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◄ Acts 8:38►

New International Version
And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

New Living Translation
He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

English Standard Version
And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Berean Standard Bible
And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Berean Literal Bible
And he commanded the chariot to stop. And they both went down to the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

King James Bible
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

New King James Version
So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

New American Standard Bible
And he ordered that the chariot stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

NASB 1995
And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

NASB 1977
And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Amplified Bible
And he ordered that the chariot be stopped; and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Christian Standard Bible
So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

American Standard Version
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Contemporary English Version
He ordered the chariot to stop. Then they both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

English Revised Version
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The official ordered the carriage to stop. He and Philip stepped into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Good News Translation
The official ordered the carriage to stop, and both Philip and the official went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

International Standard Version
So he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

NET Bible
So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

New Heart English Bible
He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Weymouth New Testament
So he stopped the chariot; and both of them--Philip and the eunuch--went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

World English Bible
He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and he commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down to the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he immersed him;

Berean Literal Bible
And he commanded the chariot to stop. And they both went down to the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Young's Literal Translation
and he commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down to the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he ordered the chariot to stand: and both went down into the Water, both Philip and the eunuch: and he immersed him.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch: and he baptized him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he ordered the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch descended into the water. And he baptized him.

New American Bible
Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him.

New Revised Standard Version
He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And he commanded the chariot be stopped: and both went down into the water, and Philip baptized the eunuch.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he commanded to stop the chariot and the two of them went down to the water and Philippus baptized that Eunuch

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he immersed him.

Godbey New Testament
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both came down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Haweis New Testament
And he bid the carriage stop: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptised him.

Mace New Testament
so he order'd the charioteer to stop: and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Weymouth New Testament
So he stopped the chariot; and both of them--Philip and the eunuch--went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Worrell New Testament
And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he immersed him.

Worsley New Testament
And he ordered the chariot to stop: and they both went down to the water, Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Philip and the Ethiopian
…38And he gave orders to stop the chariot.Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water,and Philip baptized him.39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.…

Berean Standard Bible ·Download

Cross References

Matthew 3:16
As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.

Mark 1:9-10
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. / As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.

John 3:23
Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized.

Romans 6:3-4
Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? / We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

Galatians 3:27
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Colossians 2:12
And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.

1 Peter 3:21
And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 2:41
Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.

Acts 10:47-48
“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!” / So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

Acts 16:33
At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized.

Acts 19:5
On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 12:13
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

Isaiah 53:7-8
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. / By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was stricken for the transgression of My people.

2 Kings 5:14
So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean.

Treasury of Scripture

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

and he baptized.

John 3:22,23
After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized…

John 4:1
When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

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Baptised Baptized Carriage Chariot Commanded Eunuch Ordered Orders Philip Stand Stop Stopped Water

Acts 8

1.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.

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

And he gave orders to stop the chariot.
This phrase highlights the eunuch's eagerness and immediate response to the Gospel message. In the ancient world, chariots were a common mode of transportation for officials and people of status, indicating the eunuch's high position in the Ethiopian court. The act of stopping the chariot signifies a decisive moment of faith and obedience. This mirrors the urgency and importance of responding to God's call, as seen in other biblical accounts such as the calling of the disciples (Matthew 4:18-22).

Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water,
The act of going down into the water signifies the physical and symbolic act of baptism. Baptism in the early church was typically by immersion, symbolizing the believer's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-4). The location of this event is traditionally believed to be along the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, a route that would have had access to bodies of water suitable for baptism. This joint action of both Philip and the eunuch emphasizes the communal and public nature of baptism as a declaration of faith.

and Philip baptized him.
Baptism here is an outward expression of the eunuch's inward faith and acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah. Philip, one of the seven deacons chosen inActs 6, acts as the minister of this sacrament, highlighting the role of church leaders in administering baptism. This event fulfills the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), where Jesus commands His followers to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The inclusion of the Ethiopian eunuch, a Gentile and a eunuch, underscores the breaking of cultural and religious barriers, fulfilling the prophecy ofIsaiah 56:3-5, which speaks of eunuchs being included in God's covenant.

Persons / Places / Events

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.The Ethiopian Eunuch
A high-ranking official in charge of the treasury of the Queen of the Ethiopians. He is a God-fearer who is returning from worshiping in Jerusalem and is reading the book of Isaiah when Philip meets him.

3.The Chariot
The mode of transportation for the Ethiopian eunuch. It becomes the setting for the divine encounter and subsequent baptism.

4.The Water
The body of water where the eunuch is baptized. Its presence signifies the readiness and immediacy of the eunuch's decision to follow Christ.

5.Baptism
The act of being immersed in water as a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. It symbolizes the eunuch's acceptance of the Gospel and his new life in Christ.

Teaching Points

Obedience to the Holy Spirit
Philip's willingness to follow the Spirit's leading demonstrates the importance of being sensitive and obedient to God's guidance in our evangelistic efforts.

The Universality of the Gospel
The conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch highlights that the Gospel is for all people, regardless of nationality or social status.

Immediate Response to the Gospel
The eunuch's immediate desire to be baptized upon understanding the Gospel shows the importance of responding promptly to God's call.

