Acts 8:30
in Acts 8So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
KJV
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
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This verse in Acts 8
Commentary
11 notes on this verseHeard him read the Prophet Esaias - The eunuch, it seems, was reading aloud, and apparently in Greek, for that was the common language in Egypt; and, indeed, almost in every place it was understood. And it appears that it was the Greek version of the Septuagint that he was reading, as the quotation below is from that version.
This site's exposition
join thyself to this chariot
on Acts 8:29-31
The Spirit's direct instruction, go near and join thyself to this chariot, sends Philip running to catch a moving vehicle, the same immediacy that marks every Spirit-led step in this chapter. Philip's question, understandest thou what thou readest, meets an honest answer, how can I except some man should guide me, and the eunuch's own reply becomes the invitation every evangelist since has hoped to hear, asking Philip to come up and sit with him. A man with more authority and more education than Philip humbles himself to ask an unnamed evangelist for help, an answer to prayer the text presents without praising his humility directly.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
He was not ashamed to confess his ignorance and implored to be taught. Therefore, to him who became a learner, the grace of the Spirit was given. But as for those Jews who persisted in their ignorance; as the proverb says, "Death came upon them. For the fool dies in his sins."
I mean, when the apostle said, "Do you really understand?" and came close in his lowly condition, he was not put off, he made no objection, he did not consider himself disgraced in the way many foolish people react, often preferring to remain in unbroken ignorance through a sense of shame in admitting their ignorance and having to learn from those able to instruct them.
Observe the wisdom of Philip: he did not accuse him, not say, "I know these things exactly:" did not pay court to him, and say, "Blessed art thou that readest." But mark his speech, how far it is from harshness alike and from adulation; the speech rather of a kind and friendly man. "Understandest thou what thou readest?" For it was needful that he should himself ask, himself have a longing desire. He plainly intimates, that he knows that the other knew nothing: and says, "Understandest thou what thou readest?" at the same time he shows him that great was the treasure that lay therein.
It tells well also, that the eunuch looked not to the outward appearance of the man, said not, "Who art thou?" did not chide, not give himself airs, not say that he did know. On the contrary, he confesses his ignorance: wherefore also he learns. He shows his hurt to the physician: sees at a glance, that he both knows the matter, and is willing to teach. Look how free he is from haughtiness; the outward appearance announced nothing splendid. So desirous was he of learning, and gave heed to his words; and that saying, "He that seeketh, findeth," was fulfilled in him.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"Do you understand what you are reading?" He asks in a wonderful manner, because he neither flatters, nor praises, nor reproaches him for ignorance. But he asks in such a way as to arouse greater desire and to show that in what is being read …
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And Philip ran thither to him,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
HOW THIS NEGRO CHAMBERLAIN of the Queen of Ethiopia came to be a proselyte we do not know. The book which he was so fond of reading may have been the means of leading him to worship the God of Abraham, certainly it has answered that purpose thousands of times. At any rate, he followed the light he had, and though he had not yet come to the full glory of Christianity, it was more than probable that he would do so, because he was evidently prepared to follow truth wherever her flaming torch should lead the way.
