Acts 8:26

“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, etc.] To inquire who this angel was, whether Michael or Gabriel, or the tutelar angel of Ethiopia, or of the eunuch, or of Philip, is too curious; it was one of the ministering spirits sent forth by Christ, to serve a gracious purpose of his, and for the good of one of the heirs of salvation: saying, arise; at once, make haste and speed, and quick dispatch; the phrase denotes readiness, alacrity, and expedition: and go toward the south; the southern point from the city of Samaria, where Philip now was; or to the south of Jerusalem: the parts of Gaza, Lydda, Jamnia, Joppa, etc. were called the “south”: hence often mention is made of such a Rabbi…”

“THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH. (Act 8:26-40) the angel of the Lord--rather, "an angel." go . . . south, the way that goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza--There was such a road, across Mount Hebron, which Philip might take without going to Jerusalem (as VON RAUMER'S'S PalÃ&brvbrstina shows). which is desert--that is, the way; not Gaza itself, which was the southernmost city of Palestine, in the territory of the ancient Philistines. To go from a city, where his hands had been full of work, so far away on a desert road, could not but be staggering to the faith of Philip, especially as he was kept in ignorance of the object of the journey. But like Paul, he "was not disobedient to the heavenly vision"; and…”

“And the angel of the Lord - The word “angel” is used in the Scriptures in a great variety of significations. See the notes on Matthew 1:20. Here it has been supposed by some to mean literally a celestial messenger sent from God; others have supposed that it means a “dream”; others a “vision,” etc. The word properly means a “messenger”; and all that it can be shown to signify here is, that the Lord sent a “message” to Philip of this kind. It is most probable, I think, that the passage means that God communicated the message by his Spirit; for in Acts 8:29, Acts 8:39, it is expressly said that “the Spirit” spake to Philip, etc. Thus, in Acts 16:7, the “Spirit” is said to have forbidden Paul to…”

“The way which is desert - There were two ways from Jerusalem to Gaza, one desert, the other through a more populous country. Acts 8:27”

“8:26-40 Philip obeyed the Holy Spirit’s leading and then seized the opportunity to share the message of Good News with a eunuch on the desert road . . . from Jerusalem to Gaza. This incident shows Philip’s remarkable effectiveness as a Christian apologist and evangelist in his outreach for Christ and in his commitment to bringing the Good News to all people regardless of social class or ethnicity.”

“The angel: Act 5:19, Act 10:7, Act 10:22, Act 12:8-11, Act 12:23, Act 27:23; Kg2 1:3; Heb 1:14 Arise: Ch1 22:16; Isa. 60:1-22 Gaza: Jos 13:3, Jos 15:47; Zac 9:5 desert: It is probable, that we should refer ερημος \[Strong's G2048\], desert, not to Gaza, but to οδος \[Strong's G3598\], the way; though Gaza was situated at the entrance of the desert, and the ancient city was in ruins, being destroyed by Alexander. Mat 3:1-3; Luk 3:2-4 Acts 8:27”