Acts 8:40

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

But {G1161} Philip {G5376} was found {G2147} at {G1519} Azotus {G108}: and {G2532} passing {G1330} through he preached {G2097} in all {G3956} the cities {G4172}, till {G2193} he {G846} came {G2064} to {G1519} Caesarea {G2542}.

But Philip showed up at Ashdod and continued proclaiming the Good News as he went through all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

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

Acts 8:40 marks a pivotal moment in Philip the Evangelist's ministry, immediately following his miraculous encounter and baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch. This verse highlights God's supernatural guidance and Philip's unwavering commitment to spreading the Gospel throughout various cities.

Context

This verse directly follows the remarkable account of Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch, detailed in Acts 8:26-39. After the eunuch's baptism, the Spirit of the Lord "caught away" Philip, and he was suddenly "found at Azotus." Azotus, also known by its ancient name Ashdod, was one of the five principal cities of the Philistines, located on the Mediterranean coast. From there, Philip continued his missionary journey, preaching in all the towns and cities along the coastal route until he reached Caesarea. Caesarea Maritima was a significant Roman port city and the administrative capital of Judea, serving as a strategic hub for the early Christian movement and later becoming Philip's home (as seen in Acts 21:8).

Key Themes

  • Divine Direction and Supernatural Intervention: The phrase "Philip was found at Azotus" strongly implies a miraculous transportation by the Holy Spirit. This demonstrates God's active involvement in guiding His servants and strategically positioning them for His purposes, ensuring the Gospel reaches new territories.
  • Relentless Evangelism: Despite his supernatural relocation, Philip did not rest. He immediately resumed his mission, "preached in all the cities" he passed through. This portrays Philip as a zealous and dedicated evangelist, committed to proclaiming the good news wherever he went. This aligns with his role as one of the original seven chosen to serve, who quickly became known for his evangelistic fervor (see Acts 6:5 and Acts 21:8).
  • Geographical Spread of the Gospel: This verse illustrates the physical expansion of the early Christian message from Jerusalem outwards. Philip's journey along the coast from Azotus to Caesarea signifies the Gospel's penetration into new regions, particularly Gentile areas, fulfilling the mandate to preach "unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Linguistic Insights

The Greek verb for "was found" is heurethē (from heuriskō). While it simply means 'to find', in this context, coupled with the preceding verse's "caught away" (hērpasen), it powerfully conveys a sudden, unexpected, and divinely orchestrated appearance. It emphasizes that Philip did not travel to Azotus by ordinary means but was supernaturally deposited there by the Spirit of the Lord, ready for his next assignment.

Significance and Application

Acts 8:40 offers several profound insights for believers today:

  • Availability to God's Call: Philip's immediate obedience and readiness to preach wherever he was found exemplify a life fully surrendered to God's will. Believers are called to be prepared to share their faith in whatever circumstances or locations God places them.
  • Trust in Divine Guidance: Just as God supernaturally guided Philip, He continues to direct His people through various means, both ordinary and extraordinary. This verse encourages trust in God's perfect timing and strategic placement in our lives and ministries.
  • The Unstoppable Nature of the Gospel: Regardless of obstacles or geographical distances, the Gospel message continued to spread through dedicated individuals like Philip. This reminds us that God's Word is powerful and effective, always accomplishing His purposes, and that we are privileged to be instruments in its ongoing dissemination.
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.

  • Acts 21:8

    ¶ And the next [day] we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was [one] of the seven; and abode with him.

  • Acts 23:33

    Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

  • Acts 10:1

    ¶ There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band],

  • Acts 23:23

    And he called unto [him] two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

  • Acts 25:4

    But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly [thither].

  • 1 Samuel 5:1

    ¶ And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

  • Acts 12:19

    And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that [they] should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and [there] abode.

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