Acts 8 32

Acts 8:32 kjv

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

Acts 8:32 nkjv

The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

Acts 8:32 niv

This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Acts 8:32 esv

Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.

Acts 8:32 nlt

The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter.
And as a lamb is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.

Acts 8 verses

Acts 8 32 Meaning

Acts 8:32 presents the specific Old Testament passage from Isaiah 53:7 that the Ethiopian eunuch was reading, central to his encounter with Philip. This verse vividly describes a lamb-like figure led to slaughter and remaining silent before its shearers, explicitly stating that "He opened not His mouth." It prophetically portrays the profound meekness, silent submission, and voluntary suffering of the Servant of the Lord, which Philip immediately understood and taught as fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This scripture highlights the sacrificial, non-resisting nature of Jesus' journey to crucifixion, echoing His humble acceptance of God's will for the salvation of humanity.

Acts 8 32 Context

The passage is situated in Acts chapter 8, where the early church faces significant persecution after Stephen's martyrdom, leading to the scattering of believers (Acts 8:1). Philip, one of the seven deacons, travels to Samaria to preach the Gospel. Following successful ministry there, an angel directs him to travel south on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. On this road, Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch, an influential treasurer for Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, who had traveled to Jerusalem to worship.

The immediate context leading to Acts 8:32 is Philip's obedience to the Holy Spirit and his proximity to the eunuch's chariot. The eunuch is found diligently reading a portion of the Hebrew Scriptures. Philip asks him if he understands what he is reading (Acts 8:30). The eunuch admits he needs guidance, prompting him to invite Philip into his chariot. Acts 8:32 specifically identifies the exact scripture he was engrossed in—Isaiah 53:7, part of the well-known "Suffering Servant" passages in Isaiah. This setup is crucial, as the eunuch's intellectual curiosity combined with the precise prophetic text creates the perfect divine appointment for Philip to reveal Jesus as its fulfillment. Historically, the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament, was widely used, and the eunuch, likely a God-fearer or proselyte, would have been reading from it. Jewish interpretations of Isaiah 53 often did not associate it with a suffering Messiah, making the eunuch's need for an interpreter profound, and Philip's explanation revolutionary for him.

Acts 8 32 Word analysis

• The passage (Greek: periochē): Refers to a section or portion of a scroll or book. This signifies that the eunuch was engaged in careful, direct study of a specific and profound part of the Holy Scriptures, indicating his earnest seeking.
• of the Scripture (Greek: graphēs): Emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the text being read. It highlights that the words carry God's truth.
• which he was reading (Greek: anaginōskō): Signifies a continuous act of reading aloud, a common practice in antiquity. It suggests active engagement with the text, but perhaps without full comprehension.
• was this: A direct introductory phrase to an exact quotation.
• ‘He was led (Greek: ēchthē): A passive verb indicating being guided or taken, often against one's will but in this prophetic context implying voluntary submission. It sets up the imagery of forced procession to judgment or sacrifice.
• as a sheep (Greek: hōs probaton): Evokes images of innocence, docility, and helplessness. Sheep are known for their quiet nature when led, even to death. This immediately brings to mind sacrificial animals in the Old Testament temple rituals.
• to the slaughter (Greek: epi sphagēn): Refers to the act of killing for sacrifice or consumption. It paints a vivid picture of inevitable doom and violence, underscoring the purpose for which the sheep-like figure is being led.
• And as a lamb (Greek: kai hōs amnos): Reinforces the sacrificial animal imagery. Amnos specifically refers to a young lamb, often associated with purity and being suitable for Passover or sin offerings. This strengthens the connection to innocent sacrifice.
• before its shearer (Greek: enantiot tou keirontos autou): The "shearer" is one who cuts wool from a sheep. This implies a power dynamic where the shearer exerts control and the animal is utterly vulnerable. The act of shearing itself, while not fatal, involves considerable handling and submission from the animal, yet sheep are famously silent during this process.
• is silent (Greek: aphōnos): Means voiceless, mute, speechless. This silence is profound, indicating no protest, no complaint, no struggle. It's a key detail highlighting submission and patience.
• So He opened not His mouth (Greek: houtōs ouk anoigei to stoma autou): This repeats and strengthens the theme of silence from the preceding clause, emphatically applying it to the "He" of the prophecy. "Opened not His mouth" conveys deliberate non-response, non-resistance, and willingness to endure suffering without complaint or self-defense. This specific phrase is crucial in demonstrating fulfillment in Christ during His trials.

Words-group analysis:

• "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter": This phrase speaks volumes about the vulnerability, innocence, and predetermined path of the Suffering Servant. It connects directly to sacrificial imagery in the Old Covenant, where unblemished animals were sacrificed for the sins of the people. In Christ, it signifies His willingness to be delivered up for crucifixion.
• "And as a lamb before its shearer is silent": This simile deepens the understanding of the Servant's submission. The act of shearing, while not deadly, is invasive. Yet the lamb's silence indicates an absence of resistance or protest. This portrays the humility and lack of self-vindication that would characterize the Servant.
• "So He opened not His mouth": This phrase directly parallels the previous two clauses and clearly attributes this profound silence to the "He" of the prophecy. It underscores voluntary submission to injustice and suffering without any effort to defend, explain, or escape. This is a deliberate, conscious choice not to resist, central to Jesus' atonement.

Acts 8 32 Bonus section

The selection of Isaiah 53:7 by the eunuch highlights a divinely orchestrated moment. Out of all the scrolls, he was reading that particular passage. This demonstrates the Holy Spirit's precise guidance in bringing Philip to him, preparing both the messenger and the recipient. The eunuch, despite his high official position, shows humility and a genuine desire to understand God's Word, indicating a readiness of heart. His immediate request for baptism after understanding the message illustrates the swift and transformative power of the Gospel when applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit. This event is a crucial step in the early church's mission (Acts 1:8), as it depicts the Gospel extending beyond traditional Jewish and Samaritan boundaries to a significant person from "the end of the earth" (Ethiopia), showing the universality of God's saving grace to all who seek Him.

Acts 8 32 Commentary

Acts 8:32 is profoundly significant as it provides the explicit Old Testament foundation for understanding the nature of Jesus' redemptive suffering. By quoting Isaiah 53:7, Luke highlights the very passage the Ethiopian eunuch, a seeker of God, was grappling with. This precise scripture serves as a divinely chosen point of entry for Philip to evangelize. The imagery of the "sheep to the slaughter" and the "lamb before its shearer" being "silent" is a powerful depiction of unresisting, innocent submission. In Christ's crucifixion, we see the perfect fulfillment: Jesus did not protest, defend Himself, or rail against His accusers, despite being innocent (Matt 26:63; 27:12-14). His silence was not weakness but intentional, reflecting profound humility and voluntary obedience to the Father's will (Phil 2:8).

This verse underscores the "substitutionary atonement," where an innocent one suffers in the place of the guilty. Just as sacrificial lambs bore the sins of the people, Jesus, the Lamb of God, bore the sins of the world (Jn 1:29; 1 Pet 2:24). The eunuch's reading Isaiah 53 without fully grasping its personal implications for himself represents the broader human condition needing divine revelation. Philip's explanation, starting from this very verse (Acts 8:35), reveals the gospel—Jesus' identity as the Suffering Servant—leading to the eunuch's immediate conviction and baptism. This passage serves as a vivid illustration of how the Old Testament prophecies find their ultimate meaning and fulfillment in Jesus Christ, illuminating God's saving plan through His sacrificial Son.