Then the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” 27 So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.” 30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. 32 This was the scripture passage he was reading: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 33 In [his] humiliation justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth.” 34 Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him. 36 As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?” [37] 38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
In Acts 8:26-40, we witness the Gospel’s swift movement beyond Jerusalem, as Philip is divinely sent into the wilderness to encounter an Ethiopian official returning from worship in Jerusalem. This official is a high-ranking court servant of the queen and a “God-fearer”—someone who reveres the God of Israel but is not a full convert (cf. Acts 10:2). While traveling, he reads aloud from Isaiah 53, the Suffering Servant passage (vv. 32-33; cf. Isaiah 53:7-8), yet does not understand whom the prophet is describing. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Philip joins the chariot and explains that the passage is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who, like a silent lamb, bore the sins of many through His Passion and death.
This encounter unfolds as a model of evangelization: God initiates, the believer responds, and the Scriptures are opened to reveal Christ. The official’s immediate desire for baptism (v. 36) reflects the joy and urgency that characterized early Christian conversions, especially in the wake of the Resurrection. Though verse 37 is omitted in the NABRE version as a later addition, its profession of faith—“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God”—is consistent with the baptismal creed that was emerging in the early Church (cf. Rom. 10:9-10).
Philip’s sudden departure (v. 39), carried by the Spirit, recalls Elijah’s prophetic movement “the spirit of the Lord will carry you to some place I do not know” (cf. 1 Kings 18:12), and signals that the mission to preach the Gospel is not complete—it will continue to the ends of the earth, just as Jesus foretold (Acts 1:8).
This passage reflects the Church’s universal mission and the power of Scripture to lead hearts to Christ. It reveals that baptism is not the end but the beginning of a journey of rejoicing and transformation. The Ethiopian, once an outsider, becomes a bearer of the Good News—foreshadowing the inclusion of all nations into the covenant people of God (cf. Isa. 56:3-8).
This story reminds us that God still sends His people into unexpected places. Like Philip, we are called to be attentive to the Spirit’s promptings and to open Scripture for those searching for truth. And like the Ethiopian, many today long for guidance, joy, and belonging. The risen Lord continues to draw people into the Church through our witness.
O Lord Jesus Christ, open our hearts to the voice of Your Spirit. Help us to recognize You in the Scriptures and to respond with faith, joy, and obedience, so that we too may walk the path of life and share the Good News with others. Amen!
O Lord, guide every heart that longs for Your presence
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: The Pentateuch. Four Courts Press, 2017
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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