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Philip and the Ethiopian
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Treasury of Scripture

And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

If.

Acts 8:12,13,21
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women…

Acts 2:38,39
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost…

Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

he answered.

1 Peter 3:21
The like figure whereuntoeven baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

I believe.

Acts 9:20
And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Matthew 16:16
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

John 6:68,69
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life…

ActsBelieveBelievestChristHeartJesusLawfulMayestPhilipActsBelieveBelievestChristHeartJesusLawfulMayestPhilip1.By occasion of the persecution in Jerusalem, the church being planted in Samaria,
4.by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracles, and baptized many;
9.among the rest Simon the sorcerer, a great seducer of the people;
14.Peter and John come to confirm and enlarge the church;
15.where, by prayer and imposition of hands giving the Holy Spirit;
18.when Simon would have bought the like power of them,
20.Peter sharply reproving his hypocrisy and covetousness,
22.and exhorting him to repentance,
25.together with John preaching the word of the Lord, return to Jerusalem;
26.but the angel sends Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian Eunuch.

And Philip said,
Philip, one of the seven deacons chosen inActs 6, is led by the Holy Spirit to meet the Ethiopian eunuch. His role as an evangelist is highlighted here, showing the early church's commitment to spreading the Gospel beyond Jewish boundaries. Philip's obedience to the Spirit's guidance is a model for Christian witness.

If thou believest with all thine heart,
This phrase emphasizes the necessity of genuine faith for baptism. Belief is not merely intellectual assent but involves the whole heart, indicating a sincere and complete trust in Jesus Christ. This reflects the biblical principle that faith is a matter of the heart (Romans 10:9-10) and is essential for salvation.

thou mayest.
Baptism is presented as a response to faith, not a prerequisite for it. This aligns with the New Testament teaching that baptism is an outward sign of an inward change (Acts 2:38). The order of belief preceding baptism is consistent with the practice of the early church.

And he answered and said,
The eunuch's response is immediate, showing his readiness and eagerness to embrace the faith. This interaction underscores the personal nature of faith; it requires an individual response to the Gospel message.

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
This confession is central to Christian faith, affirming both the messianic role and divine nature of Jesus. The title "Son of God" connects to Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah (Psalm 2:7) and is a declaration of Jesus' unique relationship with the Father. This confession is foundational for salvation (1John 4:15) and reflects the early church's Christological beliefs.

1.Philip
One of the seven deacons chosen inActs 6, Philip is an evangelist who plays a crucial role in spreading the Gospel beyond Jerusalem. InActs 8, he is led by the Holy Spirit to meet the Ethiopian eunuch.

2.Ethiopian Eunuch
A high-ranking official in charge of the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He is a God-fearing Gentile who is returning from worshiping in Jerusalem and is reading the book of Isaiah when Philip encounters him.

3.The Road from Jerusalem to Gaza
This is the setting for the encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. It is a desert road, symbolizing the spread of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

4.Isaiah the Prophet
The eunuch is reading from the book of Isaiah, specifically a passage that prophesies about Jesus Christ, which provides Philip the opportunity to explain the Gospel.

5.Baptism
The event culminates in the eunuch's baptism, symbolizing his acceptance of the Gospel and his new faith in Jesus Christ.The Importance of Confession
Acts 8:37 highlights the necessity of a personal confession of faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. This confession is a public declaration of one's belief and commitment to follow Christ.

Faith with the Heart
The phrase "with all your heart" underscores the need for genuine, heartfelt belief. It is not enough to merely acknowledge Jesus intellectually; true faith involves the whole being.

The Role of Scripture in Evangelism
Philip uses the Scriptures to explain the Gospel to the eunuch. This demonstrates the power and importance of God's Word in leading others to faith.

Baptism as an Act of Obedience
The eunuch's immediate desire to be baptized shows the importance of baptism as an outward expression of inward faith and obedience to Christ's command.

Divine Appointments
Philip's encounter with the eunuch illustrates how God orchestrates events and meetings for the purpose of spreading the Gospel. Believers should be attentive to the Holy Spirit's leading in their daily lives.1.What is the meaning of Acts 8:37?

2.How does Acts 8:37 emphasize the necessity of belief before baptism?

3.What does the Ethiopian eunuch's confession reveal about early Christian faith requirements?

4.How does Acts 8:37 connect with Romans 10:9 on confessing faith in Christ?

5.How can we ensure our faith is genuine like the Ethiopian eunuch's?

6.What role does personal confession play in your spiritual journey today?

7.Why is Acts 8:37 omitted in some Bible translations?

8.Does Acts 8:37 support the necessity of a verbal confession of faith?

9.How does Acts 8:37 relate to the doctrine of baptism?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 8?

11.Who was Philip in the Bible?

12.What does the Bible say about baptism and communion?

13.What is the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)?

14.How are faith and conversion interconnected?Setting the scene

•Acts 8:26-35 paints the backdrop: an angel sends Philip to the desert road, he meets the Ethiopian official readingIsaiah 53, and “Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus” (v. 35).

• The good news has already produced conviction; the traveler is eager to respond. Compare this eagerness with Lydia’s openness inActs 16:14-15 and Cornelius’s readiness inActs 10:33-48.

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The request for baptism

• “As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?’ ” (Acts 8:36).

