PrevActs 8:36Next

Acts 8

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

And there was great joy in that city.

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

What does Acts 8:36 mean?

Explanation

Acts 8:36 portrays a moment from the early Christian church's narrative, where the deacon Philip and an Ethiopian eunuch engage in a significant interaction.

This verse is part of a larger story describing Philip's encounter with the eunuch, who is returning from Jerusalem where he had gone to worship.

They meet because an angel of the Lord instructs Philip to go south to the road leading from Jerusalem to Gaza.

There, Philip finds the eunuch reading the Prophet Isaiah and explains the scripture to him, leading to a discussion about Jesus and the good news of the gospel.

As they travel, they come across some water, and the eunuch, having learned about and accepted the message of Jesus Christ, expresses a desire to be baptized then and there.

His question, "what doth hinder me to be baptized?" suggests an immediate readiness and eagerness to commit to the new faith.

It reveals a heart willing to act on the belief he had just come to embrace, without delay.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

During the time of the early church, belief in Jesus as the Messiah was spreading across different regions and among various people groups.

The book of Acts, written by Luke, documents the spread of Christianity and includes accounts of the apostles' and early church leaders' ministry, including stories like the one of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.

Ethiopia, as mentioned in the Bible, often referred to a region south of Egypt known as the Kingdom of Kush.

The term "eunuch" could mean a literal eunuch (a castrated male), but it could also indicate high-ranking officials or administrators, typically in service to a court or monarch. This man is said to be in charge of the treasury of Candace, which suggests he held a significant and trusted position.

The act of baptism is rooted in Jewish purification rituals, but in the context of Christian faith, it signifies the acceptance of Jesus Christ and marks the initiation into the Christian community.

Theological Insights

This verse is rich with theological significance.

It demonstrates that the message of Christianity is meant for all people, regardless of their nationality, status, or previous religious beliefs.

This point is underscored by the inclusion of a foreign official, a likely non-Jewish proselyte, becoming one of the first recorded converts outside of the immediate Jewish context.

Another theological point is the immediate response to the gospel. The eunuch does not delay his decision to be baptized, highlighting the concept of conversion not just being an intellectual agreement but calling for actionable commitment.

Furthermore, this instance emphasizes the importance of baptism in the early church – it is seen as a non-negotiable step upon confession of faith in Jesus.

Practical Applications

The verse serves as a lesson in readiness and the importance of seizing the moment when it comes to faith matters. It emphasizes the need for decisive action once convinced of the truth of the gospel.

Additionally, this story encourages believers to be open and ready to share their faith with those seeking the truth, remembering that sometimes the most impactful conversations can occur in unexpected places with unexpected individuals.

Cross-References

Matthew 28:19: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
Acts 2:38: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Mark 16:16: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Language Study

The key words in Acts 8:36 in the original Greek are:

"Baptize" (βαπτίζω, baptizō): To immerse, submerge; to make fully wet.

This term was used in a variety of contexts but in the New Testament, it referred specifically to the rite of Christian baptism.

"Hinder" (κωλύω, kōlyō): To prevent, prohibit, forbid.

In this context, the eunuch is asking if there's any reason he should not be baptized - any lawful or moral impediment.

This language study helps understand that the eunuch seeks immediate incorporation into the Christian faith without any obstructions or prohibitions.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison with other religious practices of the time, the act of baptism was a unique feature of early Christianity.

Judaism had ritual washings, but they didn't carry the same significance of symbolic rebirth.

Conversion rituals in other cultures, such as the Greco-Roman mystery religions, also did not involve a practice quite like baptism.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the verse doesn't directly intersect with natural sciences, as it deals primarily with religious ritual and personal faith.

However, the use of water as a means of symbolizing cleansing and new life could be seen as universally symbolic given the essential nature of water for life and purification processes in the natural world.

Commentaries

Commentators often note the universality of the gospel message as demonstrated in this passage.

Matthew Henry's commentary, for example, remarks on the providence of the circumstance, bringing Philip and the eunuch together and the eunuch's readiness to embrace the faith.

John Calvin highlights the importance of instruction before baptism, as the eunuch receives teaching from Philip before making his decision.

Contemporary biblical scholars continue to emphasize the significance of this narrative in showing the spread of Christianity beyond Judaism and the immediacy of faith and corresponding action seen in the early church.

Acts 8

Acts 8

What does Acts 8:36 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 8:36 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?