The Conversion of the Ethiopian Official

26 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road.[a](A)) 27 So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch(B) and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem(C) 28 and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud.

29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”(D)

30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this:

He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb is silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will describe his generation?
For his life is taken from the earth.[b](E)

34 The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or someone else?” 35 Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.(F)

36 As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?” [c] 38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord(G) carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip appeared in[d] Azotus,[e] and he was traveling and preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 8:26 Or is a desert place
  2. 8:32–33 Is 53:7–8
  3. 8:36 Some mss include v. 37: Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
  4. 8:40 Or Philip was found at, or Philip found himself in
  5. 8:40 Or Ashdod

26 But (A)an angel of the Lord spoke to (B)Philip, saying, “Get ready and go [a]south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to (C)Gaza.” ([b]This is a desert road.) 27 So he got ready and went; and [c](D)there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of [d]Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he (E)had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was returning and sitting in his [e]chariot, and was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then (F)the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this [f]chariot.” 30 Philip ran up and 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:

(G)He was led like a sheep to slaughter;
And like a lamb that is silent before its shearer,
So He does not open His mouth.
33 (H)In humiliation His justice was taken away;
Who will [g]describe His [h]generation?
For His life is taken away from the earth.”

34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself, or of someone else?” 35 Then Philip (I)opened his mouth, and (J)beginning from this Scripture he (K)preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! (L)What prevents me from being baptized?”[i] 38 And he ordered that the [j]chariot stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, (M)the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, [k]but went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip [l]found himself at [m](N)Azotus, and as he passed through he (O)kept preaching the gospel to all the cities, until he came to (P)Caesarea.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 8:26 Or at about noon to
  2. Acts 8:26 Or This city is deserted
  3. Acts 8:27 Lit behold, an Ethiopian
  4. Acts 8:27 Possibly an Ethiopian title: the Candace
  5. Acts 8:28 Or carriage
  6. Acts 8:29 Or carriage
  7. Acts 8:33 Or relate
  8. Acts 8:33 Or family history
  9. Acts 8:36 Late mss add as v 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.”
  10. Acts 8:38 Or carriage
  11. Acts 8:39 Lit for he was going
  12. Acts 8:40 Or was found
  13. Acts 8:40 OT: Ashdod