Philip Tells an Ethiopian about Jesus

26 An angel from the Lord said to Philip, “Get up, and take the desert road that goes south from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So Philip went. 

An Ethiopian man who had come to Jerusalem to worship was on his way home. The man was a eunuch, a high-ranking official in charge of all the treasures of Queen Candace of Ethiopia. 28 As the official rode along in his carriage, he was reading the prophet Isaiah out loud. 

29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go to that carriage, and stay close to it.” 

30 Philip ran to the carriage and could hear the official reading the prophet Isaiah out loud. Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” 

31 The official answered, “How can I understand unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to sit with him in his carriage. 

32 This was the part of the Scriptures that the official was reading: 

“He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. 

He was like a sheep that is silent 

when its wool is cut off. 

He didn’t open his mouth. 

33  When he humbled himself, 

he was not judged fairly. 

Who from his generation 

will talk about his life on earth being cut short?” 

34 The official said to Philip, “I would like to know who the prophet is talking about. Is he talking about himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip spoke. Starting with that passage, Philip told the official the Good News about Jesus. 

36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water. The official said to Philip, “Look, there’s some water. What can keep me from being baptized?”a 38 The official ordered the carriage to stop. He and Philip stepped into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they had stepped out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away. The official joyfully continued on his way and didn’t see Philip again. 

40 Philip found himself in the city of Azotus. He traveled through all the cities and spread the Good News until he came to the city of Caesarea.