Part 29 (1/2)

(54)Hearing these things, they were enraged in their hearts, and gnashed their teeth against him. (55)But, being full of the Holy Spirit, he looked intently into heaven, and saw the glory of G.o.d, and Jesus standing on the right hand of G.o.d, and said: (56)Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of G.o.d. (57)And crying out with a loud voice, they stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord; (58)and having cast him out of the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid off their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul, (59)and stoned Stephen, calling and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (60)And kneeling down, he cried with a loud voice: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And saying this, he fell asleep.

VIII.

AND Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day there arose a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and all were scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. (2)And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. (3)But Saul laid waste the church, entering house after house, and dragging both men and women, committed them to prison.

(4)They, therefore, that were scattered, went abroad, preaching the word. (5)And Philip went down to the city[8:5] of Samaria, and preached to them the Christ. (6)And the mult.i.tudes with one accord gave heed to the things said by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he wrought. (7)For out of many who had unclean spirits they went forth, crying with loud voice; and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed. (8)And there was great joy in that city.

(9)But a certain man, named Simon, was in the city before, using sorcery, and bewitching the people of Samaria, saying that he was some great one; (10)to whom all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying: This man is the great power of G.o.d[8:10]. (11)And to him they gave heed, because for a long time they were bewitched by his sorceries. (12)But when they believed Philip publis.h.i.+ng the good news concerning the kingdom of G.o.d and the name of Jesus Christ, they were immersed, both men and women. (13)And Simon also himself believed; and having been immersed, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were wrought.

(14)And the apostles in Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria has received the word of G.o.d, sent to them Peter and John; (15)who, having come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; (16)for he had not yet fallen upon any of them; but they had only been immersed in the name of the Lord Jesus. (17)Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

(18)And Simon, seeing that through the laying on of the apostles'

hands the Holy Spirit was given, offered them money, (19)saying: Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. (20)But Peter said to him: Thy money perish with thee; because thou didst think to obtain the gift of G.o.d with money: (21)Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter[8:21]; for thy heart is not right in the sight of G.o.d. (22)Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. (23)For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity.

(24)And Simon answering, said: Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.

(25)They, therefore, having testified and spoken the word of the Lord, were returning to Jerusalem, and publis.h.i.+ng the good news to many villages of the Samaritans. (26)But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise, and go down to the south, to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is desert.

(27)And he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, an officer of state of Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to wors.h.i.+p, (28)was returning, and sitting in his chariot; and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

(29)And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. (30)And Philip ran thither, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet. And he said: Understandest thou then what thou art reading?

(31)And he said: How could I, except some one should guide me? And he entreated Philip to come up, and sit with him.

(32)And the contents of the Scripture which he was reading was this:

He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb dumb before his shearer, So he opens not his mouth.

(33)In his humiliation his judgment was taken away; And his generation[8:33] who shall fully declare?

For his life is taken away from the earth.

(34)And the eunuch answering said to Philip: I pray thee, of whom does the prophet speak this? Of himself, or of some other man? (35)And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, made known to him the good news of Jesus. (36)And as they went along the way, they came to a certain water. And the eunuch said: See, here is water; what hinders that I should be immersed? (37)[8:37]And Philip said: If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And answering he said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of G.o.d. (38)And he commanded that the chariot should stop. And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he immersed him. (39)And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

(40)But Philip was found at Azotus; and pa.s.sing through, he published the good news to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

IX.

BUT Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, (2)and asked of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

(3)And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus. And suddenly there flashed around him a light from heaven; (4)and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

(5)And he said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said: I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. (6)But arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

(7)And the men who journeyed with him were standing speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one. (8)And Saul arose from the earth; and his eyes being opened, he saw nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. (9)And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

(10)And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him the Lord said, in a vision, Ananias! And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. (11)And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus. For, behold, he prays; (12)and in a vision he saw a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive sight.

(13)And Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man, how great evils he did to thy saints at Jerusalem. (14)And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. (15)But the Lord said to him: Go; for he is to me a chosen vessel, to bear my name before Gentiles, and kings, and the sons of Israel; (16)for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (17)And Ananias went, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to thee in the way thou camest, that thou mayest receive sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. (18)And immediately there fell off from his eyes as it were scales; and he received sight, and arose, and was immersed; (19)and having taken food, he was strengthened.