26 But aan angel of the Lord spoke to bPhilip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to cGaza.” (1This is a desert road.)

27 So he got up and went; and athere was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he bhad come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 and he was returning and sitting in his 1chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 Then athe Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this 1chariot.”

30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:

“aHe was led as a sheep to slaughter;

And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,

So He does not open His mouth.

33 “aIn humiliation His judgment was taken away;

Who will 1relate His 2generation?

For His life is removed from the earth.”

34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?”

35 Then Philip aopened his mouth, and bbeginning from this Scripture he cpreached Jesus to him.

36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch * said, “Look! Water! aWhat prevents me from being baptized?”

37 [1And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]

38 And he ordered the 1chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

39 When they came up out of the water, athe Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, 1but went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip 1found himself at 2aAzotus, and as he passed through he bkept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to cCaesarea.