PrevActs 8:38Next

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 8:38 mean?

Explanation

Acts 8:38 recounts the event of Philip, one of the seven deacons chosen to help with the daily distribution to the widows in the early Christian community, baptizing an Ethiopian eunuch.

This verse captures the moment when both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water for the eunuch's baptism.

The act signifies the eunuch's acceptance of Philip's teaching about Jesus Christ and marks his entry into the Christian faith.

The literal meaning is quite straightforward: Philip performs the baptism, which is an outward and visible sign of the eunuch's inward faith and repentance.

On a deeper level, this verse exemplifies the spread of Christianity beyond the Jewish community and demonstrates the early Church's obedience to Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them (Matthew 28:19).

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

This verse takes place during the time of the early Christian church, likely between A.D. 30 and A.D. 40, when Christianity was spreading rapidly throughout the Roman Empire.

Philip had been preaching in Samaria and subsequently was directed by an angel of the Lord to go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.

There he encountered the Ethiopian eunuch, a high court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her treasury.

The presence of an Ethiopian official suggests the far-reaching influence of the Jewish religion at the time and hints at the eunuch’s possible conversion to Judaism or his interest in the Jewish scriptures while retaining his Ethiopian cultural identity.

The baptism takes place in a desert area, which emphasizes the idea that the message of Jesus can reach and transform lives everywhere, even in the most unexpected places.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse offers several insights:

Baptism as a sacrament: It is understood as an outward expression of the eunuch's inner commitment to follow Jesus. 2.

Inclusivity: The eunuch is a gentile and possibly a castrated man, which would have excluded him from full participation in the Jewish temple (Deuteronomy 23:1).

His acceptance and baptism signify the openness of the Christian faith to all people, regardless of their status or background. 3.

Obedience and guidance by the Holy Spirit: Philip's encounter with the eunuch was directed by an angel and the Spirit, which indicates divine involvement in the spread of the gospel.

Different Christian traditions may emphasize various aspects of baptism, such as whether it is necessary for salvation, symbolic, or a means of grace.

Practical Applications

Evangelism: The verse encourages Christians to share their faith with others, regardless of cultural or social barriers. 2.

Obedience to divine guidance: It serves as an inspiration for believers to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives. 3.

Inclusivity: The story of the Ethiopian eunuch's baptism is often cited in discussions promoting inclusivity and diversity within the Christian community, demonstrating that faith in Jesus Christ transcends ethnic, cultural, and sociopolitical boundaries.

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 1:8: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Acts 10:44-48: Describes the Holy Spirit coming upon all who heard the message at Cornelius's house, similar to the eunuch's conversion and subsequent baptism.

Language Study

The key Greek words in this verse that are of particular interest include:

"Baptizo" (βαπτίζω): This is the Greek term for "baptized," meaning to dip, immerse, or wash ceremonially. 2.

"Ekeleusen" (ἐκέλευσεν): Translated as "commanded," this term denotes a firm instruction or order. 3.

"Stenai" (στῆναι): Meaning "to stand still," this verb communicates the action taken by the eunuch to stop the chariot.

Analyzing these key terms provides a clearer understanding of the actions taking place in the narrative.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison with other ancient religious rituals, immersion in water has been a symbol of purification in various cultures.

In Judaism, converts are immersed in a mikveh, a ritual bath, as part of the conversion process.

Ancient mystery religions also had initiation rites that sometimes included ritual washing, which signified the death of the old life and the birth of a new life.

The baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch reflects this broader religious motif of water as a symbol of spiritual cleansing and transformation.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse does not directly engage with scientific concepts.

However, in broad terms, the use of water for religious ceremonies taps into water's ubiquitous presence and importance for life, which is universally acknowledged in both scientific and religious contexts.

Scientifically, water is essential for all known forms of life, and it possesses unique properties that make it an apt symbol for purification and renewal.

Commentaries

Commentaries offer a variety of insights into Acts 8:38:

Some affirm the historicity of Philip's encounter with the eunuch and emphasize the significance of baptism as an early Christian practice. 2.

Others focus on the socio-religious implications of the eunuch's high status and subsequent acceptance into the Christian faith, breaking down barriers of race and class. 3.

There is also scholarly interest in the geographical and cultural accuracy of the account, noting the interaction between different cultures and the spread of Christianity along trade routes.

Acts 8

Acts 8

What does Acts 8:38 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 8:38 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?