Acts 8:28

“Was returning, etc.] From Jerusalem, having finished the parts of divine worship he came to perform; and it is remarkable, that though he must doubtless have heard of Jesus of Nazareth, and what had passed in Jerusalem lately, and of his apostles, yet heard them not; or however, was not converted by them, nor believed in Jesus; his conversion being ordered to be at another time, in another place, and by another instrument: and sitting in his chariot: as was the manner of princes and great persons: read Esaias the Prophet; the Book of the Prophecies of Isaiah the Prophet; and in (<420417>Luke 4:17) it is called the “Book of the Prophet Esaias”; and in the note there, (see Gill on…”

“Was returning--Having come so far, he not only stayed out the days of the festival, but prolonged his stay till now. It says much for his fidelity and value to his royal mistress that he had such liberty. But the faith in Jehovah and love of His worship and word, with which he was imbued, sufficiently explain this. and sitting in his chariot, read Esaias--Not contented with the statutory services in which he had joined, he beguiles the tedium of the journey homeward by reading the Scriptures. But this is not all; for as Philip "heard him read the prophet Esaias," he must have been reading aloud and not (as is customary still in the East) so as merely to be audible, but in a louder voice than…”

“And, sitting in his chariot - His carriage; his vehicle. The form of the carriage is not known. In some instances the carriages of the ancients were placed on wheels; in others were borne on poles, in the form of a “litter” or palanquin, by men, mules, or horses. See Calmet’s “Chariot” article. Reading Esaias ... - Isaiah. Reading doubtless the translation of Isaiah called the Septuagint. This translation was made in Egypt for the special use of the Jews in Alexandria and throughout Egypt, and was what was commonly used. “Why” he was reading the Scriptures, and especially this prophet, is not certainly known. It is morally certain, however, that he was in Judea at the time of the crucifixion…”

“Sitting in his chariot, he read the Prophet Isaiah - God meeteth those that remember him in his ways. It is good to read, hear, seek information even in a journey. Why should we not redeem all our time? Acts 8:30”

“and sitting: Act 17:11, Act 17:12; Deu 6:6, Deu 6:7, Deu 11:18-20, Deu 17:18, Deu 17:19; Jos 1:8; Psa 1:2, Psa 1:3; Psa 119:99, Psa 119:111; Pro 2:1-6, Pro 8:33, Pro 8:34; Joh 5:39, Joh 5:40; Col 3:16; Ti2 3:15-17 Esaias: Act 28:25; Isa 1:1, Isaiah, Luk 3:4, Luk 4:17 Acts 8:29”