Acts 8:38

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Complete Jewish Bible:

He ordered the chariot to stop; then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip immersed him.

Berean Standard Bible:

And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

American Standard Version:

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G2532} he commanded^{G2753} the chariot^{G716} to stand still^{G2476}: and^{G2532} they went down^{G2597} both^{G297} into^{G1519} the water^{G5204}, both^{G5037} Philip^{G5376} and^{G2532} the eunuch^{G2135}; and^{G2532} he baptized^{G907} him^{G846}.

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Commentary for Acts 8:38

Acts 8:38 is a pivotal verse in the New Testament that captures a moment of conversion and baptism, embodying the themes of evangelism, inclusion, and the spread of early Christianity. The verse occurs within the context of the evangelistic missions of the early Church following the ascension of Jesus Christ. In this scene, Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven deacons appointed in Acts 6, encounters an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who is reading from the book of Isaiah.

The eunuch's interest in the Jewish scriptures and his subsequent questioning reflect the openness to spiritual matters among Gentiles and those on the fringes of Jewish society. Philip's explanation of the scriptures in relation to Jesus Christ leads to the eunuch's profession of faith and his request to be baptized. The act of both Philip and the eunuch going down into the water for baptism symbolizes a significant moment in the book of Acts, as it represents the early Church's recognition that the message of Jesus was for all people, regardless of ethnicity, social status, or physical wholeness.

Historically, this verse is important as it illustrates the fulfillment of Jesus' command to his disciples to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). The baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch is one of the first recorded conversions of a Gentile and marks a step in the expansion of Christianity beyond the Jewish community. It also reflects the breaking down of barriers, as eunuchs were often marginalized in Jewish society, yet here one is welcomed into the Christian faith through baptism, a sacramental rite that symbolizes death to sin and new life in Christ. This event is a harbinger of the inclusive nature of the Christian message that would eventually lead to the widespread growth of the Church across the Roman Empire and beyond.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
2. Strong's Number: G2753
   There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: κελεύω
   Transliteration: keleúō
   Pronunciation: kel-yoo'-o
   Description: from a primary (to urge on); "hail"; to incite by word, i.e. order:--bid, (at, give) command(-ment).
   
3. Strong's Number: G716
   There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἅρμα
   Transliteration: hárma
   Pronunciation: har'-mah
   Description: probably from αἴρω (perhaps with Α (as a particle of union) prefixed); a chariot (as raised or fitted together (compare ἁρμός)):--chariot.
   
4. Strong's Number: G2476
   There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἵστημι
   Transliteration: hístēmi
   Pronunciation: stah'-o
   Description: a prolonged form of a primary (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively):--abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up). Compare τίθημι.
   
5. Strong's Number: G2597
   There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καταβαίνω
   Transliteration: katabaínō
   Pronunciation: kat-ab-ah'-ee-no
   Description: from κατά and the base of βάσις; to descend (literally or figuratively):--come (get, go, step) down, fall (down).
   
6. Strong's Number: G297
   There are 60 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀμφότερος
   Transliteration: amphóteros
   Pronunciation: am-fot'-er-os
   Description: comparative of (around); (in plural) both:--both.
   
7. Strong's Number: G1519
   There are 1513 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: εἰς
   Transliteration: eis
   Pronunciation: ice
   Description: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
   
8. Strong's Number: G5204
   There are 70 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὕδωρ
   Transliteration: hýdōr
   Pronunciation: hoo'-dat-os
   Description: from the base of ὑετός; water (as if rainy) literally or figuratively:--water.
   
9. Strong's Number: G5037
   There are 192 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: τέ
   Transliteration: té
   Pronunciation: teh
   Description: a primary particle (enclitic) of connection or addition; both or also (properly, as correlation of καί):--also, and, both, even, then, whether. Often used in composition, usually as the latter participle.
   
10. 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.
    
11. Strong's Number: G2135
    There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εὐνοῦχος
    Transliteration: eunoûchos
    Pronunciation: yoo-noo'-khos
    Description: from (a bed) and ἔχω; a castrated person (such being employed in Oriental bed-chambers); by extension an impotent or unmarried man; by implication, a chamberlain (state-officer):--eunuch.
    
12. Strong's Number: G907
    There are 65 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: βαπτίζω
    Transliteration: baptízō
    Pronunciation: bap-tid'-zo
    Description: from a derivative of βάπτω; to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism:--Baptist, baptize, wash.
    
13. Strong's Number: G846
    There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: αὐτός
    Transliteration: autós
    Pronunciation: ow-tos'
    Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.