1And Saul had agreed with the Sanhedrin that Stephen should die.
The Church Is Treated Badly and Scattered
On that day the church in Jerusalem began to be attacked and treated badly. All except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly Jews buried Stephen. They mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. He went from house to house. He dragged away men and women and put them in prison.
Philip Goes to Samaria
4The believers who had been scattered preached the word everywhere they went. 5Philip went down to a city in Samaria. There he preached about the Messiah. 6The crowds listened to Philip and saw the signs he did. All of them paid close attention to what he said. 7Evil spirits screamed and came out of many people. Many people who were disabled or who couldn’t walk were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Evil Magician
9A man named Simon lived in the city. For quite a while he had practiced evil magic there. He amazed all the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great. 10And all the people listened to him, from the least important of them to the most important. They exclaimed, “It is right to call this man the Great Power of God!” 11He had amazed them for a long time with his evil magic. So they followed him. 12But Philip announced the good news of God’s kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ. So men and women believed and were baptized. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip everywhere. He was amazed by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14The apostles in Jerusalem heard that people in Samaria had accepted God’s word. So they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15When they arrived there, they prayed for the new believers. They prayed that they would receive the Holy Spirit. 16The Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them. And they received the Holy Spirit.
18Simon watched as the apostles placed their hands on them. He saw that the Spirit was given to them. So he offered money to Peter and John. 19He said, “Give me this power too. Then everyone I place my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit.”
20Peter answered, “May your money be destroyed with you! Do you think you can buy God’s gift with money? 21You have no part or share in this holy work. Your heart is not right with God. 22Turn away from this evil sin of yours. Pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23I see that you are very bitter. You are a prisoner of sin.”
24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me. Pray that nothing you have said will happen to me.”
25Peter and John continued to preach the word of the Lord and tell people about Jesus. Then they returned to Jerusalem. On the way they preached the good news in many villages in Samaria.
Philip and the Man From Ethiopia
26An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip. “Go south to the desert road,” he said. “It’s the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27So Philip started out. On his way he met an Ethiopian official. The man had an important position in charge of all the wealth of the Kandake. Kandake means queen of Ethiopia. This official had gone to Jerusalem to worship. 28On his way home he was sitting in his chariot. He was reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29The Holy Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot. Stay near it.”
30So Philip ran up to the chariot. He heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you’re reading?” Philip asked.
31“How can I?” he said. “I need someone to explain it to me.” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32Here is the part of Scripture the official was reading. It says,
“He was led like a sheep to be killed.
Just as lambs are silent while their wool is being cut off,
he did not open his mouth.
33When he was treated badly, he was refused a fair trial.
Who can say anything about his children?
His life was cut off from the earth.” (Isaiah 53:7,8)
34The official said to Philip, “Tell me, please. Who is the prophet talking about? Himself, or someone else?” 35Then Philip began with that same part of Scripture. He told him the good news about Jesus.
36-37As they traveled along the road, they came to some water. The official said, “Look! Here is water! What can stop me from being baptized?” 38He gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the official went down into the water. Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away. The official did not see him again. He went on his way full of joy. 40Philip was seen next at Azotus. From there he traveled all around. He preached the good news in all the towns. Finally he arrived in Caesarea.
18:1 Atũm 7:58; Atũm 9:31Nake Saũlũ aarĩ ho, na agĩĩtĩkĩra atĩ ooragwo.
Kanitha Kũnyariirwo na Kũhurunjwo
Mũthenya ũcio kanitha ũkĩnyariirwo mũno kũu Jerusalemu, nao andũ othe o tiga atũmwo makĩhurunjũkĩra Judea na Samaria. 2Andũ etigĩri Ngai magĩthika Stefano na makĩmũcakaĩra mũno. 38:3 Atũm 7:58; 1Akor 15:9No Saũlũ akĩambĩrĩria kwananga kanitha. Aathiiaga nyũmba o nyũmba, akĩrutũrũraga arũme na andũ-a-nja, akĩmaikagia njeera.
Filipu arĩ Bũrũri wa Samaria
4Nao andũ arĩa maahurunjĩtwo nĩmahunjirie kiugo kĩa Ngai o kũrĩa guothe maathiiaga. 58:5 Atũm 6:5Filipu agĩikũrũka agĩthiĩ itũũra rĩarĩ Samaria, akĩhunjia ũhoro wa Kristũ kuo. 6Rĩrĩa ikundi cia andũ ciaiguire Filipu na ikĩona ciama iria aaringaga, othe magĩthikĩrĩria ũrĩa oigaga. 78:7 Mar 16:17; Math 4:24Ngoma thũku nĩcioimaga andũ aingĩ igĩkayũrũrũkaga, na andũ aingĩ maarũarĩte mũrimũ wa gũkua ciĩga, na andũ arĩa maarĩ onju makĩhonio. 8Nĩ ũndũ ũcio gũkĩgĩa na gĩkeno kĩnene itũũra-inĩ rĩu.
