Acts 8:35 kjv
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Acts 8:35 nkjv
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
Acts 8:35 niv
Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
Acts 8:35 esv
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
Acts 8:35 nlt
So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.
Acts 8 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 53:7-8 | He was oppressed... led as a lamb to the slaughter... cut off from the land of the living... | The specific prophecy Philip explained. |
| Lk 24:27 | And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. | Jesus explaining OT points to Him. |
| Lk 24:44-45 | These are my words... that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. | Christ as fulfillment of OT. |
| Acts 1:8 | You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses... | Holy Spirit empowering evangelism. |
| Acts 2:36 | Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. | Preaching Jesus as Lord and Christ. |
| Acts 3:18 | But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. | Prophecy of Christ's suffering fulfilled. |
| Acts 4:12 | And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. | Jesus as the sole means of salvation. |
| Acts 4:31 | And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. | Boldness in Spirit-led proclamation. |
| Acts 6:10 | But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. | Spirit-filled speaking irresistible. |
| Rom 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes... | Gospel as God's power for salvation. |
| Rom 10:9-10 | If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. | Confession and belief in Jesus for salvation. |
| Rom 10:14 | How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have not heard? | Necessity of hearing the Gospel. |
| 1 Cor 15:3-4 | For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. | The essence of the Gospel message. |
| 2 Cor 4:5 | For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord... | Christ is the central message. |
| Eph 2:13 | But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. | Redemption through Christ's blood. |
| Col 1:28 | Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. | Proclaiming Christ to mature believers. |
| Heb 9:28 | So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. | Christ bearing sins, second coming. |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. | Christ bore sins on the cross. |
| Jn 5:39 | You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. | Scriptures testify about Jesus. |
| Matt 5:2 | And he opened his mouth and taught them... | Example of solemn, intentional teaching. |
| Isa 42:1-7 | Behold my servant, whom I uphold... | Another Servant Song, broader context. |
| Acts 17:2-3 | And Paul went in... and for three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ." | Paul's method: Reasoning from Scripture to Christ. |
Acts 8 verses
Acts 8 35 Meaning
Acts chapter 8, verse 35 details a pivotal moment where Philip, empowered by the Holy Spirit, began to clearly explain the Scriptures to the Ethiopian eunuch. Starting from the Old Testament passage the eunuch was reading (Isaiah 53, the Suffering Servant), Philip precisely expounded how this prophecy found its complete fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The core message Philip conveyed was the "good news" of Jesus— His sacrificial life, death, resurrection, and the salvation He offers to all who believe. This verse exemplifies Christ-centered, Scripture-based evangelism.
Acts 8 35 Context
Acts chapter 8 chronicles Philip's vibrant ministry after the scattering of believers due to persecution in Jerusalem. Following a powerful work of evangelism and miracles in Samaria, an angel of the Lord directs Philip to a deserted road leading from Jerusalem to Gaza. Here, Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch, a high official serving Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians. This eunuch, having come to Jerusalem to worship, was on his way home, diligently reading aloud from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. The specific passage he was reading (Isaiah 53:7-8) spoke of a suffering lamb. The eunuch confessed his inability to understand who the prophet was speaking about, providing the divine appointment for Philip to explain it. Verse 35 is Philip's response to the eunuch's humble request for understanding, seizing the perfect opportunity to proclaim Christ. Historically, it signifies the breaking of geographical and social barriers for the gospel's spread.
Acts 8 35 Word analysis
- Then (Tote - Greek): Denotes immediate action and a logical sequence, following the eunuch's question and invitation. It marks a decisive moment.
- Philip (Philippos - Greek): One of the seven men chosen by the Jerusalem church for ministry (Acts 6:5). He is called "the evangelist" (Acts 21:8) and demonstrates Spirit-led ministry, fulfilling his divine calling.
- opened his mouth (anoixas to stoma autou - Greek): This is a Hebraism often used in Scripture (e.g., Matt 5:2) to indicate a solemn, significant, and deliberate commencement of speech or teaching, not just casual talking. It suggests clarity and authority in proclamation.