HOW THIS NEGRO CHAMBERLAIN of the Queen of Ethiopia came to be a proselyte we do not know. The book which he was so fond of reading may have been the means of leading him to worship the God of Abraham, certainly it has answered that purpose thousands of times. At any rate, he followed the light he had, and though he had not yet come to the full glory of Christianity, it was more than probable that he would do so, because he was evidently prepared to follow truth wherever her flaming torch should lead the way. Oh, that there were more candour among men in these latter days, and less of the prejudice which puts scales upon the eyes of the mind! Be true to truth as it comes to you. If God gives you only common candle-light, make good use of it; and he will trim your lamp till it shineth like the sevenfold golden light of his holy place. Those who are willing to see God by the moon of nature shall soon be illuminated by the sun of revelation. Instead of complaining that you have no more light, make good use of what you have. Many groan over their inabilities, and yet they have never gone to the end of their abilities: this is sheer hypocrisy. Having become a proselyte to the faith of Israel, the eunuch made a long and perilous journey to Jerusalem. After he had enjoyed the solemn feast he returned; and while he traveled along, he read the word of God. The book of the prophet Isaiah was the portion chosen or his meditation. Does it not strike you as being remarkable that he should be reading at that moment the best text that Philip could have selected? He had reached a portion of Scripture from which, without the slightest digression, the evangelist preached unto him Jesus as the slain lamb, the willing sacrifice for guilty men. The like conjunction of providence and the Holy Spirit constantly occurs in conversions.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And Philip ran ... - Indicating his haste and his desire to obey the suggestions of the Spirit. A thousand difficulties might have been started in the mind of Philip if he had reflected a little. The eunuch was a stranger; he had the appearance of a man of rank; he was engaged in reading; he might be indisposed to be interrupted or to converse, etc. But Philip obeyed without any hesitation the instructions of the Spirit, and “ran” to him. It is well to follow the first suggestions of the Spirit; to yield to the clear indications of duty, and to perform it at once. Especially in a deed of benevolence, and in conversing with others on the subject of religion, our first thoughts are commonly the safest and the best. If we do not follow them, the calculations of avarice, or fear, or of worldly prudence are very apt to come in. We become alarmed; we are afraid of the rich and the great; we suppose that our conversation and admonitions will be unacceptable. We may learn from this case: (1) To do our duty at once, without hesitation or debate. (2) We shall often be disappointed in regard to subjects of this kind. We shall find candid, humble, Christian conversation far more acceptable to strangers, to the rich, and to the great, than we commonly suppose. If, as in this case, they are “alone”; if we approach them kindly; if we do not rudely and harshly address them, we shall find most people willing to talk on the subject of religion. I have conversed with some hundreds of persons on the subject of religion, and do not now recollect but two instances in which I was rudely treated, and in which it was not easy to gain a respectful and kind attention to Christian conversation. And heard him read - He was reading “loud” - sometimes the best way of impressing truth on the mind in our private reading the Scriptures. And said ... […]
The words behind it
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| προσδραμὼν | prosdramon | Having run up | G4370 → | |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Φίλιππος | philippos | Philip | G5376 → | 36 times |
| ἤκουσεν | ekousen | heard | G191 → | 425 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | when he | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἀναγινώσκοντος | anaginoskontos | is reading | G314 → | 32 times |
| Ἠσαΐαν | esaian | Isaiah | G2268 → | 22 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προφήτην | propheten | prophet | G4396 → | 144 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἶπεν· | eipen | said; | G2036 → | 925 times |
| ἆρά | ara | Surely not | G687 → | |
| γε | ge | also | G1065 → | 27 times |
| γινώσκεις | ginoskeis | understand you | G1097 → | 221 times |
| ἃ | ha | what | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἀναγινώσκεις; | anaginoskeis | you are reading? | G314 → | 32 times |
προσδραμὼνHaving run up
prosdramonG4370 →
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
ΦίλιπποςPhilip
philipposG5376 →36 times
ἤκουσενheard
ekousenG191 →425 times
αὐτοῦwhen he
autouG846 →5565 times
ἀναγινώσκοντοςis reading
anaginoskontosG314 →32 times
ἨσαΐανIsaiah
esaianG2268 →22 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
προφήτηνprophet
prophetenG4396 →144 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἶπεν·said;
eipenG2036 →925 times
ἆράSurely not
araG687 →
γεalso
geG1065 →27 times
γινώσκειςunderstand you
ginoskeisG1097 →221 times
ἃwhat
haG3739 →1405 times
ἀναγινώσκεις;you are reading?
anaginoskeisG314 →32 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
Ephesians 5:17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
it leads to
- Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of…
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- Colossians 1:9
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and…
- Ephesians 5:15
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
- Romans 12:2
Through
John 5:39You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me,
it leads to
- Luke 24:27
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.
- Luke 24:44
Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets,…
- 2 Peter 1:19–21
We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day…
- Acts 26:22–23
But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:
- Luke 24:27
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
Who and where
2 names 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); Athanasius of Alexandria, Letter 19.5; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1792: “Understandest Thou What Thou Readest?” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 35.5; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 19; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.