Simoni ũrĩa warĩ Mũragũri
98:9 Atũm 13:6; Atũm 5:36Na rĩrĩ, itũũra-inĩ rĩu nĩ kwarĩ na mũndũ wetagwo Simoni, nake nĩaragũrĩte kwa ihinda na akagegia andũ othe a Samaria. Nake nĩetĩĩaga na ageetua atĩ aarĩ mũndũ mũnene mũno, 10nao andũ othe, arĩa anini na arĩa anene, makamũthikagĩrĩria na makoiga na mũgambo mũnene atĩrĩ, “Mũndũ ũyũ nĩwe hinya wa ũngai ũrĩa ũĩkaine ta Hinya Mũnene.” 11Maatũũrĩte mamuumaga thuutha tondũ nĩamagegetie hĩndĩ ndaaya na ũragũri wake. 128:12 Math 3:2; Atũm 2:38No rĩrĩa meetĩkirie Filipu akĩhunjia Ũhoro-ũrĩa-Mwega wa ũthamaki wa Ngai na wa rĩĩtwa rĩa Jesũ Kristũ-rĩ, makĩbatithio, arũme o hamwe na andũ-a-nja. 138:13 Atũm 19:11Simoni we mwene agĩĩtĩkia na akĩbatithio. Nake akĩrũmĩrĩra Filipu kũrĩa guothe aathiiaga, agegetio nĩ imenyithia cia hinya na ciama iria onaga.
14Rĩrĩa atũmwo arĩa maarĩ kũu Jerusalemu maiguire atĩ andũ a Samaria nĩmetĩkĩrĩte kiugo kĩa Ngai-rĩ, makĩmatũmĩra Petero na Johana. 15Nao maakinya kuo, makĩmahoera nĩguo maamũkĩre Roho Mũtheru, 168:16 Atũm 19:2; Math 28:19tondũ nginya hĩndĩ ĩyo Roho Mũtheru ndaakoretwo aikũrũkĩire mũndũ o na ũmwe wao; tiga o kũbatithio maabatithĩtio thĩinĩ wa rĩĩtwa rĩa Mwathani Jesũ. 178:17 Atũm 6:6Hĩndĩ ĩyo Petero na Johana makĩmaigĩrĩra moko, nao makĩamũkĩra Roho Mũtheru.
18Rĩrĩa Simoni onire atĩ Roho aaheanagwo na ũndũ wa kũigĩrĩrwo moko nĩ atũmwo-rĩ, akĩenda amahe mbeeca, 19akiuga atĩrĩ, “Heei ũhoti ũyũ o na niĩ nĩgeetha ũrĩa wothe ndaigĩrĩra moko makwa akaamũkĩra Roho Mũtheru.”
208:20 2Ath 5:16; Math 10:8; Atũm 2:38Petero akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Mbeeca ciaku irothiranĩra hamwe nawe, nĩgũkorwo wĩciirĩtie no ũgũre kĩheo kĩa Ngai na mbeeca. 21Wee ndũrĩ na handũ, o na ndũrĩ na igai ũtungata-inĩ ũyũ, tondũ ngoro yaku ti njagĩrĩru mbere ya Ngai. 22Wĩrire waganu ũyũ na ũhooe Mwathani. Hihi nĩegũkũrekera nĩ ũndũ wa gũkorwo na rĩciiria ta rĩu ngoro-inĩ yaku. 23Nĩgũkorwo nguona ũiyũrĩtwo nĩ marũrũ na ũgatuĩka ngombo ya mehia.”
248:24 Thaam 8:8Hĩndĩ ĩyo Simoni akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Hooerai harĩ Mwathani nĩgeetha ndikae gũkorwo nĩ ũndũ o na ũmwe wa macio mwagweta.”
25Rĩrĩa maarĩkirie kũheana ũira na kũhunjia kiugo kĩa Mwathani-rĩ, Petero na Johana magĩcooka Jerusalemu, o makĩhunjagia Ũhoro-ũrĩa-Mwega tũtũũra-inĩ tũingĩ twa Samaria.
