1 S aul se învoise la uciderea lui Ştefan. În ziua aceea, s'a pornit o mare prigonire împotriva Bisericii din Ierusalim. Şi toţi, afară de apostoli, s'au împrăştiat prin părţile 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 temători de Dumnezeu au îngropat pe Ştefan, şi l-au jălit cu mare tînguire.

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

3 S aul de partea lui, făcea prăpăd în Biserică; intra prin case, lua cu sila pe bărbaţi şi pe femei, şi -i arunca în temniţă.

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 eice se împrăştiaseră, mergeau din loc în loc, şi propovăduiau Cuvîntul.

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 coborît în cetatea Samariei, şi le -a propovăduit pe Hristos.

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

6 N oroadele luau aminte cu un gînd la cele spuse de Filip, cînd au auzit şi au văzut semnele, pe cari 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 îndrăciţi ieşeau duhuri necurate, şi scoteau mari ţipete; mulţi slăbănogi şi şchiopi erau tămăduiţi.

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 Ş i a fost o mare bucurie în cetatea aceasta.

And there was great rejoicing in that city.

9 Î n cetate era un om, numit Simon, care zicea că este un om însemnat; el vrăjea şi punea în uimire pe poporul Samariei.

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 T oţi, dela mic pînă la mare, îl ascultau cu luare aminte, şi ziceau:,, Acesta este puterea lui Dumnezeu, cea care se numeşte, 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, pentrucă multă vreme 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 cînd au crezut pe Filip, care propovăduia Evanghelia Împărăţiei lui Dumnezeu şi a Numelui lui Isus Hristos, au fost botezaţi, atît bărbaţi cît 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 Simon a crezut; şi dupăce a fost botezat, nu se mai despărţea de Filip, şi privea cu uimire minunile şi semnele mari cari 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, cari erau în Ierusalim, cînd au auzit că Samaria a primit Cuvîntul lui Dumnezeu, au trimes 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 A ceştia au venit la Samariteni, şi s'au rugat pentru ei, ca să primească Duhul Sfînt.

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

16 C ăci nu Se pogorîse încă peste niciunul din ei, ci fuseseră numai 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 Petru şi Ioan au pus mînile peste ei, şi aceia au primit Duhul Sfînt.

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

18 C înd a văzut Simon că Duhul Sfînt era dat prin punerea mînilor apostolilor, le -a dat 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 ş i a zis:,, Daţi-mi şi mie puterea aceasta, pentruca peste oricine-mi voi pune mînile, să primească Duhul Sfînt.``

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

20 D ar Petru i -a zis:,, Banii tăi să piară împreună cu tine, pentrucă ai crezut că darul lui Dumnezeu s'ar putea căpăta 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 toată treaba aceasta, căci inima ta nu este curată 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 dar de această răutate a ta, şi roagă-te Domnului să ţi se ierte gîndul acesta al inimii tale, dacă este cu putinţă;

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 fiere amară, şi în lanţurile fărădelegii.``

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 să nu mi se întîmple nimic din ce aţi zis.``

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

25 D upă ce au mărturisit despre Cuvîntul Domnului, şi după ce l-au propovăduit, Petru şi Ioan s'au întors la Ierusalim, vestind Evanghelia în multe sate de ale Samaritenilor.

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 a vorbit lui Filip, şi i -a zis:,, Scoală-te, şi du-te spre miazăzi, pe drumul care pogoară spre Ierusalim la Gaza, şi care este pustiu.``

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 a plecat. Şi iată că un Etiopian, un famen cu mare putere la împărăteasa Candace a Etiopienilor, şi îngrijitorul tuturor vistieriilor ei, venit la Ierusalim ca să se închine,

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 s e întorcea de acolo, şi şedea în carul lui, şi citea pe proorocul Isaia.

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

29 D uhul a zis lui Filip:,, Du-te, şi ajunge carul acesta!``

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

30 F ilip a alergat, şi a auzit pe Etiopian citind pe proorocul Isaia. El i -a zis:,,Înţelegi tu ce citeşti?``

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

31 F amenul a răspuns:,, Cum aş putea să înţeleg, dacă nu mă va călăuzi cineva?`` Şi a rugat pe Filip să se suie în car, şi să şadă împreună cu 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 L ocul din Scriptură, pe care -l citea, era acesta:,, El a fost dus ca o oaie la tăiere; şi, ca un miel fără glas înaintea celui ce -l tunde, aşa 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, judecata I -a fost luată. Şi cine va zugrăvi pe cei din timpul Lui? Căci viaţa I -a fost luată de pe pămînt.``

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 F amenul a zis lui Filip:,, Rogu-te, despre cine vorbeşte proorocul astfel? Despre sine sau despre vreun altul?``

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 cuvîntul, a început dela Scriptura aceasta, şi i -a propovăduit pe 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 P e cînd îşi urmau ei drumul, au dat peste o apă. Şi famenul 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 F ilip a zis:,, Dacă crezi din toată inima, se poate.`` Famenul a răspuns:,, Cred că Isus Hristos 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, s'au pogorît amîndoi în apă, şi Filip a botezat pe famen.

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

39 C înd au ieşit afară din apă, Duhul Domnului a răpit pe Filip, şi famenul nu l -a mai văzut. În timp ce famenul îşi vedea de drum, plin de bucurie,

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 se afla la Azot, de unde s'a dus pînă la Cezarea. Şi propovăduia Evanghelia în toate cetăţile prin care trecea.

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