Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, instructing him to go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza, which the text describes as a desert place (Acts 8:26). Philip encountered an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. This man had traveled to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home, sitting in his chariot while reading the prophet Isaiah (Acts 8:27-28). The Spirit told Philip to go and join the chariot, where he heard the man reading aloud. Philip asked if he understood the text, and the man replied that he could not unless someone guided him, inviting Philip to sit with him (Acts 8:29-31).

The passage being read concerned a sheep led to the slaughter and a lamb silent before its shearer, noting his justice was taken away and asking who would declare his generation (Acts 8:32-33). The eunuch asked Philip whether the prophet spoke of himself or another. Philip began at that same scripture and preached Jesus to him (Acts 8:34-35). As they traveled, they came to some water, and the eunuch asked what hindered him from being baptized; the text does not say if Philip gave a verbal requirement before the official ordered the chariot to stop. Both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him (Acts 8:36-38).

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, though he continued his journey rejoicing (Acts 8:39). Philip was found at Azotus. He traveled through the region and preached the gospel in all the cities until he reached Caesarea (Acts 8:40). The text does not say how Philip arrived at Azotus other than through the action of the Spirit, nor does it record the specific dialogue exchanged during the remainder of the eunuch's journey.