Глава 8

  • 1. ¶ SAUL was pleased to have had a part in the murder of Stephen. At that very time there was severe persecution against the church at Jerusalem; and they were all, with the exception of the apostles, dispersed throughout the towns of Judea and Samaria.
  • 2. And devout men took up Stephen and buried him, and they mourned over him in great sorrow.
  • 3. As for Saul, he continued to persecute the church of God, entering into houses and dragging out men and women and delivering them to prison,
  • 4. ¶ So that they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word of God.
  • 5. Then Philip went down to a Samaritan city and preached to them about Christ.
  • 6. And when the people of that place heard his word, they gave heed and listened attentively to everything Philip said, because they saw the miracles which he did.
  • 7. Many who were mentally afflicted cried with loud voices and were restored; and others who were paralytic and lame were healed.
  • 8. And there was great joy in that city.
  • 9. Now there was there a man called Semon, who had lived in that city a long time, and who had deceived the Samaritan people by his magic, boasting of himself and saying, I am the greatest one.
  • 10. And both the noblest and the least followed him, saying, He is the greatest power of God.
  • 11. All of them listened to him, because for a long time he had bewitched them with his sorceries.
  • 12. But when they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
  • 13. Semon himself also believed and was baptized and attached himself to Philip, and as he saw the miracles and great signs performed by his hand, he marvelled greatly.
  • 14. ¶ Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritan people had accepted the word of God, they sent to them Simon Peter and John,
  • 15. Who, when they went down, prayed over them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
  • 16. For as vet it had not come upon them although they had been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus.
  • 17. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
  • 18. And when Semon saw that the Holy Spirit was given by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
  • 19. Saying, Give me also this authority so that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.
  • 20. Simon Peter said to him, Let your money perish with you because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with wealth.
  • 21. You have no part nor lot in this faith because your heart is not right in the sight of God.
  • 22. Repent, therefore, of this evil of yours, and beseech God that he may perhaps forgive you for the guile which is in your heart.
  • 23. For I see your heart is as bitter as gall and you are in the bonds of iniquity.
  • 24. Then Semon answered, saying, Pray God for me so that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me.
  • 25. Now when Simon Peter and John had testified and taught them the word of God, they returned to Jerusalem after they had preached in many Samaritan villages.
  • 26. ¶ And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise and go south by way of the desert that leads down from Jerusalem to Gaza;
  • 27. So he arose and went; and he was met by a eunuch, who had come from Ethiopia, an official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to worship at Jerusalem.
  • 28. While he was returning, sitting in his chariot, he read the book of the prophet Isaiah.
  • 29. And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and keep close to the chariot.
  • 30. And as Philip drew near and heard him reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah, he said to him, Do you understand what you are reading?
  • 31. And the Ethiopian said, How can I understand unless some one teach me? and he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
  • 32. The portion of the scripture which he was reading was this: He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and like a ewe lamb before the shearer, so he opened not his mouth.
  • 33. In his humiliation, he suffered imprisonment and judgment; none can tell his struggle, for even his life is taken away from the earth.
  • 34. And the eunuch said to Philip. I pray you, of whom does this prophet speak? of himself or of some other man?
  • 35. Then Philip opened his mouth and began at that same scripture and preached to him concerning our Lord Jesus.
  • 36. And as they went on their way, they came to a place where there was water; and the eunuch said. Behold here is water; what prevents me from being baptized?
  • 37. And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered, saying, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
  • 38. And he commanded the chariot be stopped; and both went down into the water, and Philip baptized the eunuch.
  • 39. And when they came up from the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away and the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.
  • 40. Philip was found at Azotus; and from there he traveled around and preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.