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Acts 8:29

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 8:29 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Acts 8:29 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
26But 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.
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;
28and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.
32Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:
← Acts 8:28Acts 8:30 →
← Full Chapter 8 Acts Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then the Spirit said unto Philip, etc.] Not the angel, a ministering Spirit, as in (<440826>Acts 8:26) but the Holy Spirit, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, the same with the Spirit of the Lord, (<440839>Acts 8:39) who spoke unto him, either by an articulative voice, such as was the Bath Kol among the Jews; or inwardly, by a secret impulse upon him, he directed him, saying: go near, and join thyself to this chariot; he bid him make up to the chariot, he saw driving on the road at such a distance, and follow it, and attend it closely; and not leave it, till an opportunity of conversing with the person in it offered.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“the Spirit said--by an unmistakable voice within, as in Act 10:19; Act 16:6-7. go near and join this chariot--This would reveal to Philip the hitherto unknown object of his journey, and encourage him to expect something.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The Spirit - See the notes on Acts 8:26. The Holy Spirit is evidently intended here. The thought in Philip’s mind is here traced to his suggestion. All good thoughts and designs have the same origin. Join thyself - Join him in his chariot. Go and sit with him. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“8:29 The Holy Spirit guides the servants of God in where, when, and what to preach, teach, or do (9:15; 10:19-20; 11:12; 16:6; 1 Cor 2:13; 1 Pet 1:12).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Act 10:19, Act 11:12, Act 13:2-4, Act 16:6, Act 16:7, Act 20:22, Act 20:23; Isa 65:24; Hos 6:3; Co1 12:11; Ti1 4:1 Acts 8:30”
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Related study paths

Read Acts 8 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification