Acts 8:31-40

Contemporary English Version

³¹The official answered, “How can I understand unless someone helps me?” He then invited Philip to come up and sit beside him.

³²^(A) The man was reading the passage that said,

“He was led like a sheep
    on its way to be killed.
He was silent as a lamb
whose wool
    is being cut off,
and he did not say
    a word.
³³He was treated like a nobody
and did not receive
    a fair trial.
How can he have children,
if his life
    is snatched away?”

³⁴The official said to Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or about someone else?” ³⁵So Philip began at this place in the Scriptures and explained the good news about Jesus.

^36-37As they were going along the road, they came to a place where there was some water. The official said, “Look! Here is some water. Why can't I be baptized?”^[a] ³⁸He ordered the chariot to stop. Then they both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

³⁹After they had come out of the water, the Lord's Spirit took Philip away. The official never saw him again, but he was very happy as he went on his way.

⁴⁰Philip later appeared in Azotus. He went from town to town, all the way to Caesarea, telling people about Jesus.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

8.36,37 Why can't I be baptized: Some manuscripts add, “Philip replied, ‘You can, if you believe with all your heart.’ The official answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ ”