Acts 8:36

And as they went on the way, they came unto. certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

'AND AS THEY WENT ON THE WAY'-Inferring that this 'bible study' may have taken some time.

'UNTO. CERTAIN WATER'-McGarvey notes that along this road various pools or streams are found. In addition, besides natural streams and the pools created by them, the ruins of many artificial pools dot this highway.

'BEHOLD, HERE IS WATER'-'Look! Water!' (NASV).

'WHAT DOTH HINDER ME TO BE BAPTIZED?'-'what is to prevent my being baptized' (TCNT).

Points to Note:

This outburst from the eunuch demands that we draw some necessary inferences: (a) 'Preaching Jesus' (Acts 8:35), includes preaching more than just the person Jesus. It includes preaching those doctrines that Jesus taught, including baptism (Mark 16:16). (b) Preachers today who stop short of telling people they need to be baptized, are not preaching Jesus. Rather they are preaching. mutilated or corrupted gospel (Galatians 1:6).. message that doesn't include the need to be baptized, is not the gospel message revealed in the New Testament (Ephesians 4:4).

From his outcry we learn "how" the subject of baptism had been presented to him. The exclamation points in the NASV infer that Philip had taught the eunuch that baptism was absolutely necessary for salvation, just as Peter (Acts 2:38) and Jesus had taught (Mark 16:16).

The word "hinder" suggests that the eunuch might have thought that his physical condition (which had hindered him in respect to Judaism) might do the same thing in reference to what Philip was teaching him.

And be impressed, "what" type of baptism had Philip presented to the eunuch as necessary to become. Christian? Holy Spirit baptism???? NO! The eunuch sees "water", and cries out with the desire to be baptized.

Reese notes, 'Philip, the inspired preacher, preached. message different than many of the preachers of this day who preach only. Spirit baptism (in the effort to avoid the force of the passages which speak of baptism as being necessary for salvation).' (p. 339)