1 S aulo estuvo de acuerdo con la muerte de Esteban, y ese día se desató una gran persecución contra la iglesia que estaba en Jerusalén, y muchos se dispersaron por las tierras de Judea y de Samaria, menos los apóstoles.

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 Y mientras que unos hombres piadosos levantaron a Esteban y lo enterraron y lloraron mucho por él,

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

3 S aulo hacía destrozos en la iglesia: entraba a las casas, y arrastraba a hombres y mujeres y los llevaba a la cárcel. Predicación del evangelio en Samaria

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 M ientras tanto, los que se habían dispersado iban por todas partes anunciando el evangelio.

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 ue así como Felipe llegó a la ciudad de Samaria, y allí les predicaba a Cristo.

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

6 T oda la gente escuchaba con atención lo que les decía Felipe, y oían y veían los milagros que hacía.

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 M uchos de los que tenían espíritus malignos eran sanados, y los espíritus salían de ellos lanzando fuertes gritos; también muchos de los cojos y paralíticos quedaban sanos,

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 y había una gran alegría en toda la ciudad.

And there was great rejoicing in that city.

9 H abía en Samaria un hombre llamado Simón, que antes había practicado la magia, y con ella engañaba a la gente, pues les hacía creer que era muy poderoso.

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 odos, desde el más pequeño hasta el más grande, lo escuchaban con mucha atención y decían que era el gran poder de Dios,

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 p ues con sus artes mágicas había captado su atención y por mucho tiempo los había engañado;

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 p ero muchos hombres y mujeres se bautizaron cuando creyeron a Felipe y a las buenas noticias que les anunciaba del reino de Dios y del nombre de Jesucristo.

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 I ncluso el mismo Simón creyó y se bautizó, y siempre andaba con Felipe; y lleno de asombro veía las señales y los grandes milagros que Felipe hacía.

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 L os apóstoles que estaban en Jerusalén se enteraron de que en Samaria se había recibido la palabra de Dios, y enviaron a Pedro y a Juan.

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 uando éstos llegaron, oraron por ellos para que recibieran el Espíritu Santo,

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

16 p orque el Espíritu aún no había descendido sobre ninguno de ellos, ya que sólo habían sido bautizados en el nombre de Jesús.

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

17 E n cuanto les impusieron las manos, recibieron el Espíritu Santo.

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

18 Y al ver Simón que el Espíritu Santo se recibía por la imposición de manos de los apóstoles, les ofreció dinero

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 y les dijo: «Denme también a mí este poder, para que cuando yo imponga las manos sobre cualquier persona, ésta reciba el Espíritu Santo.»

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

20 A l oír esto, Pedro le dijo: «Que tu dinero perezca contigo, si crees que el don de Dios puede comprarse.

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 ú no tienes nada que ver en este asunto, porque en tu interior no eres recto con Dios.

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

22 A rrepiéntete de tu maldad, y ruega a Dios. Tal vez te perdone por ese mal pensamiento.

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 P or lo que veo, estás en manos de la amargura y la maldad.»

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

24 S imón respondió: «Rueguen por mí al Señor, para que no me sobrevenga nada de lo que han dicho.»

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

25 D espués de haber testificado y proclamado la palabra de Dios, ellos volvieron a Jerusalén, y en muchas poblaciones de los samaritanos anunciaron el evangelio. Felipe y el etíope

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 ángel del Señor le habló a Felipe, y le dijo: «Prepárate para ir al desierto del sur, por el camino que va de Jerusalén a 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 elipe obedeció y fue. En el camino vio a un etíope eunuco, funcionario de la Candace, reina de Etiopía. Era el administrador de todos sus tesoros, y había venido a Jerusalén para adorar;

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 y ahora iba de regreso en su carro, leyendo al profeta Isaías.

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

29 E l Espíritu le dijo a Felipe: «Acércate y júntate a ese carro.»

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

30 C uando Felipe se acercó y lo oyó leer al profeta Isaías, le preguntó: «¿Entiendes lo que lees?»

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

31 E l etíope le respondió: «¿Y cómo voy a entender, si nadie me enseña?» Y le rogó a Felipe que subiera al carro y se sentara con él.

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 E l pasaje de la Escritura que leía era éste: «Como oveja fue llevado a la muerte, como cordero delante de sus trasquiladores se callará y no abrirá su boca.

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 S ufrirá la cárcel, el juicio y la muerte; ¿y quién entonces contará su historia, si él será arrancado por completo de este mundo de los vivientes?»

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 l eunuco le preguntó a Felipe: «Te ruego que me digas: ¿De quién habla el profeta? ¿Habla de sí mismo, o de algún otro?»

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 E ntonces Felipe le empezó a explicar a partir de la escritura que leía, y le habló también de las buenas noticias de Jesús.

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 E n el camino encontraron agua, y el eunuco dijo: «Aquí hay agua; ¿hay algo que me impida ser bautizado?»[

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 elipe le dijo: «Si crees de todo corazón, puedes ser bautizado.» Y el eunuco respondió: «Creo que Jesucristo es el Hijo de Dios.»]

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 Y el eunuco mandó detener el carro, y ambos descendieron al agua y Felipe lo bautizó.

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

39 C uando salieron del agua, el Espíritu del Señor se llevó a Felipe y el eunuco no volvió a verlo, pero siguió su camino lleno de gozo.

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 M ientras tanto, Felipe se encontró en Azoto, y allí anunció el evangelio en todas las ciudades, hasta que llegó a Cesarea.

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