Year of the Bible
Acts of the Apostles 8
Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 8:
Chapter 8 introduces three different threads of the story of Jesus’ earliest followers that St. Luke tells in Acts of the Apostles. First, a person named “Saul” (who appeared in 7:58) is mentioned again as a persecutor of Jews who believe Jesus is the Messiah (vs. 1, 3). Second, St. Luke notes that except for the Apostles, the community of believers in Jerusalem is pushed out of the city, to the regions of Judea and Samaria (vs. 1, 4). This means that Jesus’ declaration in Acts 1:8 is happening! Despite hardships, the Gospel is being spread beyond Jerusalem, north to Samaria, and it’s ordinary disciples, not the Twelve, who are continuing Jesus’ mission, spreading the Kingdom (St. Luke will pick up with their story again in 11:19-30). Third, we hear about the work of another of the Hellenist deacons, Philip, who announces Jesus the Messiah in Samaria (vs. 5-13), then in Judea (vs. 26-39) and northward up the coast to Caesarea (vs. 40). The Holy Spirit is leading the community of Jewish believers toward a mission inclusive of all peoples.
The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 8:
Saul Persecutes the Church
And on that day a great persecution arose against the Church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul laid waste the Church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Philip Preaches in Samaria
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to a city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did. 7 For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8So there was much joy in that city.
Simon the Magician
9 But there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the nation of Samaria, saying that he himself was some body great. 10 They all listened to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that power of God which is called Great.” 11 And they listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles per formed, he was amazed.
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 16 for the Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me also this power, that any one on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the in tent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert road. 27 And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless some one guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this:
“As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is
silent, so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken up from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “Please, about whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news of Jesus. 36 And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing on he preached the gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesarea.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
The early Christians were prayed over to receive the Holy Spirit in their lives, as mentioned several times. We Catholics receive the Holy Spirit at our Baptism and in Confirmation. Reflect on how you have experienced the Holy Spirit working in your life. Identify areas of your life where you need the Holy Spirit. Pray often--"Come, Holy Spirit".
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.
1 Se desató aquel día una gran persecución
contra la iglesia de Jerusalén,
y todos, excepto los apóstoles, se dispersaron
por las regiones de Judea y Samaría.
2 Unos varones piadosos enterraron
a Esteban e hicieron un gran duelo por
él. 3 Por su parte, Saulo hacía estragos en
la Iglesia, iba de casa en casa, apresaba
a hombres y mujeres y los metía en la
cárcel.
4 Los que se habían dispersado iban
de un lugar a otro anunciando la palabra
del Evangelio.
5 Felipe bajó a la ciudad de Samaría y
les predicaba a Cristo. 6 La muchedumbre
atendía unánime a lo que decía Felipe,
al oír y ver los signos milagrosos
que realizaba, 7 pues los espíritus impuros
salían, con grandes voces, de muchos
que estaban poseídos por ellos, y
muchos paralíticos y cojos eran curados.
8 Hubo gran alegría en aquella ciudad.
Un hombre que se llamaba Simón había
ejercido la magia en la ciudad y había
embaucado a la gente de Samaría diciéndoles
que era alguien grande.
10 Todos, del menor al mayor, le prestaban
atención y decían:
–Éste es la Potencia de Dios, llamada
la Grande.
11 Le escuchaban porque desde hacía
tiempo los había seducido con sus magias.
12 Pero cuando empezaron a creer
a Felipe, que les anunciaba el Evangelio
del Reino de Dios y el nombre de Jesucristo,
hombres y mujeres comenzaron
a bautizarse. 13 Entonces creyó también
el propio Simón y, después de ser bautizado,
seguía asiduamente a Felipe. Veía
los signos milagrosos y los grandes prodigios
que se realizaban, y se llenaba de
admiración.
