Acts 8:39
What does Acts 8:39 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 8:39 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 8:39 means
Immediately after the baptism, a supernatural event occurred: "the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip." Philip vanished from the eunuch's sight, transported by divine power to another location. The eunuch, though no longer with his guide, continued his journey "rejoicing," filled with the joy of his new faith and salvation, demonstrating the lasting impact of the Gospel independently of Philip's continuing presence.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away; and the Ethiopian saw him no more, for he went on his way full of joy.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more, for he was going on his way rejoicing;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took away Philip: and the eunuch saw him no more. And he went on his way rejoicing.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But when they came up out of the water [the] Spirit of [the] Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no longer, for he went on his way rejoicing.
Context
This verse describes the miraculous conclusion of Philip's mission with the eunuch, immediately following the baptism in verse 38. The Spirit's dramatic removal of Philip highlights divine orchestration and the fact that the completion of the eunuch's conversion was independent of Philip's ongoing presence. The eunuch's rejoicing then sets up the narrative's final transition back to Philip's next phase of ministry in verse 40.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 1:10
And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him:
- 2 Kings 2:16
And they said unto him, Behold now, there are with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master, lest the Spirit of Jehovah hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.
- Philippians 3:3
for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh:
- Ezekiel 11:1
Moreover the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of Jehovah’s house, which looketh eastward: and behold, at the door of the gate five and twenty men; and I saw in the midst of them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
- Ezekiel 11:24
And the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.
- Romans 15:10
And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
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