THE BOOK OF ACTS | CHAPTER 8:26-40
OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY - MARK DUNAGAN
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.
'BUT'-'The tense of the verbs in the preceding verse and here implies that the events that follow synchronized with the journey of Peter and John through Samaria.' (Reese p. 330)
'AN ANGEL OF THE LORD SPAKE UNTO PHILIP'-
Point to Note:
The book of Acts is filled with various communications from God via angels, the Holy Spirit or Jesus Himself (Acts 5:19-20; 8:29; 9:4-6; 10:3; 10:10-16; 16:6-7, 9-10; 18:9-10). Let us be impressed that never did God directly tell anyone what to do to be saved. When a communication was made, it was made either to the individual who would then teach people the gospel or as in the case of Cornelius, the message revealed where to find such a preacher.
Hence today, when various religious people claim that God communicated to them and told them they were saved or told them what to do to be saved, we must remember that God has never operated in such a manner.
'ARISE, AND GO'-'Soon after the departure of Peter and John...Philip was given another evangelistic commission.' (Stott p. 159) 'The congregation in Samaria has been endowed with spiritual gifts so that it has inspired leadership, so men like the apostles or Philip are no longer needed there.' (Reese p. 330) 'From his great work in the city of Samaria, Philip was suddenly summoned to the... hills of southern Judea. Instead of addressing multitudes he was to bring the gospel message to one man...The man who preaches Christ to eager crowds is no more truly an evangelist than he who testifies for his Lord to a chance acquaintance on a lonely journey.' (Erdman p. 84)
Points to Note:
'TOWARD THE SOUTH'-South of the city of Samaria.
'UNTO THE WAY THAT GOETH DOWN FROM JERUSALEM UNTO GAZA'-In New Testament times various roads connected Jerusalem with Gaza. 'Archaeology has shown that there was a road built by the Romans that led from the south-western corner of Jerusalem in a westerly and southerly direction toward Gaza, some traces of which are still visible.' (Reese p. 331)
Writing about 100 years ago, McGarvey noted, 'The whole distance from city to city is about fifty miles...Some five or six miles from the latter city (Jerusalem) the road begins to descend from the central ridge, which is follows that far, through a rough and narrow ravine...After traversing this valley a few miles nearly due south, the road turns to the west, and rises through another wady (dry river bed) to the level of the great Philistine plain, which it follows the rest of the way to Gaza.' (p. 151)
'GAZA'-Which is one of the oldest cities in the world (Genesis 10:19). 'Travellers to and from Egypt used to supply themselves with provisions there..' (Reese p. 331) It was the southernmost of the five chief Philistine cities, located about 3 miles inland from the Mediterranean, and 12 miles south of Ashkelon. It occupied a very strategic location on an important caravan and military route that extended to the SW and then W through the sands close to the Mediterranean Sea..to the Egyptian Delta. 'It was vital, in any military campaign, for opposing enemies to hold this city as a rest area to or from the desert.' (Zond. Ency. p. 662)
'THE SAME IS DESERT'-2048. eremos {er'-ay-mos}; of uncertain affinity; lonesome, i.e. (by implication) waste (usually as a noun, 5561 being implied): -desert, desolate, solitary, wilderness.
-'This is a desert road' (NASV).
-The word desert can speak of a sandy, arid region, such as the wilderness of Judea. But it also can refer to a region that is uninhabited (Matthew 14:15,19).
McGarvey notes, 'The passage along the mountain ravine must be the part called desert, for all the rest of the way the road passes through the midst of villages, pastures, and cultivated fields.' (p. 151)
Point to Note:
'Many have said (before men knew the geography of Palestine) that the Eunuch could not have been immersed because he was in a dry, arid region where there was no water.' (Reese pp. 331-332) This is based on a misunderstanding of the word "desert", and also a denial of what the text says. They found enough water, in which both of them could go down into it (8:38).
Acts 8:27 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;
'HE AROSE AND WENT'-Note the prompt obedience.
'A MAN OF ETHIOPIA'-'The "Ethiopia" of those days corresponded to what we call "the Upper Nile", reaching approx. from Aswan to Khartoum.' (Stott p. 160) 'It lay south of Egypt, on the Nile River. It was bounded on the north by Egypt, on the east by the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, on the south by the (then) unknown regions of the interior of Africa, and on the west by Libya and the great Libyan deserts. This kingdom was north of the land that is today known as Ethiopia.' (Reese p. 332)
'A EUNUCH'-'as were most courtiers at that period' (Stott p. 160). A man who had been castrated, which arose from the preference of rulers for such men in offices involving contact with the women of their households. 'Commonly employed as court officials in eastern lands from antiquity until quite recent times.' (Bruce p. 187)
'OF GREAT AUTHORITY'-'a high official' (NEB). Various Eunuch's in the ancient world became very powerful men.