14 Cuando los apóstoles que estaban
en Jerusalén oyeron que Samaría había
recibido la palabra de Dios, les enviaron
a Pedro y a Juan. 15 Éstos, nada más llegar,
rezaron por ellos, para que recibieran
el Espíritu Santo, 16 pues aún no había
descendido sobre ninguno de ellos,
sino que sólo estaban bautizados en el
nombre del Señor Jesús. 17 Entonces les
imponían las manos y recibían el Espíritu
Santo.
18 Al ver Simón que por la imposición
de manos de los apóstoles se confería
el Espíritu Santo, les ofreció dinero:
19 –Dadme también a mí ese poder,
para que cualquiera a quien yo imponga
las manos reciba el Espíritu Santo.
20 Pero Pedro le respondió:
–Que tu dinero vaya contigo a la
perdición, por pensar que con dinero
se puede conseguir el don de Dios.
21 No tienes parte ni herencia alguna en
esta empresa, porque tu corazón no es
recto ante Dios. 22 Por tanto, arrepiéntete
de esta iniquidad tuya y suplica al Señor
para ver si se te perdona este pensamiento
de tu corazón; 23 pues veo que
estás lleno de maldad y atado por cadenas
de iniquidad.
24 Respondió Simón:
–Rogad vosotros por mí al Señor,
para que no me sobrevenga nada de lo
que habéis dicho.
25 En cuanto dieron testimonio y predicaron
la palabra del Señor, emprendieron
regreso a Jerusalén y evangelizaban
muchos lugares de samaritanos.
Un ángel del Señor le habló a Felipe:
–Levántate y vete hacia el sur, a la
ruta que baja de Jerusalén a Gaza y que
está desierta.
27 Se levantó y se puso en camino.
En esto, un hombre de Etiopía, eunuco,
dignatario de Candace –la reina de
Etiopía– y superintendente de su tesoro,
que había venido a Jerusalén para adorar
a Dios, 28 volvía sentado en su carro
leyendo al profeta Isaías. 29 Le dijo entonces
el Espíritu a Felipe:
–Acércate y ponte al lado de ese carro.
Corrió Felipe a su lado y oyó que
leía al profeta Isaías. Entonces le dijo:
–¿Entiendes lo que lees?
31 Él respondió:
–¿Cómo lo voy a entender si no me
lo explica alguien?
Rogó entonces a Felipe que subiera y
se sentase junto a él. 32 El pasaje de la Escritura
que iba leyendo era el siguiente:
Como oveja fue llevado al matadero,
y como mudo cordero ante el esquilador,
así no abrió la boca.
33 En su humillación se le negó la justicia.
¿Quién hablará de su posteridad?,
ya que su vida es arrebatada de la tierra.
34 El eunuco le dijo a Felipe:
–Te ruego que me digas de quién
dice esto el profeta: ¿de sí mismo o de
algún otro?
35 Entonces Felipe tomó la palabra y,
comenzando por este pasaje, le anunció
el Evangelio de Jesús. 36 Mientras iban
por el camino llegaron a un lugar donde
había agua, y le dijo el eunuco:
–Aquí hay agua, ¿qué impide que yo
sea bautizado? (37 )
38 Mandó detener el carro y bajaron
los dos, Felipe y el eunuco, hasta el
agua. Y le bautizó. 39 Cuando salieron
del agua, el Espíritu del Señor arrebató
a Felipe y no le vio más el eunuco, que
siguió alegre su camino. 40 Felipe se encontró
en Azoto y anunciaba el Evangelio
a todas las ciudades por donde pasaba,
hasta que llegó a Cesarea.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
Los primeros cristianos rezaban para recibir el Espíritu Santo en sus vidas, como se ha mencionado varias veces. Los católicos recibimos el Espíritu Santo en nuestro Bautismo y en la Confirmación. Reflexiona sobre cómo has experimentado la acción del Espíritu Santo en tu vida. Identifica las áreas de tu vida en las que necesitas al Espíritu Santo. Reza a menudo: "Ven, Espíritu Santo".
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).