1 Y SAULO consentía en su muerte. Y en aquel día se hizo una grande persecución en la iglesia que estaba en Jerusalem; y todos fueron esparcidos por las tierras de Judea y de Samaria, salvo 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 Y llevaron á enterrar á Esteban varones piadosos, é hicieron gran llanto sobre él.

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

3 E ntonces Saulo asolaba la iglesia, entrando por las casas: y trayendo hombres y mujeres, los entregaba en la cárcel.

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 M as los que fueron esparcidos, iban por todas partes anunciando la palabra.

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

5 E ntonces Felipe, descendiendo á la ciudad de Samaria, les predicaba á Cristo.

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

6 Y las gentes escuchaban atentamente unánimes las cosas que decía Felipe, oyendo y viendo las señales 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, salían éstos dando grandes voces; y muchos 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 A sí que había gran gozo en aquella ciudad.

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

9 Y había un hombre llamado Simón, el cual había sido antes mágico en aquella ciudad, y había engañado la gente de Samaria, diciéndose ser algún grande:

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 A l cual oían todos atentamente desde al más pequeño hasta el más grande, diciendo: Este es la gran virtud de Dios.

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

11 Y le estaban atentos, porque con sus artes mágicas los había embelesado mucho tiempo.

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

12 M as cuando creyeron á Felipe, que anunciaba el evangelio del reino de Dios y el nombre de Jesucristo, se bautizaban hombres y 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 E l mismo Simón creyó también entonces, y bautizándose, se llegó á Felipe: y viendo los milagros y grandes maravillas que se hacían, estaba atónito.

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 Y los apóstoles que estaban en Jerusalem, habiendo oído que Samaria había recibido la palabra de Dios, les enviaron á Pedro y á 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 L os cuales venidos, oraron por ellos, para que recibiesen el Espíritu Santo;

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

16 ( Porque aun no había descendido sobre ninguno de ellos, mas solamente eran bautizados en el nombre de 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 les impusieron las manos, y recibieron el Espíritu Santo.

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

18 Y como vió Simón que por la imposición de las manos de los apóstoles se daba el Espíritu Santo, 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 D iciendo: Dadme también á mí esta potestad, que á cualquiera que pusiere las manos encima, 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 dijo: Tu dinero perezca contigo, que piensas que el don de Dios se gane por 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 tú parte ni suerte en este negocio; 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 A rrepiéntete pues de esta tu maldad, y ruega á Dios, si quizás te será perdonado el pensamiento 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 en hiel de amargura y en prisión de maldad veo que estás.

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

24 R espondiendo entonces Simón, dijo: Rogad vosotros por mí al Señor, que ninguna cosa de estas que habéis dicho, venga sobre mí.

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

25 Y ellos, habiendo testificado y hablado la palabra de Dios, se volvieron á Jerusalem, y en muchas tierras de los Samaritanos anunciaron el evangelio.

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 E mpero el ángel de Señor habló á Felipe, diciendo: Levántate y ve hacia el mediodía, al camino que desciende de Jerusalem á Gaza, el cual es 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 ntonces él se levantó, y fué: y he aquí un Etiope, eunuco, gobernador de Candace, reina de los Etiopes, el cual era puesto sobre todos sus tesoros, y había venido á adorar á Jerusalem,

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 S e volvía sentado en su carro, y leyendo el 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 á Felipe: Llégate, y júntate á este carro.

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

30 Y acudiendo Felipe, le oyó que leía el profeta Isaías, y dijo: Mas ¿entiendes lo que lees?

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 Y dijo: ¿Y cómo podré, si alguno no me enseñare? Y rogó á Felipe que subiese, y se sentase 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 Y el lugar de la Escritura que leía, era éste: Como oveja á la muerte fué llevado; Y como cordero mudo delante del que le trasquila, Así no abrió 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 humillación su juicio fué quitado: Mas su generación, ¿quién la contará? Porque es quitada de la tierra su vida.

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 Y respondiendo el eunuco á Felipe, dijo: Ruégote ¿de quién el profeta dice esto? ¿de sí, ó de otro alguno?

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

35 E ntonces Felipe, abriendo su boca, y comenzando desde esta escritura, le anunció el evangelio de Jesús.

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

36 Y yendo por el camino, llegaron á cierta agua; y dijo el eunuco: He aquí 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 dijo: Si crees de todo corazón, bien puedes. Y respondiendo, dijo: Creo que Jesucristo es el Hijo de Dios.

(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 carro: y descendieron ambos al agua, Felipe y el eunuco; y bautizóle.

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

39 Y como subieron del agua, el Espíritu del Señor arrebató á Felipe; y no le vió más el eunuco, y se fué por 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 F elipe empero se halló en Azoto: y pasando, anunciaba el evangelio en todas las ciudades, hasta que llegó á 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.