'UNDER CANDACE, QUEEN OF THE ETHIOPIANS'-"Candace" isn't a personal name, rather it was a common title for the queens of Ethiopia, like Pharaoh in Egypt, or Caesar at Rome. 'The king of Ethiopia was venerated as the child of the sun and regarded as too sacred a personage to discharge the secular functions of royalty; these were performed on his behalf by the queen-mother, who regularly bore the dynastic title Candace.' (Bruce p. 186)
'WHO WAS OVER ALL HER TREASURE'-'was probably the treasurer or minister of trade and so traveled widely and could well have known either Hebrew or Greek sufficiently to read the Isaiah scroll.' (Zond. Ency. p. 414)
'WHO HAD COME TO JERUSALEM TO WORSHIP'-Which infers that he was probably either a Jew or a convert to Judaism. 'There was a Jewish colony in Ethiopia.' (Reese p. 333) He may have been a black man or he may have actually been a man of Jewish ancestry (like Daniel or Joseph), who had become a high ranking official in the Ethiopian court.
Point to Note:
According to the Law of Moses (Deut. 23:1), a man who had been castrated, was denied various religious privileges which were open for Jewish males. McGarvey takes this to mean, 'His being a eunuch debarred him from the privilege of mingling in the Jewish congregation, or entering the Jewish court of the temple; but it did not debar him from the court of the Gentiles..' (p. 152)
The attitude of the eunuch is impressive. He had come to Jerusalem to worship (possibly at one of the annual feasts). It had probably taken him weeks or months to arrive. But he knew that when he came to Jerusalem, he would be barred from entering the court reserved for Jewish males. In fact, Jewish women would have a closer access than he. But he still came!
Modern Applications:
Acts 8:28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
'RETURNING'-Heading back home.
'SITTING IN HIS CHARIOT'-We are told later that this chariot had a driver (8:38).
'READING THE PROPHET ISAIAH'-At some point in his life he had purchased a manuscript of Isaiah. From the quotation that follows we know that he was reading from the Greek version of Isaiah. The O.T. had been translated into Greek some 250 years previous and was known as the Septuagint.
Point to Note:
A great lesson is found in this context for those who worry about the accuracy associated with copying the Scriptures and Bible translations. Carefully note: (a) Isaiah had written some 700 years previous, his letter had been copied and recopied by hand and then translated into Greek. (b) This man possessed a translation of Isaiah. And what does Luke by inspiration call it? God calls this translation 'the prophet Isaiah', and 'Scripture' (8:35). (c) The popular excuse that I can't believe or place my trust in the Bible, because I'm not sure if our current translations are really what the original writers said....DOESN'T IMPRESS GOD!
Acts 8:29 And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
'THE SPIRIT'-The Holy Spirit.
'GO NEAR, AND JOIN THYSELF TO THIS CHARIOT'-
Points to Note:
Acts 8:30 And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
'PHILIP RAN TO HIM'-Eagerness, prompt obedience, a soul was at stake.
'HEARD HIM READING'-'Reading in ancient times was almost invariably aloud. Why this should be so will be apparent to anyone who tries to read a copy of ancient manuscript; the words require to be spelt out, and this is done more easily aloud than in silence.' (Bruce p. 187)
'UNDERSTANDEST THOU WHAT THOU READEST?'-Thus we find Philip running alongside the chariot, close enough to hear the eunuch reading and close enough to shout to him the question.
McGarvey notes, 'Philip's question, Do thou understand what thou readest? strikes us as a rather abrupt if not an impertinent method of introducing himself to the grandee.' (pp. 153-154) But he goes on to point out that it was a perfectly good question. We need to learn a lesson here: (a) We worry too much about the proper approach in teaching people. The best way to get a class with someone is simply to ask. (b) If the eunuch would have been arrogant and offended by the question, that would have shown that he wasn't interested in the truth. Honest up-front questions will tell us if our co-worker, friend, etc..has any desire to know the truth. Honesty and effort is more important that the ideal and tactful one-liner.
Converting people isn't about saying exactly the right thing at the right time, rather it is more about finding a good and honest heart.
Acts 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.
'HOW I CAN, EXCEPT SOME ONE SHALL GUIDE ME?'-'shall show me the way' (Mon) 'The humility and thirst for instruction of this great courtier are very remarkable..' (P.P. Comm. p. 254) 'he acknowledges his ignorance freely and frankly' (in contrast to) a person who is swollen-headed with confidence in his own abilities.' (Stott p. 160)
Point to Note:
The eunuch will end up finding the truth, not because he is smarter than the rest of men, but because he refuses to allow his "pride" to get in the way of finding out what God would have him to do (James 1:21). In order to make it to heaven you must be "teachable", which means that in order to find the way--you must first admit that you don't know the way.
