| Text | Observations |
| AC 8:26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Arise and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road.) [27] And he arose and went; and behold, there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship. [28] And he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. [29] And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." | This Ethiopian had come to Jerusalem to worship,
and had acquired a scroll of Isaiah and was reading it on the ride back
to Ethiopia. (Must have had a driver, too).
Interestingly, first an angel and then the Holy Spirit guide Philip to this man. |
| AC 8:30 And when Philip had run up, he heard him reading
Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
[31] And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he
invited Philip to come up and sit with him. [32] Now the passage of Scripture
which he was reading was this:
"HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH. [33] "IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY; WHO SHALL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH." |
Philip runs up to the chariot and hears him reading Isaiah
out loud (possibly for the benefit of those riding with him?).
Philip inquires about whether he understands what he is reading or not, and the man expresses his need for someone to guide him with understanding it. |
| AC 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself, or of someone else?" [35] And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. | Philip begins with this very passage and preaches Jesus to the man. |
| AC 8:36] And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" | As they approached some water, the man simply states, "what prevents me from being baptized?" (This implies that baptism was part of what Philip had been telling him.) |
| AC 8:37 [And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."] | textual addition: reflects early church practice of requiring a confession. |
| AC 8:38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him. [39] And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing. | Philip and the man go down into the water, and Philip baptizes him. Philip is snatched away, but the man goes on his way in joy. |
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