Acts 8 40

Acts 8:40 kjv

But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Acts 8:40 nkjv

But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

Acts 8:40 niv

Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

Acts 8:40 esv

But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Acts 8:40 nlt

Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.

Acts 8 verses

Acts 8 40 Meaning

Acts 8:40 describes the immediate continuation of Philip's ministry after the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch. Having been supernaturally transported by the Spirit, Philip was "found" in Azotus, a city historically known for its pagan connections. From there, he commenced a sustained evangelistic journey, systematically preaching the good news throughout all the cities along the coastal route until he reached Caesarea, which would become his long-term ministry base. The verse highlights divine guidance, the unstoppable spread of the gospel, and the commitment of early evangelists to reach new territories.

Acts 8 40 Context

Acts chapter 8 is a pivotal passage detailing the initial outward expansion of the Gospel beyond Jerusalem. It begins with the persecution following Stephen's martyrdom, scattering believers, yet this dispersion becomes a catalyst for widespread evangelism (Acts 8:1). Philip, one of the seven chosen deacons, becomes a central figure, performing signs and preaching Christ in Samaria (Acts 8:5-25), a region previously disdained by Jews. The narrative then shifts to Philip's direct, Spirit-guided mission to the road to Gaza, where he encounters and baptizes the Ethiopian eunuch, a significant event that opens the door for the gospel to reach Africa and potentially the "ends of the earth" as foretold. Acts 8:40 serves as the conclusion to this segment, explaining Philip's next step immediately after this dramatic Spirit-led encounter. It positions him back into a new territory for sustained evangelism along the strategic coastal cities, moving from Azotus (ancient Ashdod) towards the significant Roman port city of Caesarea. This reflects a progressive movement, strategically targeting population centers.

Acts 8 40 Word analysis

• Philip (Greek: Φίλιππος, Philippos): Meaning "lover of horses." He is specifically identified as Philip the evangelist (Acts 21:8), one of the seven chosen deacons (Acts 6:5) rather than the Apostle Philip. His role here emphasizes that Spirit-filled lay leaders played a crucial role in early missions.
• was found (Greek: εὑρέθη, heurethē): Aorist passive indicative of heuriskō, "to find." This is a significant word choice. It does not say Philip "traveled" or "walked" to Azotus. Coupled with Acts 8:39 ("the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away"), it strongly implies a supernatural, immediate appearance or transportation by divine power. It suggests Philip was miraculously set down in this new location by God. This mirrors earlier prophetic transportations (e.g., Ezekiel).
• at Azotus (Greek: εἰς Ἄζωτον, eis Azōton): "into Azotus." Azotus is the Greek name for the ancient Philistine city of Ashdod, one of the five primary Philistine cities, located on the Mediterranean coast between Gaza and Joppa. Historically a pagan city, it represents another step in the gospel's spread beyond Jewish-only areas, confirming the trajectory of Acts 1:8. Its mention signals the mission entering Gentile territory.
• And as he passed through (Greek: διερχόμενος δὲ, dierchomenos de): The participle dierchomenos means "passing through," indicating movement from one point to another, often with the implication of active ministry along the way. The imperfect tense here (he preached) further suggests this was a continuous process.
• he preached the gospel (Greek: εὐηγγελίζετο, euēngelizeto): Imperfect active indicative of euangelizō, "to preach good news." The imperfect tense signifies ongoing, continuous evangelism. Philip's primary activity was consistently proclaiming the "good news" (gospel) of Jesus Christ. This highlights the centrality of the message.
• to all the cities (Greek: τὰς πόλεις πάσας, tas poleis pasas): "All the cities." This emphasizes a comprehensive and thorough evangelistic campaign, not just isolated stops. It indicates strategic focus on urban centers as hubs for spreading the message further. This methodical approach reflects intentional mission.
• until he came to Caesarea (Greek: ἕως τοῦ ἐλθεῖν αὐτὸν εἰς Καισάρειαν, heōs tou elthein auton eis Kaisareian): "until he came to Caesarea." Caesarea Maritima was the Roman capital of Judea, a major port city and administrative center. It had a mixed population of Jews, Greeks, and Romans, making it a crucial strategic location for the gospel. This became Philip's new home and ministry base (Acts 21:8), establishing a significant stronghold for Christian witness.

Word-Groups Analysis:

• "Philip was found at Azotus": This phrase dramatically signals divine intervention and rapid geographical shift. It emphasizes God's direct hand in placing Philip where he needed to be next, continuing the Spirit's direction from the previous verse. It underscores the immediate, obedient response of Philip to the Spirit's leading, despite the miraculous nature of his relocation.
• "And as he passed through, he preached the gospel to all the cities": This grouping illustrates Philip's unwavering commitment to evangelism. It wasn't a casual journey; every city he traversed became a mission field. This comprehensive approach to sharing the "good news" shows the proactive nature of early Christian missions, maximizing every opportunity to spread the message.
• "until he came to Caesarea": This final phrase marks the endpoint of this specific leg of Philip's journey, designating Caesarea as a significant destination. It implies that Philip settled there and that the continuous evangelism of "all the cities" along the way culminated in his arrival at this strategic hub. Caesarea served as an important location for future apostolic activity, signifying its importance for the burgeoning church.

Acts 8 40 Bonus section

The trajectory of Philip's ministry from Samaria to Azotus and then Caesarea signifies a clear geographical and ethnic progression, fulfilling the "Judea and Samaria" and "ends of the earth" components of Christ's commission (Acts 1:8). The inclusion of Azotus, an ancient Philistine city, speaks volumes about the dismantling of old hostilities and the universality of the gospel message, offering salvation even to historical enemies of Israel. Caesarea's future significance as the site of Cornelius's conversion (Acts 10), Peter's preaching to Gentiles, and later Paul's imprisonments (Acts 23:23-26:32) underscores God's foresight in planting Philip there. Philip’s sustained evangelism effectively "seeded" the region, laying groundwork for future, larger-scale apostolic endeavors, particularly the official Gentile inclusion by Peter. It reminds us that often, unseen groundwork is laid by faithful evangelists under the Spirit's direction before major breakthroughs occur.

Acts 8 40 Commentary

Acts 8:40 encapsulates the Spirit-driven momentum of early Christian missions. Philip's miraculous transportation by the Spirit is not merely an astonishing event but a divine act to reposition an effective evangelist for further strategic outreach. Being "found" in Azotus, a city steeped in pagan history, immediately highlights the gospel's boundary-breaking nature, penetrating Gentile territories. His subsequent journey, marked by consistent proclamation of the gospel "to all the cities" along the coastal plain, demonstrates methodical, widespread evangelism. This was not a random wander but a Spirit-directed campaign, culminating in Caesarea. Caesarea, as the Roman administrative capital and a melting pot of cultures, became a strategic hub for the expanding church, where Philip would eventually establish his home and family ministry. The verse profoundly illustrates the Holy Spirit's agency in guiding, empowering, and directing the church's mission, ensuring the good news reaches diverse peoples and key urban centers according to God's sovereign plan.