'GUIDE'-3594. hodegeo {hod-ayg-eh'-o}; from 3595; to show the way (literally or figuratively [teach]): -guide, lead.
Point to Note:
'This is one of the verses used by the Roman Church to prove that the only infallible interpreter of Scripture is the church (and the Roman hierarchy in particular). Further, it is said that the average man cannot read and understand the Scriptures for himself.' (Reese p. 335) In response we could say: (a) Many Scriptures assert that the Bible is within the understanding of the common man (Acts 17:11; Eph. 5:17; 3:3-4; 1 Peter 2:2). (b) Philip wasn't a Roman Catholic priest and neither did he teach the eunuch Catholic doctrine. (c) The Bible is filled with "unprofessional" teachers who got it right (2 Tim. 1:5). (d) Teachers simply help the student put two and two together that much quicker (Matthew 28:20; 2 Tim. 2:2). (e) And in view of doctrines invented by Catholicism (1 Tim. 4:1-3), we must say that if anyone is unqualified to teach the Bible, it is the defender of Roman dogma. The only bearing this verse has on Catholicism is that a Catholic priest needs to be taught by a Christian.
'AND HE BESOUGHT PHILIP TO COME UP AND SIT WITH HIM'-'earnestly invited' (Wey). People who are hungry for the truth act like it. 'So we are to picture the Ethiopian with the scroll of Isaiah 53 spread out on his lap, and with Philip now sitting beside him, as the carriage jolted its way further south.' (Stott p. 161)
Acts 8:32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:
'WAS THIS'-Notice the detail. We know exactly where in Isaiah the eunuch had been reading from. Before we proceed, again let us be impressed with the character of this man. He is a very important and powerful man, who has been treated as an outsider or outcast when he came to worship. 'He has been there now; and, on his way home he is scarcely out of sight of the holy city when he takes in hand, as he rides along, the book of Isaiah. He is a thoughtful reader, carefully inquiring, as he reads, the meaning of every passage.' (McGarvey p. 155)
'HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO THE SLAUGHTER..'-Isaiah 53:7.
Acts 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth.
'IN HIS HUMILIATION HIS JUDGEMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY'-This is the Septuagint rendering of Isaiah 53:8. The NASV of Isaiah 53:8, translated from the Hebrew reads, 'By oppression and judgement He was taken away'. 'It speaks of the time during Jesus' trial when He had no one to speak in His defense, no friends in the court. And "judgement" being taken away means that justice, a just sentence, was denied Him.' (Reese p. 336)
'HUMILIATION'-5014. tapeinosis {tap-i'-no-sis}; from 5013; depression (in rank or feeling): -humiliation, be made low, low estate, vile.
-In the mind of the Hebrew translators there isn't much difference between "oppression" and "humiliation".
'HIS GENERATION WHO SHALL DECLARE?'-NASV Isaiah 53:8 'And as for His generation, who considered..' Could mean, who shall declare to His generation the real meaning of His death?
'TAKEN FROM THE EARTH'-'hurried to a violent death' (Reese p. 337)
Acts 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other?
'I PRAY THEE'-'Please tell me' (NASV).
'OF WHOM SPEAKETH THE PROPHET..'-At this point we encounter something somewhat humorous in our own times. That is, many "religious experts" to this day disagree as "who" is the subject of Isaiah 53. Bruce notes, 'Philip had no difficulty, nor did he hesitate between a number of alternative answers.' (p. 189)
Point to Note:
Consider the task of the preacher. It isn't to give every possible meaning of a verse, rather, it is to give the one true meaning (2 Tim. 4:2; 2:15). And the servant of God must always operate with the understanding that one correct view does exist.
Acts 8:35 And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus.
'BEGINNING FROM THIS SCRIPTURE'-Note that the angel and Spirit speaking to Philip were supernatural events. But the exact place that the eunuch was reading from wasn't. In addition, the eunuch will believe what Philip said--without seeing Philip performing any miracles. Philip doesn't even tell the eunuch that their meeting that been arranged. Notice how God enables people to encounter great opportunities in which to become a Christian. A better text of Scripture to preach Jesus from (in the absence of the New Testament) could not be found other than Isaiah 53.
'PREACHED UNTO HIM JESUS'-Demonstrated that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the predictions given by Isaiah.
Acts 8:36 And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, {here is} water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
'AND AS THEY WENT ON THE WAY'-Inferring that this 'bible study' may have taken some time.
