Acts 8:26
What does Acts 8:26 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 8:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 8:26 means
An angel of the Lord supernaturally directed Philip to leave Samaria and travel south along the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza. This divine intervention highlights God's active guidance in the spread of the Gospel, orchestrating specific encounters. The mention that "the same is desert" emphasizes the improbable nature of finding an audience there, underscoring the miraculous precision of God's leading.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Get up, and go to the south, to the road which goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, through the waste land.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And a messenger of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, `Arise, and go on toward the south, on the way that is going down from Jerusalem to Gaza,' --this is desert.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise, go towards the south, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem into Gaza: this is desert.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But [the] angel of [the] Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Rise up and go southward on the way which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza: the same is desert.
Context
This verse marks a significant transition in Philip's ministry, as divine instruction diverts him from his successful work in Samaria, which allowed many people to believe, to a new, specific, and seemingly unlikely destination. It directly follows the conclusion of Peter and John's work in Samaria (verse 25). This angelic directive sets the stage for Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch, showcasing God's meticulous guidance in evangelism.
v.25They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
v.26This passage
v.27And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 12:8
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
- Matthew 3:1
And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, saying,
- Zechariah 9:5
Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also, and shall be sore pained; and Ekron, for her expectation shall be put to shame; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
- Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee.
- Joshua 13:3
from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the border of Ekron northward, which is reckoned to the Canaanites; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avvim,
- 2 Kings 1:3
But the angel of Jehovah said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?
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