The Role of Scripture in Evangelism
Philip uses the Scriptures to explain the Gospel, emphasizing the power and necessity of God's Word in sharing the faith.

Baptism as a Public Declaration
The act of baptism is a public testimony of one's faith and commitment to Jesus Christ, symbolizing a transformation and new beginning.

Bible Study Questions and Answers

1.What is the meaning of Acts 8:38?

2.How does Acts 8:38 illustrate the importance of immediate obedience in baptism?

3.What role does the Holy Spirit play in Philip's actions in Acts 8:38?

4.How can we ensure our baptism aligns with the example in Acts 8:38?

5.What Old Testament events foreshadow the baptism seen in Acts 8:38?

6.How can we encourage others to follow the Ethiopian eunuch's example in Acts 8:38?

7.Why is baptism by immersion significant in Acts 8:38?

8.How does Acts 8:38 support the necessity of baptism for salvation?

9.What does the Ethiopian eunuch's baptism reveal about early Christian evangelism?

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

11.Who was Philip in the Bible?

12.What is a Missionary Baptist Church?

13.What are the steps to get baptized?

14.What is the correct method for performing baptism?

What Does Acts 8:38 Mean

And he gave orders to stop the chariot

• The eunuch’s immediate command shows a heart already convinced by the gospel Philip had just explained fromIsaiah 53 (Acts 8:32–35).

• Quick, decisive obedience is the natural response to genuine faith—just as those at Pentecost “were cut to the heart” and acted at once (Acts 2:37–41).

• The authority to stop the chariot underscores the eunuch’s sincerity; he uses his earthly power to submit to heavenly truth, echoing Cornelius who “ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:48).

Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water

• Going down into the water points to immersion, the pattern seen when Jesus “came up out of the water” after His own baptism (Mark 1:9–10) and when John baptized where “there was plenty of water” (John 3:23).

• Immersion pictures burial and resurrection with Christ: “We therefore were buried with Him through baptism into death… so we too may walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

• Philip and the eunuch go together, highlighting unity in Christ that transcends ethnicity, rank, or background—fulfilling the Great Commission’s call to disciple “all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

and Philip baptized him

• Philip, an evangelist and deacon (Acts 6:5; 21:8), exercises the commission Jesus gave to every disciple-maker—no special temple or priest required.

• Baptism follows belief, never precedes it. The eunuch first confessed faith in Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 8:37, some manuscripts) and then received baptism, just as Saul was told, “Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16).

• The act seals the eunuch’s public identification with Christ and introduces him to the visible church, mirroring the 3,000 who “embraced his message” and “were baptized” (Acts 2:41).

summary

Acts 8:38 records a real moment in which the Ethiopian eunuch responds instantly to the gospel, halts his journey, descends into the water with Philip, and is baptized by immersion. The verse illustrates saving faith that acts without delay, the biblical mode of baptism as a vivid picture of death and resurrection with Christ, and the believer’s joyful entry into Christ’s community in simple obedience to the Word.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(38)They went down both into the water.--The Greek preposition might mean simply "unto the water," but the universality of immersion in the practice of the early Church supports the English version. The eunuch would lay aside his garments, descend chest-deep into the water, and be plunged under it "in the name of the Lord Jesus;" the only formula recognised in the Acts. (See Note onActs 2:38.) So it was, in the half-playful language in which many of the Fathers delighted, that "the Ethiopian changed his skin" (Jeremiah 13:23).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 38.- Both went down forwent down both, A.V. Nothing can be more graphic than the simple narrative of this interesting and important baptism. Surely Luke must have heard it from Philip's own mouth (seeActs 21:8-10).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

And
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.

he gave orders
ἐκέλευσεν(ekeleusen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2753:To command, order, direct, bid. From a primary kello; 'hail'; to incite by word, i.e. Order.

to stop
στῆναι(stēnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2476:A prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o; to stand, used in various applications.

the
τὸ(to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

chariot.
ἅρμα(harma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 716:A chariot, vehicle. Probably from airo (as a particle of union) prefixed); a chariot (compare harmos).

Then
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.

both
ἀμφότεροι(amphoteroi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 297:Both (of two). Comparative of amphi; both.

Philip
Φίλιππος(Philippos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5376:From philos and hippos; fond of horses; Philippus, the name of four Israelites.

and
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.

the
ὁ(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

eunuch
εὐνοῦχος(eunouchos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2135:From eune and echo; a castrated person; by extension an impotent or unmarried man; by implication, a chamberlain.

went down
κατέβησαν(katebēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2597:To go down, come down, either from the sky or from higher land, descend. From kata and the base of basis; to descend.

into
εἰς(eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519:A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὸ(to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

water,
ὕδωρ(hydōr)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5204:Water. And genitive case, hudatos, etc. From the base of huetos; water literally or figuratively.

and
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.

[Philip] baptized
ἐβάπτισεν(ebaptisen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 907:Lit: I dip, submerge, but specifically of ceremonial dipping; I baptize.

him.
αὐτόν(auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

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NT Apostles: Acts 8:38 He commanded the chariot to stand still (Acts of the Apostles Ac)