Acts 8:26 NIV

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 8:26

And the angel of the Lord - The word “angel” is used in the Scriptures in a great variety of significations. See the notes on Matthew 1:20. Here it has been supposed by some to mean literally a celestial messenger sent from God; others have supposed that it means a “dream”; others a “vision,” etc. The word properly means a “messenger”; and all that it can be shown to signify here is, that the Lord sent a “message” to Philip of this kind. It is most probable, I think, that the passage means that... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 8:26-28

Acts 8:26-28. And After the important affairs above mentioned were despatched at Samaria, and a church was established there, and supplied with proper pastors and teachers; the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip Probably in a dream or vision by night; saying, Arise, and go toward the south Though angels were not employed to preach the gospel, they were often employed in carrying messages to those that preached it, for advice, direction, and encouragement. And it gives us a very high... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 8:26

And = But. the = an. spake. Greek. laleo, as Acts 8:25 . Arise. Greek. anistemi. App-178 . towards = down to. Greek. kata . App-104 . unto. Greek. epi. unto. Greek. eis. App-104 . Gaza. One of the five cities of the Philistines; destroyed by Alexander. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 8:26

But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert. And he arose and went: and behold a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.THE CONVERSION OF THE ETHIOPIANAn angel of the Lord ... One of the seven services performed by angels of heaven for the benefit of them that shall... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 8:26

Acts 8:26. And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip,— It gives us a very high idea of the gospel, to see the ministers of it receiving immediate direction from celestial spirits, in the particular discharge of their office. The construction of the Greek leaves it dubious whether the clause which is desart, refers to Gaza, or the way that led to it. Those who are of the former opinion observe, that the ancient city of thisname was demolished byAlexander the Great, and afterwards rebuilt with... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 8:26

26-28. the angel of the Lord—rather, "an angel." go . . . south, the way that goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza—There was such a road, across Mount Hebron, which Philip might take without going to Jerusalem (as VON RAUMER'S'S Palæstina shows). which is desert—that is, the way; not Gaza itself, which was the southernmost city of Palestine, in the territory of the ancient Philistines. To go from a city, where his hands had been full of work, so far away on a desert road, could not but be... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 8:26

God’s messenger (an angel? cf. Acts 5:19) directed Philip to go south to a road that ran from Jerusalem to Gaza. Philip did not return to Jerusalem with Peter and John. Whenever Luke introduced "an angel of the Lord" (Gr. angelos kyriou) into his narrative he desired to stress God’s special presence and activity (Luke 1:11; Luke 2:9; Acts 12:7; Acts 12:23; cf. Acts 7:30; Acts 7:35; Acts 7:38; Acts 10:3; Acts 10:7; Acts 10:22; Acts 11:13; Acts 12:11; Acts 27:23). [Note: Longenecker, p. 362.] The... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 8:26-40

2. Philip’s ministry to the Ethiopian eunuch 8:26-40Luke recorded this incident to show the method and direction of the church’s expansion to God-fearing Gentiles who were attracted to Judaism at this time. The Ethiopian eunuch had visited Jerusalem to worship, was studying the Old Testament, and was open to instruction by a Jew. Therefore he was much more sympathetic to the Christians’ gospel than the average Gentile. This man appears to have been the first full-fledged Gentile that Luke... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:26-40

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 8:26

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 8:26-28

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 8:26-40

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 8:26

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 8:26

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 8:26

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 8:26

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 8:26

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 8:26-40

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