Acts 8:36-37

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:26-40

The Christian teacher and disciple. We have an interesting and instructive instance of one man submitting himself to the teaching of another, and deriving from him a sudden transforming influence which most beneficially affected his whole after-life. Such teaching might well come ultimately from God, as in truth it did; for we learn— I. THAT THE CHRISTIAN TEACHER IS TO PLACE HIMSELF CONTINUALLY UNDER DIVINE DIRECTION . Philip had some advantages which we do not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:26-40

Philip and the Ethiopian. This incident teaches us— I. THAT MEN IN THE WAY OF DUTY MAY RECEIVE UNUSUAL GUIDANCE . The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, and gave him directions as to the course he should take in his missionary journey. How are we to understand the mode of this interference? We are told that rationalist expositors assume that the angel appeared to Philip in a dream; for the word "Rise!" is spoken. But then it is replied that there is no mention of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:27-39

The inquiring proselyte. Give some account of Ethiopia, of the queen of that day, of the office the eunuch occupied, and of the probable means by which he had been made a Jewish proselyte. He was one of those men among the heathen who had been awakened to spiritual anxiety by the ever-working Spirit of God. He may have had some Jewish connections, through whom he had come to know of Jehovah. We can recognize in him: 1. An inquirer. 2. A spiritually awakened inquirer, one who had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:36

The way for their way, A.V.; saith for said, A.V.; behold for see, A.V. Here is water . "When we were at Tell-el-Hasy, and saw the water standing along the bottom of the adjacent wady, we could not but remark the coincidence of several circumstances with the account of the eunuch's baptism. This water is on the most direct road from Belt Jibrin (Eleutheroplis) to Gaza, on the most southern road from Jerusalem, and in the midst of a country now 'desert,' i.e. without villages or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:36

Testing the impulse to confession. The eunuch knew how his own proselytism had been sealed. When he accepted the Jewish faith, he made confession of it by the rite of baptism. So now, when he had accepted a new faith, his first impulse was the desire to seal it by a renewal of the rite, and the site of the water reminded him of the possibility of making his confession of Christ there and then. Though Acts 8:37 is not found in the Revised Version, and may be only an editor's explanation... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:37

The whole of Acts 8:37 of the A.V. is omitted in the R.T., on the authority of the best existing manuscripts. But on the other hand, Irenaeus, in the third book against Heresies, Acts 12:8 , distinctly quotes a portion of this verse. The eunuch, he says, when he asked to be baptized said, πιστεύω τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ εἴναι τὸν ιησοῦν χριστόν : and Cyprian, in his third book of Testimonies, 43., quotes the other part of the verse. In proof of the thesis that "whoever believes... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 8:36

As they went on their way - In their journey.A certain water - The expression used here does not determine whether this was a river, a brook, or a standing pool. And there are no circumstances to determine that. It is well known, however, that there is no large river or very considerable stream in this vicinity. All that is intimated is that there was water enough to perform the rite of baptism. Grotius says they came “to a fountain which was in the neighborhood of Bethsora, in the tribe of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 8:37

And Philip said ... - This was stated by Philip as the proper qualification for making a profession of religion. The terms are:“Faith,” that is, a reception of Jesus as a Saviour; yielding the mind to the proper influences of the truths of redemption. See the notes on Mark 16:16. (2)There is required not merely the assent of the understanding, but a surrender of the “heart, the will, the affections,” to the truth of the gospel. As these were the proper qualifications then, so they are now.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 8:36-37

Acts 8:36-37. And as they went on their way Discoursing together of the person and sufferings of Christ, and of the method of salvation by him; they came to a certain water For even the circumstances of the journey were under the direction of God; and the eunuch, having learned what was the rite of initiation which the great Prophet and Sovereign of the church had appointed, and being willing to embrace the first opportunity that Providence offered of making a surrender of himself to... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 8:26-40

Christianity enters Philistia (8:26-40)From Samaria Philip headed south towards the region of Philistia on the Mediterranean coast (26). On the way he met another non-Jewish person who responded to his preaching. This man, a government official from Ethiopia in north Africa, was already one of the God-fearers and was reading the Old Testament when Philip met him (27-29). However, he did not understand what he was reading. When Philip explained the Scriptures to him, the man learnt the meaning... read more

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