Acts 8:26-39

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 8:26-40

We have here the story of the conversion of an Ethiopian eunuch to the faith of Christ, by whom, we have reason to think, the knowledge of Christ was sent into that country where he lived, and that scripture fulfilled, Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands (one of the first of the nations) unto God, Ps. 68:31. I. Philip the evangelist is directed into the road where he would meet with this Ethiopian, Acts 8:26. When the churches in Samaria were settled, and had ministers appointed them,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 8:26-40

8:26-40 The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip and said, "Rise and go to the south by the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza; that is Gaza in the desert." So he arose and went. Now, look you, an Ethiopian eunuch, an influential official of Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasury and who had gone to worship in Jerusalem, was on his way home. As he sat in his chariot he was reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip, "Go and join yourself to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 8:26

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip ,.... To inquire who this angel was, whether Michael or Gabriel, or the tutelar angel of Ethiopia, or of the eunuch, or of Philip, is too curious; it was one of the ministering spirits sent forth by Christ, to serve a gracious purpose of his, and for the good of one of the heirs of salvation: saying, arise ; at once, make haste and speed, and quick dispatch; the phrase denotes readiness, alacrity, and expedition: and go toward the south ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 8:27

And he arose and went ,.... As soon as he had his orders, he immediately obeyed them; he made no dispute about the matter, though he was directed only part of his way, and had no account of what he went about, or was to do; and behold, a man of Ethiopia ; or "a man, an Ethiopian"; an Hebraism, such as "a man a Jew", Zechariah 8:23 wherefore his being called a man, is no contradiction to his being an eunuch; for the word "man" does not regard his sex, but with the other the country of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 8:28

Was returning ,.... From Jerusalem, having finished the parts of divine worship he came to perform; and it is remarkable, that though he must doubtless have heard of Jesus of Nazareth, and what had passed in Jerusalem lately, and of his apostles, yet heard them not; or however, was not converted by them, nor believed in Jesus; his conversion being ordered to be at another time, in another place, and by another instrument: and sitting in his chariot : as was the manner of princes and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 8:29

Then the Spirit said unto Philip ,.... Not the angel, a ministering Spirit, as in Acts 8:26 but the Holy Spirit, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, the same with the Spirit of the Lord, Acts 8:39 who spoke unto him, either by an articulative voice, such as was the Bath Kol among the Jews; or inwardly, by a secret impulse upon him, he directed him, saying: go near, and join thyself to this chariot ; he bid him make up to the chariot, he saw driving on the road at such a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 8:30

And Philip ran thither to him ,.... Being very ready to obey the divine order, and hoping he might be an instrument of doing some good, which might issue in the glory of God, and the welfare of men: and heard him read the prophet Esaias ; that is, "the Book of Isaiah the Prophet"; as before; and so the Ethiopic and Arabic versions read here, as there: he read it out, with a clear and distinct voice, so that Philip could hear him; and this he did, partly through reverence to the word of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 8:31

And he said, how can I, except some man should guide me ?.... Which shows that he was of an excellent spirit and temper; since instead of answering in a haughty and disdainful manner, as great men are too apt to do; and instead of charging Philip with, impertinence and insolence, in interrupting him whilst reading, and putting such a question to him, he expresses himself with great and uncommon modesty; with a sense and confession of his ignorance and incapacity and of the necessity and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 8:32

The place of the Scripture which he read was this ,.... Or the paragraph or section of Scripture; that part of it in which he was reading was Isaiah 53:7 which shows, that by this time the Scriptures were divided into sections, chapters, and verses; whereas the Jews say the whole law at first was but one verse F20 Eliae Levit. praefat. 3. ad Sepher Hammasoreth. . He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before the shearer . The metaphors of sheep and lamb... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 8:33

In his humiliation his judgment was taken away ,.... The humiliation, or low estate of Christ, lay in his assumption of human nature, with the weaknesses and imperfections of it; in the meanness of his parentage and education; in the sorrows he endured from his cradle to his cross; in his last conflict with Satan in the garden; in his being apprehended, bound, scourged, and condemned, both by the sanhedrim, and the Roman governor; and in being enclosed with the assembly of the wicked... read more

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