Philip and the Ethiopian
An angel sends Philip to the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza, where he meets an Ethiopian eunuch returning from worship in Jerusalem and reading Isaiah in his chariot. At the Spirit's prompting Philip approaches, hears him reading, asks whether he understands, and is invited up to guide him.
N26ow an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet. 29The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.” 30So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
The eunuch is reading a passage from Isaiah about one humiliated and denied justice, and he asks whether the prophet speaks of himself or another. Beginning with that very Scripture, Philip tells him the good news about Jesus.
32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: 33In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. 34“Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
As they travel, they come to water, and the eunuch asks what prevents him from being baptized.
36As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”
The chariot stops, Philip baptizes the eunuch in the water, and then the Spirit of the Lord carries Philip away while the eunuch goes on rejoicing. Philip appears at Azotus and keeps preaching through the towns until Caesarea.
38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.