King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Berean Standard Bible:
American Standard Version:
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And{G1161} Philip{G5376} said{G2036}, If{G1487} thou believest{G4100} with{G1537} all thine{G3650} heart{G2588}, thou mayest{G1832}. And{G1161} he answered{G611} and said{G2036}, I believe{G4100} that Jesus{G2424} Christ{G5547} is{G1511} the Son{G5207} of God{G2316}.
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Acts 8:37
Acts 8:37 is a verse that captures a pivotal moment in the early Christian church, reflecting the themes of faith, baptism, and the spread of the Gospel. This verse is set within the context of the evangelistic mission of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven deacons appointed in Acts 6 to serve the Hellenistic Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Following the martyrdom of Stephen and the ensuing persecution, Philip travels to Samaria where he preaches the message of Jesus Christ, performs miracles, and baptizes believers.
In Acts 8:37, Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who is reading from the book of Isaiah. The eunuch is seeking to understand the Scriptures and, prompted by the Spirit, Philip explains the passage, connecting it to the good news about Jesus. When the eunuch expresses a desire to be baptized, Philip sets a condition for baptism that reflects the early church's understanding of saving faith: one must believe with all one's heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The eunuch's confession, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God," is a succinct statement of early Christian belief and marks a significant moment in the narrative as the first recorded confession of faith by a Gentile convert.
This verse highlights several key aspects of early Christian theology and practice: the requirement of personal faith for baptism, the inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian community, and the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding both the evangelist and the convert. It also underscores the universal scope of the Christian message, as the Gospel begins to spread beyond Jerusalem and Judea to the ends of the earth, fulfilling the Great Commission. The conversion and baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch serve as a paradigm for the subsequent missionary efforts of the early church and the ongoing expansion of Christianity.
It is important to note that Acts 8:37 is omitted in some ancient manuscripts and is not found in most modern translations of the Bible, as it is considered by many textual scholars to be a later addition. However, the themes present in this verse are consistent with the theology and narrative of the Acts of the Apostles and the New Testament as a whole.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G1161
There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δέ
Transliteration: dé
Pronunciation: deh
Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English). - Strong's Number: G5376
There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Φίλιππος
Transliteration: Phílippos
Pronunciation: fil'-ip-pos
Description: from φίλος and ἵππος; fond of horses; Philippus, the name of four Israelites:--Philip. - Strong's Number: G2036
There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔπω
Transliteration: épō
Pronunciation: ep'-o
Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω. - Strong's Number: G1487
There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἰ
Transliteration: ei
Pronunciation: i
Description: a primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.:--forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in εἴγε, εἰ δὲ μή(γε), εἰ καί, εἰ μή, εἰ μή τι, εἴ περ, εἴ πως, εἴ τις, ἐκ. See also ἐάν. - Strong's Number: G4100
There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πιστεύω
Transliteration: pisteúō
Pronunciation: pist-yoo'-o
Description: from πίστις; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with. - Strong's Number: G1537
There are 761 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐκ
Transliteration: ek
Pronunciation: ex
Description: a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, …ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion. - Strong's Number: G3650
There are 99 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅλος
Transliteration: hólos
Pronunciation: hol'-os
Description: a primary word; "whole" or "all", i.e. complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb:--all, altogether, every whit, + throughout, whole. - Strong's Number: G2588
There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καρδία
Transliteration: kardía
Pronunciation: kar-dee'-ah
Description: prolonged from a primary (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed). - Strong's Number: G1832
There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔξεστι
Transliteration: éxesti
Pronunciation: ex-on'
Description: third person singular present indicative of a compound of ἐκ and εἰμί; so also neuter present participle of the same (with or without some form of εἰμί expressed); impersonally, it is right (through the figurative idea of being out in public):--be lawful, let, X may(-est). - Strong's Number: G611
There are 248 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀποκρίνομαι
Transliteration: apokrínomai
Pronunciation: ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee
Description: from ἀπό and ; to conclude for oneself, i.e. (by implication) to respond; by Hebraism (compare עָנָה) to begin to speak (where an address is expected):--answer. - Strong's Number: G2424
There are 935 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ἰησοῦς
Transliteration: Iēsoûs
Pronunciation: ee-ay-sooce'
Description: of Hebrew origin (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus. - Strong's Number: G5547
There are 530 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Χριστός
Transliteration: Christós
Pronunciation: khris-tos'
Description: from χρίω; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ. - Strong's Number: G1511
There are 124 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἶναι
Transliteration: eînai
Pronunciation: i'-nahee
Description: present infinitive from εἰμί; to exist:--am, was. come, is, X lust after, X please well, there is, to be, was. - Strong's Number: G5207
There are 348 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: υἱός
Transliteration: huiós
Pronunciation: hwee-os'
Description: apparently a primary word; a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship:--child, foal, son. - Strong's Number: G2316
There are 1172 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: θεός
Transliteration: theós
Pronunciation: theh'-os
Description: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with ὁ) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).