Acts 8:35

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Then {G1161} Philip {G5376} opened {G455} his {G846} mouth {G4750}, and {G2532} began {G756} at {G575} the same {G5026} scripture {G1124}, and preached {G2097} unto him {G846} Jesus {G2424}.

Then Philip started to speak — beginning with that passage, he went on to tell him the Good News about Yeshua.

Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus.

Context

Acts 8:35 is a pivotal moment in the narrative of Philip the evangelist and the Ethiopian eunuch. Following a divine instruction, Philip encountered the eunuch, a high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was returning from worship in Jerusalem. The eunuch was engrossed in reading a passage from the prophet Isaiah, specifically Isaiah 53:7-8, a profound prophecy about a suffering servant. The eunuch confessed his inability to understand the text without guidance, setting the stage for Philip's explanation.

Key Themes

This verse powerfully illustrates several key themes:

  • Divine Appointment: It highlights God's sovereignty in orchestrating encounters for the spread of the Gospel. Philip was supernaturally directed to this specific individual, demonstrating God's desire for all people to hear the good news.
  • Scriptural Foundation: Philip didn't start from an arbitrary point but from the eunuch's own reading, showing how the Old Testament points to Christ. The Old Covenant scriptures are illuminated by the person of Jesus, revealing their true meaning and fulfillment.
  • The Centrality of Jesus: The core message of Christian evangelism is always Jesus Christ. Regardless of the starting point, the ultimate goal is to preach Jesus – His life, death, resurrection, and saving power. This is the heart of the Gospel message.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "opened his mouth" (Greek: anoixas to stoma autou) is a common biblical idiom indicating the solemn and significant beginning of a discourse or teaching, suggesting that Philip was about to deliver an important message. Furthermore, "preached unto him Jesus" translates the Greek word euēngelisato, from which we get 'evangelize.' It literally means 'he brought good news to him about Jesus,' underscoring that the core of Philip's message was the person and work of Jesus Christ, the very essence of the Gospel.

Practical Application

Acts 8:35 offers a timeless model for evangelism and sharing the Christian faith today. It teaches us to:

  • Be Spirit-led: Like Philip, we should be open to divine appointments and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in our daily lives.
  • Start Where They Are: Engage with people where they are in their understanding or questions, whether it's through their interests, struggles, or even their existing beliefs. Philip met the eunuch in his confusion over scripture.
  • Point to Jesus: Regardless of the starting point, the ultimate message must always be Jesus Christ. He is the answer to humanity's deepest questions and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. This approach is central to Jesus' own declaration as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Reflection

This powerful encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch underscores the transformative power of God's Word when interpreted by the Spirit, leading individuals to faith in Jesus. It reminds us that every scripture, rightly understood, ultimately points to Christ and His redemptive work, inviting all to believe.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 24:27

    And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

  • Acts 18:28

    For he mightily convinced the Jews, [and that] publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

  • Acts 28:23

    ¶ And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into [his] lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and [out of] the prophets, from morning till evening.

  • Matthew 5:2

    And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

  • 1 Corinthians 2:2

    For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

  • Acts 5:42

    And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

  • Acts 17:2

    And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

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