- and beginning with this Scripture (kai arxamenos apo tēs graphēs tautēs - Greek): This phrase highlights Philip's methodological and Spirit-led approach. He starts precisely where the eunuch was (Isaiah 53), affirming the Old Testament as God's authoritative Word (
graphērefers to sacred writings) and demonstrating how it perfectly points to Christ. This underscores the unity of God's redemptive plan through history. - he told him the good news (euēggelisato autō - Greek): From the verb
euangelizo(to proclaim good tidings, to preach the gospel). This signifies the primary activity of an evangelist: communicating the joyous message of salvation. The content is explicitlyeuaggelion(gospel or good news). - about Jesus (ton Iēsoun - Greek): This identifies the central figure and exclusive subject of the "good news." Jesus is the fulfillment of all prophecy, the Lord, the Christ, the Savior. Philip's message was unreservedly Christ-centered, connecting the ancient prophecy directly to the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Then Philip opened his mouth": Signifies Philip's readiness, anointing, and clear articulation, guided by the Holy Spirit, to deliver a profoundly important message. It sets the stage for authoritative proclamation.
- "and beginning with this Scripture": Emphasizes the crucial foundation of Scripture in evangelism. Philip didn't bring his own ideas but demonstrated how God's ancient Word foretold Christ, lending divine authority and coherence to his message. It shows a powerful exegetical method, bridging the gap between prophecy and fulfillment.
- "he told him the good news about Jesus": This encapsulates the content and aim of true Christian proclamation. The entire message is
the good news, a message of grace and salvation, and its absolute focus isJesus—His person, work, and saving power as prophesied in Scripture.
Acts 8 35 Bonus section
The encounter in Acts 8:26-40 as a whole highlights the universal reach of the gospel. The eunuch, though an influential figure, was from a marginalized group (Dt 23:1 prohibitions regarding eunuchs in the assembly), yet the good news was freely extended to him without prejudice. This event serves as an early testament to the breaking down of barriers—ethnic, social, and religious—by the inclusive nature of the New Covenant in Christ. Furthermore, the immediate request for baptism (Acts 8:36-38) demonstrates the eunuch's immediate, saving response to Philip's Spirit-led and Christ-focused preaching, illustrating that true repentance and faith in Jesus Christ are evidenced by a desire for obedience to God's commands. The rapid succession from seeking truth to hearing the Word to belief and baptism illustrates the immediacy of gospel transformation.
Acts 8 35 Commentary
Acts 8:35 stands as a profound model for Christian evangelism, illuminating its key components. Firstly, it showcases Divine Guidance and Opportunity: Philip was supernaturally led to this specific encounter, highlighting that genuine gospel proclamation often unfolds through providential circumstances prepared by God. Secondly, it stresses Spirit-empowered Proclamation: Philip "opened his mouth" not merely as a human speaking, but as one filled and directed by the Holy Spirit to clearly articulate God's truth. Thirdly, it underscores Scripture-based Foundation: Philip didn't start arbitrarily; he rooted his message directly in the very Word the eunuch was already engaging with. This demonstrates the Bible's inherent power and its capacity to lead seekers to Christ when correctly interpreted. The Old Testament is shown to be a testimony to Jesus. Fourthly, it exemplifies Christ-centered Content: The culmination of Philip's explanation was "the good news about Jesus." All of Scripture, particularly prophecies like Isaiah 53, finds its ultimate meaning and fulfillment in Him. Effective evangelism consistently points to Jesus—His identity, His atoning work, His resurrection, and His Lordship. Finally, it portrays the Simplicity and Clarity of the Gospel: Philip made the complex accessible, transforming the eunuch's perplexity into understanding and ultimately, faith leading to baptism.
Practical usage:
- When discussing faith, listen for where someone is already engaged with spiritual concepts (their 'scripture' moment).
- Always bring the conversation to Jesus and how He is the answer to humanity's deepest questions and prophecies.
- Trust that the Holy Spirit prepares hearts and empowers words, allowing for bold, clear proclamation rooted in biblical truth.