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. ²⁸As the official rode along in his carriage, he was reading the prophet Isaiah out loud.

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

³⁰Philip 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?”

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

³²This 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.

³³When he humbled himself,

he was not judged fairly.

Who from his generation

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

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

³⁶As 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?”^a³⁸The official ordered the carriage to stop. He and Philip stepped into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

a 8:36 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 37: “Philip said to the official, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you can be baptized.’ The official answered, ‘I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ ”