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Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

Acts 8:26-40


Winning a Traveler

Acts 8:26-40

From the great city revival in Samaria Philip was led to the desert to minister to one seeking soul. It seems strange that God should be able to spare him from his busy and fruitful ministry in Samaria; but probably the comparative retirement was needed for soul and body after the strain of that successful campaign. How certain these Spirit-filled men were of the heavenly impulse! Every appearance suggested that this man of God was needed in the city, but the inner voice was the deciding factor, and his journey was so timed as to bring him in contact with a soul that was groping its way toward Christ.

The Bible is good as a traveling companion. Take it on your journeys. Read it as other men do their newspapers; not exclusively but boldly. There are many stories afloat of bullets being stopped by pocket Testaments; and it is certain that many a desperate thrust of the devil has been warded off by the Word of God being hidden in the heart and worn as a breastplate. Live in touch with God, and He will put you in touch with souls. This conversion of a son of Ham was a worthy fulfillment of Isaiah 56:3-8.

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See also Acts 8:26-40 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 8:26. _ARISE, AND GO TOWARD THE SOUTH_] How circumstantially particular are these directions! Every thing is so precisely marked that there is no danger of the apostle missing his way. He...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD - The word “angel” is used in the Scriptures in a great variety of significations. See the notes on Matthew 1:20. Here it has been supposed by some to mean literally a celest...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    PART II The Witness to Samaria. Saul's Conversion and Peter's Witness in Caesarea. Chapter s 8-12 CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The first great persecution (Acts 8:1)._ 2. The preaching of the scattered believ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    PHILIP AND THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH. Philip appears again; we are not told where, but the instruction given him by the angel shows that he was not at Jerusalem; he is to go southward (_mg._ at noon; not s...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE FIRST OF THE MARTYRS (Acts 7:54-60 ; Acts 8:1) 8:1 As they listened to this their very hearts were torn with vexation and they gnashed their teeth at him. But he was full of the Holy Spirit and h...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip and said, "Rise and go to the south by the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza; that is Gaza in the desert." So he arose and went. Now, look you, an Ethiop...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    AND. But. THE. an. SPAKE. Greek. _laleo,_ as Acts 8:25. ARISE. Greek. _anistemi._ App-178. TOWARDS. down to. Greek. _kata_. App-104. UNTO. Greek. _epi._ UNTO. Greek. _eis._ App-104. GAZA. One o...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Philip baptizes an Ethiopian Eunuch 26. _And the angel of the Lord_ The Gk. has _an angel_. While Peter and John were carrying on the work of Philip in Samaria, God directs the Evangelist to a new sc...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    PHILIP BAPTIZES AN ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ ΔΈ, _and an angel_. God does not let His agents languish for want of occupation. Peter and John are sent to complete the work of Philip in Samaria, but Philip meanwhile is divinely directed to...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