Filipu na Mũhabashi
268:26 Atũm 5:19Na rĩrĩ, mũraika wa Mwathani akĩĩra Filipu atĩrĩ, “Thiĩ werekeire gũthini, ũkinye njĩra-inĩ, njĩra ĩrĩa ya werũ-inĩ, ĩrĩa ĩikũrũkĩte kuuma Jerusalemu ĩgathiĩ nginya Gaza.” 278:27 Joh 12:20Nĩ ũndũ ũcio akiumagara, na arĩ njĩra-inĩ agĩcemania na Mũhabashi warĩ mũhakũre, mũndũ mũnene warĩ igweta ũrĩa warũgamĩrĩire kĩgĩĩna gĩa Kandake, mũthamaki-mũndũ-wa-nja wa Ahabashi.8:27 Ũmũthĩ bũrũri ũcio ũĩkaine ta Nubia, kana Sudani ya Rũgongo. Mũndũ ũyũ aathiĩte Jerusalemu kũhooya Ngai; 28na arĩ njĩra-inĩ akĩinũka, aaikarĩte ngaari-inĩ yake ya mbarathi agĩthoma ibuku rĩa Isaia ũrĩa mũnabii. 298:29 Atũm 10:19Roho akĩĩra Filipu atĩrĩ, “Thiĩ ngaari-inĩ ĩĩrĩa ya mbarathi ũikare hakuhĩ nayo.”
30Hĩndĩ ĩyo Filipu akĩhanyũka nginya ngaari-inĩ ĩyo ya mbarathi, akĩigua mũndũ ũcio agĩthoma ibuku rĩa Isaia ũrĩa mũnabii, akĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Nĩũrataũkĩrwo nĩ ũhoro ũcio ũrathoma?”
31Nake agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Ingĩtaũkĩrwo atĩa, tiga hagĩire mũndũ wa kũndaarĩria?” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio akĩĩra Filipu ahaice ngaari ĩyo ya mbarathi, aikaranie nake.
32Mũndũ ũcio warĩ mũhakũre aathomaga gacunjĩ gaka ka Maandĩko:
“Aatwarirwo o ta ngʼondu gĩthĩnjĩro-inĩ,
na o ta ũrĩa gatũrũme gakiraga ki karĩ mbere ya mũndũ ũrĩa ũrakenja guoya,
noguo o nake ataatumũrire kanua gake.
338:33 Isa 53:7, 8Nĩaconorithirio na ndaigana gũtuĩrwo ciira na kĩhooto.
Nũũ ũngĩaria ũhoro wa njiaro ciake?
Nĩgũkorwo muoyo wake nĩwehererio ũkiuma gũkũ thĩ.”
34Mũndũ ũcio mũhakũre akĩũria Filipu atĩrĩ, “Ndagũthaitha, ta njĩĩra atĩrĩ, mũnabii araaria ũhoro wa ũ, nĩ ũhoro wake we mwene kana nĩ ũhoro wa mũndũ ũngĩ?” 358:35 Luk 24:27; Atũm 18:28Hĩndĩ ĩyo Filipu akĩrutia ũhoro hau, akĩmũhe Ũhoro-ũrĩa-Mwega ũkoniĩ Jesũ.
36Na marĩ njĩra-inĩ magĩthiĩ-rĩ, magĩkinya handũ haarĩ na maaĩ, nake mũndũ ũcio warĩ mũhakũre akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ta rora, maaĩ nĩmo maya. Nĩ kĩĩ kĩngĩgiria mbatithio?” 37(Nake Filipu akiuga atĩrĩ, “Ũngĩĩtĩkia na ngoro yaku yothe, no ũbatithio.” Nake agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Nĩnjĩtĩkĩtie atĩ Jesũ Kristũ nĩwe Mũrũ wa Ngai.)” 38Nake agĩathana ngaari ĩyo ya mbarathi ĩrũgame. Hĩndĩ ĩyo Filipu na mũndũ ũcio mũhakũre magĩikũrũka, magĩtoonya maaĩ-inĩ, nake Filipu akĩmũbatithia. 398:39 1Ath 18:12; Ezek 3:12, 14Na rĩrĩa moimĩrire maaĩ-inĩ, Roho wa Mwathani o rĩmwe akĩoya Filipu, akĩmweheria, nake mũndũ ũcio mũhakũre akĩaga kũmuona rĩngĩ, no agĩthiĩ na mbere na rũgendo akenete. 40No Filipu nĩonekanire Azota, na agĩthiĩ akĩhunjagia Ũhoro-ũrĩa-Mwega matũũra-inĩ mothe nginya agĩkinya Kaisarea.