• The question shows that baptism is understood as the immediate, visible response of faith, just as inActs 2:38-41 andActs 16:30-33.

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The condition: belief with all the heart

•Acts 8:37: “Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ ”

• Whole-hearted belief is not mere assent but personal trust (John 3:16;Mark 16:16).

• Scripture links saving faith to the heart—seeRomans 10:9-10, where belief in the heart leads to righteousness.

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The confession: Jesus Christ is the Son of God

• The eunuch replies, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37).

• This confession echoes Peter’s inMatthew 16:16 and John’s purpose statement inJohn 20:31.

• Declaring Jesus as “Son of God” affirms His deity, Messiahship, and authority (Hebrews 1:1-4;1 John 4:15).

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Implications for salvation and baptism

• Faith precedes baptism. Philip will not administer the ordinance without a clear profession, mirroringActs 2:41 andActs 18:8.

• The pattern—hear the gospel, believe with the heart, confess Christ, then be baptized—guards against ritualism and underscores personal conversion (Galatians 3:26-27).

• Infant or proxy baptism finds no footing here; the candidate must exercise conscious faith (Colossians 2:12).

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Affirmation of faith and witness

• The public confession not only satisfies the condition for baptism, it also bears witness to any onlookers—much like the “good confession” Timothy made “in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12).

• Baptism immediately follows (Acts 8:38-39), picturing union with Christ in death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4).

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Continuity with biblical teaching

•Acts 8:37 aligns seamlessly with earlier commands: “Repent and be baptized… for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38), and with later summaries: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

• Far from being a stray insertion, it reinforces the consistent New Testament link between personal faith, verbal confession, and water baptism (Matthew 28:19-20).

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Summary

Acts 8:37 shows that baptism is not a mere ritual but the outward seal of an inward, whole-hearted faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Philip insists on a personal, conscious belief before administering the ordinance, and the eunuch responds with a clear confession. The verse underscores the biblical order—hear, believe, confess, be baptized—and affirms that salvation rests on trusting Jesus with the heart and acknowledging Him with the lips.

(37)And Philip said. . . .--The verse is a striking illustration of the tendency which showed itself at a very early period to improve the text of Scripture with a view to greater edification. It existed in the time of Irenaeus, who quotes it (3:12), but is wanting in all the best MSS., including the Sinaitic, and many versions. The motive for the interpolation lies on the surface. The abruptness of the unanswered question, and the absence of the confession of faith which was required in the Church's practice on the baptism of every convert, seemed likely to be stumbling-blocks, and the narrative was completed according to the received type of the prevailing order for baptism. Even with the insertion, the shortness of the confession points to a very early stage of liturgical development, as also does the reference to it in Irenaeus.

Verse 37. - The whole of ver. 37 of the A.V. is omitted in the R.T., on the authority of the best existing manuscripts. But on the other hand, Irenaeus, in the third book against Heresies,Acts 12:8, distinctly quotes a portion of this verse. The eunuch, he says, when he asked to be baptized said,Πιστεύωτὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ εἴναι τὸν Ιησοῦν Ξριστόν: and Cyprian, in his third book of Testimonies, 43, quotes the other part of the verse. In proof of the thesis that "whoever believes may be immediately baptized," hesays, "In the Acts of the Apostles [when the eunuch said], Behold water, what doth hinder me to be baptized? Philip answered, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." So that in the second and third centuries, long anterior to the oldest existing manuscripts, this entire verse must have been found in the codices both of the Greek and Latin Churches.

Parallel Commentaries ...


And
δὲ(de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A weak adversative particle, generally placed second in its clause; but, on the other hand, and.

Philip
Φίλιππος(Philippos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5376:Philip, (a) one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, (b) tetrarch of the Ituraean and Trachonitic region, half-brother of Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, (c) one of the seven original deacons at Jerusalem and a missionary.

said,
εἰπε(eipe)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004:Answer, bid, bring word, command.

If
Εἰ(Ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487:If.

you believe
πιστεύεις(pisteueis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4100:To believe, have faith in, trust in; pass: to be entrusted with.

from
ἐξ(ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537:From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards.

all
ὅλης(holēs)
Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3650:All, the whole, entire, complete.

the
τὴς(tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article.

heart,
καρδίας(kardias)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2588:Literal: the heart; mind, character, inner self, will, intention, center.

it is lawful.
ἔξεστιν(exestin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1832:It is permitted, lawful, possible.

He answered
ἀποκριθεὶς(apokritheis)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 611:To answer, reply, take up the conversation.

and
δὲ(de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A weak adversative particle, generally placed second in its clause; but, on the other hand, and.

he said,
εἷπε(heipe)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command.

I believe
Πιστεύω(Pisteuō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4100:To believe, have faith in, trust in; pass: to be entrusted with.

the
τὸν(ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article.

Son
ὑιὸν(huion)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5207:A son, descendent.

of God
Θεοῦ(Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:(a) God, (b) a god, generally.

to be
ἐιναι(einai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 1510:Am, was, come, is, there is, to be, was.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦν(Iēsoun)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424:Jesus; the Greek form of Joshua; Jesus, son of Eliezer; Jesus, surnamed Justus.

Christ.
Χριστόν(Christon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547:Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ.


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