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  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SPAKE UNTO PHILIP,— It gives us a very high idea of the gospel, to see the ministers of it receiving immediate direction from celestial spirits, in the particular discharge o...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    D. THE LATER WORK OF PHILIP. Acts 8:26-40. 1. ON THE ROAD FROM JERUSALEM TO GAZA. Acts 8:26-39. Acts 8:26 But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto th...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    26. When the congregation in Samaria had been supplied _with spiritual gifts,_ and sufficiently instructed to justify leaving them to their own resources for edification, Philip was called away to oth...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. AND THE (OR 'AN') ANGEL OF THE LORD SPAKE...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    26 It is notable that the messenger, or angel, who spoke to Philip is also called "the spirit" (29) and "the spirit of the Lord" (39). This suggests that these expressions may refer to created beings...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    TOWARD THE SOUTH] or, about midday. Gaza] The town is called DESERT, or deserted, because it had been destroyed, 96 b.c....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PHILIP IN SAMARIA. SIMON MAGUS The graphic details of the ministry of Philip which follow, were doubtless obtained from Philip himself. St. Luke stayed at his house at Cæsarea, and made the acquaintan...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 8 SAUL *PERSECUTES THE CHRISTIANS, 8:1-4 V1 Saul approved of Stephen’s murder. That same day, the Christians in *Jerusalem suffered very much....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD... — Better, _an angel._ The tense of the verbs in the preceding verse, in the better MSS., implies that the events that follow synchronised with the journey of Peter and Joh...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 20 EVANGELISTIC WORK IN THE PHILISTINES' LAND. Acts 8:26; Acts 9:32 I HAVE; united these two incidents, the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch and the mission of St. Peter to the people of L...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἄγγελος : on the frequency of angelic appearances, another characteristic of St. Luke, see Friedrich, _Das Lucasevangelium_, pp. 45 and 52 (so Zeller, _Acts_, ii., 224, E.T.), _cf._ Luke 2:9 and Acts...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The popular outburst against Christianity evidenced in the martyrdom of Stephen was general. Members of the Church at Jerusalem were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. How dark the day seemed to...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Preaching to the Ethiopian At this point, Luke told Theophilus that Philip was directed by an angel of the Lord to go south to a place along the Jerusalem to Gaza road where no people lived. When an i...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (11) And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. (11) Christ, who calls freely whom he...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _This is desert. In construction, whether we regard the Latin or Greek, to be desert, may either agree to the way leading to Gaza, or the city itself, which formerly had been almost destroyed. (Witham...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    THE CONVERSION OF THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH 26-40. After the apostles have completed their Samaritan tour and returned to Jerusalem, leaving Philip surrounded by hosts of his converts pressing the battle,...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. (27) And he arose and went: and, behold, a m...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We are now arrived at a turning-point in the history, not merely of the church, but of the unfolding of the truth of God, and the manifestation of His ways. The death of Stephen, therefore, has in var...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    26._And the angel_. Luke passeth over unto a new history, to wit, how the gospel came even unto the Ethiopians. For though he reporteth there was but one man converted unto the faith of Christ, yet be...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Saul was present at Stephen's death, and consenting to it. [14] This is the end of the first phase of the assembly of God its history in immediate connection with Jerusalem and the Jews, as the centre...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SPAKE UNTO PHILIP,.... To inquire who this angel was, whether Michael or Gabriel, or the tutelar angel of Ethiopia, or of the eunuch, or of Philip, is too curious; it was one...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. Ver. 26. _Which is desert_] Which way is de...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _And_ After the important affairs above mentioned were despatched at Samaria, and a church was established there, and supplied with proper pastors and teachers; _the angel of the Lord spake unto Phili...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    GAZA; a city about sixty miles south-west of Jerusalem, towards Egypt. WHICH IS DESERT; these words are supposed by some to refer to the city as having been recently laid waste. But they more probabl...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH. The divine commission to Philip:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SPAKE UNTO PHILIP, SAYING, ARISE, AND GO TOWARD THE SOUTH UNTO THE WAY THAT GOETH DOWN FROM JERUSALEM UNTO GAZA, WHICH IS DESERT....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    As a wild beast tasting blood, the Jews were the more inflamed by the martyrdom of Stephen to greatly persecute the Church of God at Jerusalem. For this reason believers were scattered through Judea a...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    NOW AN ANGEL OF THE LORD SPOKE TO PHILIP, SAYING, " ARISE AND GO TOWARD THE SOUTH ALONG THE ROAD WHICH GOES DOWN FROM JERUSALEM TO GAZA. " THIS IS DESERT. 1. Philip is now finished in Samaria. God ha...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert. 'BUT'-'The tense of the verbs in the prec...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    26-40 Philip was directed to go to a desert. Sometimes God opens a door of opportunity to his ministers in very unlikely places. We should study to do good to those we come into company with by trave...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Some speak of two Gazas, one distinguished from the other by this epithet of DESERT; but rather there were two ways unto one and the same Gaza, and that it was not the city but the way unto it, which...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    26. When the congregation in Samaria had been supplied _with spiritual gifts,_ and sufficiently instructed to justify leaving them to their own resources for edification, Philip was called away to oth...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Tertullian On Baptism .[24] Tertullian On Baptism evidence that the Lord deemed him worthy had been interposed.[185]...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 8:26 Now G1161 angel G32 Lord G2962 spoke G2980 (G5656) to G4314 Philip G5376 saying G3004 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MINISTRY OF PHILIP TO THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH (8:26-39). Meanwhile God was now satisfied that the Samaritan church was sufficiently equipped to carry on and He calls Philip elsewhere to where there i...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. The same is desert.' The ‘angel of the Lord' tells Philip that he...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _The Acts of Philip the Deacon,Episode of the Conversion and Baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch, the Treasurer of the Queen of Ethiopia_, 26-40. Acts 8:26. AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SPAKE UNTO PHILIP. Th...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    TOWARD THE SOUTH (κατα μεσημβριαν). Old word from μεσος and ημερα, midday or noon as in Acts 22:16, the only other example in the N.T. That may be the idea here also, though "towards the South" get...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    ANGEL (_ See Scofield) - (Hebrews 1:4). _ DESERT Contra, (Acts 8:6)....

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Acts 8:4. _Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord ga...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Stephen had been stoned to death; but with his latest breath he prayed for his murderers. Then this chapter begins: Acts 8:1. _And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a gre...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Saul persecuting Christians. The first missionaries. The case of Simon, the sorcerer. Philip and the Ethiopian. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Saul, Stephen, Philip, Simon, apostles,...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 8:1. _At that time there was a great persecution against the church._ With regard to this very tremendous storm which suddenly burst on the infant church, Cardinal Baronius, in his Ecclesiastical...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    AN ANGEL OF THE LORD. Gaza was on the south-west seacoast of Judea. The road went through the hill-country of Judea. Note the angel speaks to _the preacher_ and sends him to preach Jesus....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go._ MAN VERSUS ANGEL Why didn’t the angel go himself? Because this was a mission where a man was worth more than an angel. In the Lor...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:26 Gaza was the last watering place before the desert on the road from Jerusalem to Egypt. Ethiopia was the ancient Nubian Kingdom, south of Aswan on the Nile. EUNUCH. In the OT an...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 8:18. AND WHEN SIMON SAW.—Most likely through hearing the baptised speak with tongues. HE OFFERED THEM MONEY.—From Simon’s name and proposal arose the expression “Simony” for...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 8:1 _There arose on that day _for _at that time there was, _A.V._; in _for _at, _A.V. SAUL WAS CONSENTING TO HIS DEATH. St. Paul's repeated reference to this sad episode in his life i...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    We are introduced now to one of the chief persecutors. A zealous young Jew, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, whose name is Saul. And he was standing by, consenting to the death of Stephen, holding the coa...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 22:16; 2 Kings 1:3; Acts 10:22; Acts 10:7; Acts 12:23;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    The south [μ ε σ η μ β ρ ι α ν]. A contracted form of meshmeria, midday, noon, which is the rendering at Acts 22:6 the only other passage where it occurs. Rev. gives at noon in margin. Desert. Referri...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH Acts 8:26 INTRODUCTORY WORDS The subject of our sermon today, is "The Ethiopian Eunuch." There is a wonderful vision of God given in the 68th Psalm. After the Prophet has ascrib...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The way which is desert — There were two ways from Jerusalem to Gaza, one desert, the other through a more populous country....

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Here we have recorded the remarkable conversion of the eunuch by the preaching of Philip; concerning which several circumstances are to be observed; 1. The author or instrument converting, Philip, who...

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