'UNTO A CERTAIN WATER'-McGarvey notes that along this road various pools or streams are found. In addition, besides natural streams and the pools created by them, the ruins of many artificial pools dot this highway.
'BEHOLD, HERE IS WATER'-'Look! Water!' (NASV).
'WHAT DOTH HINDER ME TO BE BAPTIZED?'-'what is to prevent my being baptized' (TCNT).
Points to Note:
Reese notes, 'Philip, the inspired preacher, preached a message different than many of the preachers of this day who preach only a Spirit baptism (in the effort to avoid the force of the passages which speak of baptism as being necessary for salvation).' (p. 339)
Acts 8:37 [And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.]
Point to Note:
In the NASV this verse is in brackets, and the note in the side reference says, 'Many mss. (manuscripts) do not contain this verse.' Those being Aleph, A, B, C, G H, P46. Now many believe that this verse was not part of the original book of Luke. But in response: (a) From a readers standpoint, there definitely is a gap between 8:36 and 38 without this verse. For without 8:37, according to the text, Philip never answers the eunuch's question. (b) Early "Christian" writers quote Acts 8:37. 'It was found in a text which Irenaeus used (he lived from 170 to 210 A.D.). Cyprian (200-258 A.D.) also was familiar with the reading of verse 37.' (Reese p. 340)
Reese notes, 'Footnotes and/ or marginal notes very often indicate a variant reading in the major manuscripts which underlie our translations of the Scriptures. Very often, where the divergent readings are almost equally supported in the ancient manuscripts, the translators would vote on which reading to incorporate into the text. If the majority voting for one reading was just one or two over half of those voting, the minority opinion was included in the form of a footnote.' (p. 340)
In the view of the facts that an obvious gap exists without 8:37, and the men who quoted it, lived just as early on or earlier than the manuscripts that omit it, I find it very difficult not to believe that the verse is genuine.
'IF THOU BELIEVEST WITH ALL THY HEART, THOU MAYEST'-Faith is a condition prior to baptism (Mark 16:16).
'I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD'-(Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32). Notice that the "confession" required as a condition for salvation, is not a confession of all the sins that one has committed.
'THE SON OF GOD'-One cannot be saved if faith stops short of believing "who" Jesus really is. The confessions that Jesus lived, was a religious teacher, a good man, etc...do not lead to salvation. The confession that is required is the conviction that Jesus is God. For this is what the Bible declares Him to be (John 1:1; Heb. 1:8). (Romans 10:9 'Jesus as Lord').
Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
'HE COMMANDED THE CHARIOT TO STAND STILL'-The chariot had a driver. The last person mentioned in 8:37 is the eunuch, therefore it was the eunuch who issued the command.
'THEY BOTH WENT DOWN INTO THE WATER..HE BAPTIZED HIM'
Points to Note:
Acts 8:39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
'CAME UP OUT OF THE WATER'-The particular mode of baptism demanded that they go down into the water to accomplish this act, and they exited the water after the baptism.
'THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAUGHT AWAY PHILIP'-'Suddenly and miraculously' (Vincent p. 491). See 1 Kings 18:12 and 2 Kings 2:11.
'CAUGHT AWAY'-726. harpazo {har-pad'-zo}; from a derivative of 138; to sieze (in various applications): -catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
-'Some understand this trip as "a supersonic ride", undertaken "with miraculous velocity".' (Stott p. 162)
'THE EUNUCH SAW HIM NO MORE, FOR HE WENT ON HIS WAY REJOICING'-'He did not stop nor take another road to seek him, but went on his way.' (Vincent p. 491)
Point to Note:
'The circumstance worthy of note is that Philip was not allowed to remain longer in company with his new convert, as he would naturally desire to do in order to his further instruction. It was God's will that the man should go on his way to his native land, and work out his own salvation...by building upon the elementary instruction which he had now received. With many men this would doubtless be unsafe; but God knew this man...Notwithstanding this sudden separation from his teacher, and the necessity of going on his way with so little knowledge of his newly found Savior, the eunuch "went on his way rejoicing"..' (McGarvey p. 161)
Acts 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
'FOUND'-May suggest that Philip next found himself in the city of Azotus, i.e. the end destination of his being "caught away". Or, it may mean that the next place where Philip preached was the city of Azotus.
'AZOTUS'-which is the ancient Ashdod of the O.T. Located near the Mediterranean Sea, about 20 miles north of Gaza and 35 miles from Jerusalem.
'PASSING THROUGH HE PREACHED THE GOSPEL TO ALL THE CITIES, TILL HE CAME TO CAESAREA'-
Points to Note:
CLOSING OBSERVATIONS: