Acts 6:5

6:5 The ¹  proposal pleased the entire group, so ²  they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, with ³  Philip, ⁴  Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaism ⁵  from Antioch. ⁶ 

Acts 8:5-13

8:5 Philip went down to the main city of Samaria ⁷  and began proclaiming ⁸  the Christ ⁹  to them. 8:6 The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what Philip said, ¹⁰  as they heard and saw the miraculous signs ¹¹  he was performing. 8:7 For unclean spirits, ¹²  crying with loud shrieks, were coming out of many who were possessed, ¹³  and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. 8:8 So there was ¹⁴  great joy ¹⁵  in that city.

8:9 Now in that city was a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic ¹⁶  and amazing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. 8:10 All the people, ¹⁷  from the least to the greatest, paid close attention to him, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘Great.’” ¹⁸  8:11 And they paid close attention to him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God ¹⁹  and the name of Jesus Christ, ²⁰  they began to be baptized, ²¹  both men and women. 8:13 Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized, he stayed close to ²²  Philip constantly, and when he saw the signs and great miracles that were occurring, he was amazed. ²³ 

Acts 8:26-40

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

8:26 Then an angel of the Lord ²⁴  said to Philip, ²⁵  “Get up and go south ²⁶  on the road that goes down from Jerusalem ²⁷  to Gaza.” (This is a desert ²⁸  road.) ²⁹  8:27 So ³⁰  he got up ³¹  and went. There ³²  he met ³³  an Ethiopian eunuch, ³⁴  a court official of Candace, ³⁵  queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasury. He ³⁶  had come to Jerusalem to worship, ³⁷  8:28 and was returning home, sitting ³⁸  in his chariot, reading ³⁹  the prophet Isaiah. 8:29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 8:30 So Philip ran up ⁴⁰  to it ⁴¹  and heard the man ⁴²  reading Isaiah the prophet. He ⁴³  asked him, ⁴⁴  “Do you understand what you’re reading?” 8:31 The man ⁴⁵  replied, “How in the world can I, ⁴⁶  unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 8:32 Now the passage of scripture the man ⁴⁷  was reading was this:

“He was led like a sheep to slaughter,

and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,

so he did ⁴⁸  not open his mouth.

8:33 In humiliation ⁴⁹  justice was taken from him. ⁵⁰ 

Who can describe his posterity? ⁵¹ 

For his life was taken away ⁵²  from the earth.” ⁵³ 

8:34 Then the eunuch said ⁵⁴  to Philip, “Please tell me, ⁵⁵  who is the prophet saying this about – himself or someone else?” ⁵⁶  8:35 So Philip started speaking, ⁵⁷  and beginning with this scripture ⁵⁸  proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. 8:36 Now as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water! What is to stop me ⁵⁹  from being baptized?” 8:37 [[EMPTY]] ⁶⁰  8:38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, ⁶¹  and Philip baptized ⁶²  him. 8:39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any more, but ⁶³  went on his way rejoicing. ⁶⁴  8:40 Philip, however, found himself ⁶⁵  at Azotus, ⁶⁶  and as he passed through the area, ⁶⁷  he proclaimed the good news ⁶⁸  to all the towns ⁶⁹  until he came to Caesarea. ⁷⁰ 

[6:5]  ¹ tn Grk “And the.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

[6:5]  ² tn The translation “so” has been used to indicate the logical sequence in English.

[6:5]  ³ tn “With” is smoother English style for an addition like this. Because of differences between Greek and English style, καί (kai), which occurs between each name in the list, has not been translated except preceding the last element.

[6:5]  ⁴ sn Philip. Note how many of the names in this list are Greek. This suggests that Hellenists were chosen to solve the problem they had been so sensitive about fixing (cf. 6:1).

[6:5]  ⁵ tn Or “a proselyte.”

[6:5]  ⁶ map For location see JP1 F2; JP2 F2; JP3 F2; JP4 F2.

[8:5]  ⁷ tn The word “main” is supplied in the translation to clarify that “Samaria” is not the name of the city (at least in NT times). See both BDAG 912 s.v. Σαμάρεια, and L&N 93.568.

[8:5]  ⁸ tn The imperfect ἐκήρυσσεν (ekhrussen) has been translated as an ingressive, since this is probably the first time such preaching took place.

[8:5]  ⁹ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[8:6]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “to what was being said by Philip,” a passive construction that has been changed to active voice in the translation.

[8:6]  ¹¹ tn Here the following context indicates the miraculous nature of the signs mentioned. This term appears 13 times in Acts, but only twice more after Acts 8:13 (i.e., 14:3; 15:12).

[8:7]  ¹² sn The expression unclean spirits refers to evil supernatural spirits which were ceremonially unclean, and which caused the persons possessed by them to be ceremonially unclean.

[8:7]  ¹³ tn Grk “For [in the case of] many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out, crying in a loud voice.”

[8:8]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “and there came about,” but this is somewhat awkward in English.

[8:8]  ¹⁵ sn Great joy. The reason for eschatological joy was that such events pointed to God’s decisive deliverance (Luke 7:22-23). Note how the acts of healing extend beyond the Twelve here.

[8:9]  ¹⁶ tn On the idiom προϋπῆρχεν μαγεύων (prouphrcen mageuwn) meaning “had been practicing magic” see BDAG 889 s.v. προϋπάρχω.

[8:10]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “all of them”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:10]  ¹⁸ tn Or “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” The translation “what is called the Great Power of God” is given by BDAG 263 s.v. δύναμις 5, but the repetition of the article before καλουμένη μεγάλη (kaloumenh megalh) suggests the translation “the power of God that is called ‘Great.’”

[8:12]  ¹⁹ sn The kingdom of God is also what Jesus preached: Acts 1:3. The term reappears in 14:22; 19:8; 28:23, 31.

[8:12]  ²⁰ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[8:12]  ²¹ tn The imperfect verb ἐβαπτίζοντο (ebaptizonto) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.

[8:13]  ²² tn Or “he kept close company with.”

[8:13]  ²³ sn He was amazed. Now Simon, the one who amazed others, is himself amazed, showing the superiority of Philip’s connection to God. Christ is better than anything the culture has to offer.

[8:26]  ²⁴ tn Or “the angel of the Lord.” See the note on the word “Lord” in 5:19.

[8:26]  ²⁵ tn Grk “Lord spoke to Philip, saying.” The redundant participle λέγων (legwn) has not been translated.

[8:26]  ²⁶ tn Or “Get up and go about noon.” The phrase κατὰ μεσημβρίαν (kata meshmbrian) can be translated either “about noon” (L&N 67.74) or “toward the south” (L&N 82.4). Since the angel’s command appears to call for immediate action (“Get up”) and would not therefore need a time indicator, a directional reference (“toward the south”) is more likely here.

[8:26]  ²⁷ map For the location of Jerusalem see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[8:26]  ²⁸ tn Or “wilderness.”

[8:26]  ²⁹ tn The words “This is a desert road” are probably best understood as a comment by the author of Acts, but it is possible they form part of the angel’s speech to Philip, in which case the verse would read: “Get up and go south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza – the desert road.”

[8:27]  ³⁰ tn Grk “And,” but καί (kai) carries something of a resultative force in this context because what follows describes Philip’s response to the angel’s command.

[8:27]  ³¹ tn Grk “So getting up he went.” The aorist participle ἀναστάς (anastas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[8:27]  ³² tn Grk “And there.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

[8:27]  ³³ tn Grk “and behold.” This expression is used to portray Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian in a vivid way. In the English translation this vividness is difficult to convey; it is necessary to supply the words “he met.”

[8:27]  ³⁴ sn The term eunuch normally referred to a man who had been castrated, but this was not always the case (see Gen 39:1 LXX, where Potiphar is called a eunuch). Such castrated individuals were preferred as court officials in the East, although Judaism opposed the practice. The Mosaic law excluded eunuchs from Israel (Deut 23:1), although God certainly accepted them (Isa 56:3-5; Wis 3:14). This individual was a high official, since he was said to be in charge of all her treasury. He may or may not have been a eunuch physically. He appears to be the first fully Gentile convert to Christianity, since the Samaritans mentioned previously (Acts 8:4-25) were regarded as half-breeds.

[8:27]  ³⁵ tn Or “the Candace” (the title of the queen of the Ethiopians). The term Κανδάκης (Kandakh") is much more likely a title rather than a proper name (like Pharaoh, which is a title); see L&N 37.77. A few, however, still take the word to be the name of the queen (L&N 93.209). BDAG 507 s.v. Κανδάκη, treats the term as a title and lists classical usage by Strabo (Geography 17.1.54) and others.

[8:27]  ³⁶ tn Grk “who was over all her treasury, who.” The two consecutive relative clauses make for awkward English style, so the second was begun as a new sentence with the pronoun “he” supplied in place of the Greek relative pronoun to make a complete sentence in English.

[8:27]  ³⁷ sn Since this man had come to Jerusalem to worship, he may have been a proselyte to Judaism. This event is a precursor to Acts 10.

[8:28]  ³⁸ tn Grk “and was sitting.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

[8:28]  ³⁹ tn Grk “and was reading.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

[8:30]  ⁴⁰ tn The participle προσδραμών (prosdramwn) is regarded as attendant circumstance.

[8:30]  ⁴¹ tn The words “to it” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

[8:30]  ⁴² tn Grk “heard him”; the referent (the man) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:30]  ⁴³ tn Grk “and he.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence, the conjunction καί (kai) has not been translated here. Instead a new English sentence is begun.

[8:30]  ⁴⁴ tn Grk “he said”; but since what follows is a question, it is better English style to translate the introduction to the question “he asked him.”

[8:31]  ⁴⁵ tn Grk “He”; the referent (the man) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:31]  ⁴⁶ tn Grk “How am I able, unless…” The translation is based on the force of the conjunction γάρ (gar) in this context. The translation “How in the world can I?” is given in BDAG 189 s.v. γάρ 1.f.

[8:32]  ⁴⁷ tn Grk “he”; the referent (the man) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:32]  ⁴⁸ tn Grk “does.” The present tense here was translated as a past tense to maintain consistency with the first line of the quotation (“he was led like a sheep to slaughter”), which has an aorist passive verb normally translated as a past tense in English.

[8:33]  ⁴⁹ tc ‡ Most later mss (C E Ψ 33^vid Ï sy) read “In his humiliation,” adding αὐτοῦ (autou, “his”) after ταπεινώσει (tapeinwsei, “humiliation”), while the earlier and better witnesses lack the pronoun (so Ì⁷⁴ א A B 1739 pc lat). However, the LXX of Isa 53:8 also lacks the pronoun, supplying motivation for scribes to omit it here. At the same time, scribes would also be motivated to add the pronoun both for clarity’s sake (note the similar impulse that led to the addition of δέ [de] by many of the same mss at the beginning of the next line) and to give balance to the lines (the pronoun is indisputably used five other times in vv. 32-33 in quoting Isa 53). On balance, the shorter reading is preferred.

[8:33]  ⁵⁰ tn Or “justice was denied him”; Grk “his justice was taken away.”

[8:33]  ⁵¹ tn Or “family; or “origin.” The meaning of γενεά (genea) in the quotation is uncertain; BDAG 192 s.v. γενεά 4 suggests “family history.”

[8:33]  ⁵² tn Grk “is taken away.” The present tense here was translated as a past tense to maintain consistency with the rest of the quotation.

[8:33]  ⁵³ sn A quotation from Isa 53:7-8.

[8:34]  ⁵⁴ tn Grk “answered and said.” The redundant participle ἀποκριθείς (apokriqei") has not been translated.

[8:34]  ⁵⁵ tn Grk “I beg you,” “I ask you.”

[8:34]  ⁵⁶ sn About himself, or about someone else? It is likely in 1st century Judaism this would have been understood as either Israel or Isaiah.

[8:35]  ⁵⁷ tn Grk “opening his mouth” (a Semitic idiom for beginning to speak in a somewhat formal manner). The participle ἀνοίξας (anoixa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[8:35]  ⁵⁸ sn Beginning with this scripture. The discussion likely included many of the scriptures Acts has already noted for the reader in earlier speeches. At the least, readers of Acts would know what other scriptures might be meant.

[8:36]  ⁵⁹ tn Or “What prevents me.” The rhetorical question means, “I should get baptized, right?”

[8:37]  ⁶⁰ tc A few later mss (E 36 323 453 945 1739 1891 pc) add, with minor variations, 8:37 “He said to him, ‘If you believe with your whole heart, you may.’ He replied, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’” Verse 37 is lacking in {Ì^45,74 א A B C 33 614 vg sy^p,h co}. It is clearly not a part of the original text of Acts. The variant is significant in showing how some in the early church viewed a confession of faith. The present translation follows NA²⁷ in omitting the verse number, a procedure also followed by a number of other modern translations.

[8:38]  ⁶¹ tn Grk “and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch.” Since this is somewhat redundant in English, it was simplified to “and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water.”

[8:38]  ⁶² sn Philip baptized. Again, someone beyond the Twelve has ministered an ordinance of faith.

[8:39]  ⁶³ tn BDAG 189 s.v. γάρ 2 indicates that under certain circumstances γάρ (gar) has the same meaning as δέ (de).

[8:39]  ⁶⁴ sn Note that the response to the gospel is rejoicing (joy, cf. Acts 11:23; 13:48).

[8:40]  ⁶⁵ tn Or “appeared.”

[8:40]  ⁶⁶ sn Azotus was a city on the coast of southern Palestine, known as Ashdod in OT times.

[8:40]  ⁶⁷ tn The words “the area” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

[8:40]  ⁶⁸ tn Or “he preached the gospel.”

[8:40]  ⁶⁹ tn Or “cities.”

[8:40]  ⁷⁰ sn Caesarea was a city on the coast of Palestine south of Mount Carmel (not Caesarea Philippi). See the note on Caesarea in Acts 10:1.