E unucul l-a întrebat pe Filip: – Spune-mi, te rog, despre cine spune profetul aceste lucruri? Despre sine sau despre altcineva?

And the eunuch said to Philip, I beg of you, tell me about whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?

35 A tunci Filip a luat cuvântul şi, începând de la Scriptura aceasta, i-a vestit Evanghelia despre Isus.

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this portion of Scripture he announced to him the glad tidings (Gospel) of Jesus and about Him.

36 Î n timp ce călătoreau de-a lungul drumului, au ajuns la o apă. Eunucul a zis: – Uite apă! Ce mă împiedică să fiu botezat?

And as they continued along on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch exclaimed, See, water! What is to hinder my being baptized?

37 ( Filip a zis: – Dacă crezi din toată inima ta, poţi! El i-a răspuns: – Cred că Isus Cristos este Fiul lui Dumnezeu!)

And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart '> a conviction, full of joyful trust, that Jesus is the Messiah and accept Him as the Author of your salvation in the kingdom of God, giving Him your obedience, then] you may. And he replied, I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 A poruncit să stea carul, au coborât amândoi în apă, atât Filip, cât şi eunucul, iar Filip l-a botezat.

And he ordered that the chariot be stopped; and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and baptized him.

39 C ând au ieşit din apă, Duhul Domnului l-a răpit pe Filip, astfel că eunucul nu l-a mai văzut şi şi-a continuat drumul bucuros.

And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord '> suddenly] caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing.

40 F ilip s-a pomenit în Azot şi, călătorind spre Cezareea, a vestit Evanghelia prin toate cetăţile, până când a ajuns acolo.

But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing on he preached the good news (Gospel) to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.