Acts 8:28
in Acts 8and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
KJV
Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
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This verse in Acts 8
Commentary
10 notes on this verseSitting in his chariot, read Esaias the prophet - He had gone to Jerusalem to worship: he had profited by his religious exercises: and even in travelling, he is improving his time. God sees his simplicity and earnestness, and provides him an instructer, who should lead him into the great truths of the Gospel, which, without such a one, he could not have understood.
This site's exposition
go toward the south unto the way
on Acts 8:26-28
An angel, not the Spirit this time, redirects Philip from a fruitful city work to a desert road toward Gaza, an assignment that would have looked like a demotion had he not obeyed it. The man he meets is an Ethiopian eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, a court official who had come to Jerusalem to worship despite the law's restriction on eunuchs entering the full assembly, and Isaiah's own promise had already offered such a man a place and a name better than sons and daughters. He is found reading Esaias the prophet in his chariot, a Gentile God-fearer whose worship the temple courts could only partly receive and whom the gospel is about to receive completely.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Consider, I ask you, what a great effort it was not to neglect reading even while on a journey, and especially while seated in a chariot. Let this be heeded by those people who do not even deign to do it at home but rather think reading the Scriptures is a waste of time, claiming as an excuse their living with a wife, conscription in military service, caring for children, attending to domestics and looking after other concerns, they do not think it necessary for them to show any interest in reading the holy Scriptures.
Great also is his studiousness, that even sitting in his chariot he read. Was reading the prophet Esaias. For the road was desert, and there was no display in the matter. Observe also at what time: in the most violent heat of the day.
The Spirit had enjoined Philip to proceed to that road: the eunuch himself, too, was not found idle, nor as one who was suddenly seized with an eager desire to be baptized; but, after going up to the temple for prayer's sake, being intently engaged on the divine Scripture, was thus suitably discovered-to whom God had, unasked, sent an apostle, which one, again, the Spirit bade adjoin himself to the chamberlain's chariot.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Sitting in his chariot, he read the Prophet Isaiah - God meeteth those that remember him in his ways. It is good to read, hear, seek information even in a journey.
Was returning,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
To go from a city, where his hands had been full of work, so far away on a desert road, could not but be staggering to the faith of Philip, especially as he was kept in ignorance of the object of the journey. But like Paul, he "was not disobedient to the heavenly vision"; and like Abram, "he went out not knowing whither he went" (Ac 26:19;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
But the faith in Jehovah and love of His worship and word, with which he was imbued, sufficiently explain this. and sitting in his chariot, read Esaias--Not contented with the statutory services in which he had joined, he beguiles the tedium of the journey homeward by reading the Scriptures.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And, sitting in his chariot - His carriage; his vehicle. The form of the carriage is not known. In some instances the carriages of the ancients were placed on wheels; in others were borne on poles, in the form of a “litter” or palanquin, by men, mules, or horses. See Calmet’s “Chariot” article. Reading Esaias ... - Isaiah. Reading doubtless the translation of Isaiah called the Septuagint. This translation was made in Egypt for the special use of the Jews in Alexandria and throughout Egypt, and was what was commonly used. “Why” he was reading the Scriptures, and especially this prophet, is not certainly known. It is morally certain, however, that he was in Judea at the time of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus; that he had heard much of him; that this would be a subject of discussion; and it was natural for him, in returning, to look at the prophecies respecting the Messiah, either to meditate on them as a suitable subject of inquiry and thought, or to examine the claims of Jesus of Nazareth to this office. The prophecy in Isa 53:1-12; was so striking, and coincided so clearly with the character of Jesus, that it was natural for a candid mind to examine whether “he” might not be the person intended by the prophet. On this narrative we may remark: (1) It is a proper and profitable employment, upon returning from “worship,” to examine the Sacred Scriptures. (2) It is well to be in the habit of reading the Scriptures when we are on a journey. It may serve to keep the heart from worldly objects, and secure the affections for God. (3) It is well at all times to read the Bible. It is one of the means of grace. And it is when we are searching his will that we obtain light and comfort. The sinner should examine with a candid mind the sacred volume. […]
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἦν | en | he was | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| τε | te | then | G5037 → | 213 times |
| ὑποστρέφων | hupostrephon | returning | G5290 → | 35 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| καθήμενος | kathemenos | sitting | G2521 → | 91 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | in | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἅρματος | harmatos | chariot | G716 → | 4 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀνεγίνωσκεν | aneginosken | he was reading | G314 → | 32 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προφήτην | propheten | prophet | G4396 → | 144 times |
| Ἠσαΐαν. | esaian | Isaiah. | G2268 → | 22 times |
ἦνhe was
enG1510 →2333 times
τεthen
teG5037 →213 times
ὑποστρέφωνreturning
hupostrephonG5290 →35 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
καθήμενοςsitting
kathemenosG2521 →91 times
ἐπὶin
epiG1909 →883 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
ἅρματοςchariot
harmatosG716 →4 times
αὐτοῦof him
autouG846 →5565 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀνεγίνωσκενhe was reading
aneginoskenG314 →32 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
προφήτηνprophet
prophetenG4396 →144 times
Ἠσαΐαν.Isaiah.
esaianG2268 →22 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Joshua 1:8This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper…
it leads to
- Psalms 119:15
I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.
- Psalms 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
- Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to…
- Proverbs 3:1
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
- Deuteronomy 29:9
So keep and follow the words of this covenant, that you may prosper in all you do.
- Psalms 119:15
Through
Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to…
it leads to
- Psalms 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
- Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
- John 15:7
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
- Psalms 119:11
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 35.3; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 19; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Tertullian, On Baptism.