1Savao je odobravao Stjepanovo smaknuće.
Progonstvo vjernika
Tog je dana započeo veliki val progona Crkve u Jeruzalemu pa su se svi osim apostola razbježali po Judeji i Samariji. 2Neki pobožni ljudi pokopali su Stjepana i održali veliko žalovanje za njim. 3Savao je pak pustošio Crkvu. Išao je od kuće do kuće te muškarce i žene odvlačio i predavao u tamnicu.
Filip propovijeda u Samariji
4Ali vjernici koji su pobjegli iz Jeruzalema posvuda su išli navješćujući Radosnu vijest o Isusu. 5Filip je, primjerice, otišao u Samariju i ondje ljudima propovijedao o Kristu. 6Mnoštvo je jednodušno prihvaćalo Filipove riječi slušajući ga i gledajući čudesa koja je činio. 7Izgonio je mnoge nečiste duhove koji su vrišteći izlazili iz opsjednutih. Iscijelio je mnoge uzete i hrome. 8U tomu je gradu tako zavladala velika radost.
9Neki čovjek imenom Šimun već se dugo ondje bavio čarobnjaštvom. Opčaravao je narod i izdavao se za velikog čovjeka. 10Samarijanci su mu se, od najmanjega do najvećega, priklanjali i nazivali ga “velikim” i “Božjom silom”. 11Činili su to zato što ih je dugo opčaravao svojim vradžbinama. 12Ali tada su povjerovali Filipu koji je navješćivao Radosnu vijest o Božjemu kraljevstvu i imenu Isusa Krista. Krstili su se muškarci i žene. 13I sam je Šimun povjerovao i krstio se te slijedio Filipa kuda god je išao. Zadivljeno je promatrao čudesa i znamenje koje je Filip činio.
14Kad su apostoli u Jeruzalemu čuli da su u Samariji prihvatili Božju riječ, pošalju onamo Petra i Ivana. 15Oni dođu i pomole se za obraćenike da prime Svetoga Duha. 16Jer Sveti Duh još nije sišao ni na koga od njih. Bili su samo kršteni u ime Gospodina Isusa. 17Polagali su ruke na njih te su primali Svetoga Duha.
18Kad je Šimun vidio da ljudi primaju Svetoga Duha kad apostoli na njih polože ruke, ponudi apostolima novac: 19“Dajte i meni tu moć da svatko na koga položim ruke primi Svetoga Duha!”
20Ali Petar mu odgovori: “Propao i taj novac i ti skupa s njim! Misliš li da Božji dar možeš kupiti novcem? 21Ti na ovo nemaš pravo jer ti srce nije pravo pred Bogom! 22Obrati se od svoje zloće i moli se Gospodinu pa će ti možda oprostiti nakane zlog srca. 23Vidim da si pun gorčine i okovan grijehom.”
24“Vi se za mene molite Gospodinu da me ne snađe to što ste rekli!” odgovori Šimun.
25Pošto su svjedočili i propovijedali Božju riječ u Samariji, Petar i Ivan vratili su se u Jeruzalem. Putem su se zaustavljali u samarijskim selima navješćujući Radosnu vijest.
Filip i Etiopljanin
26A Filipu reče anđeo Gospodnji: “Kreni na jug pustom cestom što iz Jeruzalema vodi u Gazu.” 27I Filip pođe. Susretne nekog Etiopljanina, dvorskog rizničara, visokog dostojanstvenika etiopske kraljice, kandake. On je išao u Jeruzalem da se pokloni Bogu. 28Vraćajući se iz Jeruzalema sjedio je u kočiji i čitao naglas iz Knjige proroka Izaije.
29Sveti Duh reče Filipu: “Priđi i hodaj uz kočiju!”
30Filip pritrči. Začuje kako čovjek čita Izaiju pa upita: “Razumijete li to što čitate?”
31“A kako da razumijem ako me tko ne pouči?” odgovori čovjek. Zamoli Filipa da se popne u kočiju i sjedne do njega. 32Čitao je ovaj ulomak:
“Odveli su ga kao ovcu na klanje.
Kao janje nijemo pred onima što ga strižu,
ni usta nije otvorio.
33Ponižen je i lišen pravde.
Tko da opiše njegov naraštaj?
Jer život je njegov uzet sa zemlje.”8:32-33 Izaija 53:7-8.
34Dostojanstvenik zatim upita Filipa: “Reci mi, molim te, govori li to prorok o sebi ili o kome drugome?” 35Filip mu, počevši od toga ulomka, objasni evanđelje i navijesti Isusa.
36Vozeći se tako naiđu na neku vodu, a dostojanstvenik upita: “Evo vode! Što me priječi da se krstim?”8:36 Neki rukopisi sadržavaju i 37. stih: “Možeš se krstiti”, odgovori Filip, “ako vjeruješ svim srcem.” Dostojanstvenik odgovori: “Vjerujem da je Isus Krist Božji Sin.” 38Zapovjedi da kočija stane pa obojica siđu do vode. Filip ga ondje krsti.
39Kad su izišli iz vode, Sveti Duh ponese Filipa i dostojanstvenik ga više nije vidio. On radosno nastavi svojim putem, 40a Filip se nađe u gradu Azotu. Kud god je išao, putem je po gradovima propovijedao Radosnu vijest sve dok nije stigao u Cezareju.
1And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles. 2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 5Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8And there was great joy in that city. 9But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 24Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. 25And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. 26And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.
