Acts 8:35

35 Then Philip began to speak; starting from this passage of scripture, he told him the Good News about Jesus.

Acts 8:35 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 8:35

Then Philip opened his mouth
With freedom and boldness, and spoke clearly and distinctly, and expounded the passage to him. This is a phrase frequently used in Jewish writings, especially in the book of Zohar F5, when they give an account of this or the other Rabbi interpreting any place of Scripture; as for instance, R. Eleazar (xtp) , "opened", and said, "my sabbaths you shall keep" Again, R. Aba (xtp) , "opened", and said, "and Manoah said unto his wife" Once more, "R. Simeon opened", and said, "the heavens declare the glory of God" and

began at the same Scripture:
"the fifty third of Isaiah": and preached unto him Jesus of Nazareth; how that he was the true Messiah, and the person there designed, and that very rightly; for the Jews themselves, the ancient ones, have interpreted several passages in that chapter of the Messiah, as has been before observed; he showed him how that he was born of a virgin, made under the law, and yielded perfect obedience to it in his life; and that he suffered and died for the sins of his people, and made satisfaction for them, and brought in an everlasting righteousness to justify them before God, and had obtained eternal redemption for them; that he was risen from the dead, was ascended into heaven, and now sat at the right hand of God, and ever lived to make intercession for transgressors; and would come a second time to judge both quick and dead; and in the mean while had left rules for the gathering, and forming, and governing his churches; and had appointed persons to preach his Gospel, and to administer the ordinances of baptism, and the supper of the Lord, which were to continue till his second coming.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 In Gen. fol. 5. 3. 4. & 6. 1. 3. & 7. 1. 2. 3. & 8. 1. 2. 3. & passim.

Acts 8:35 In-Context

33 He was humiliated, and justice was denied him. No one will be able to tell about his descendants, because his life on earth has come to an end."
34 The official asked Philip, "Tell me, of whom is the prophet saying this? Of himself or of someone else?"
35 Then Philip began to speak; starting from this passage of scripture, he told him the Good News about Jesus.
36 As they traveled down the road, they came to a place where there was some water, and the official said, "Here is some water. What is to keep me from being baptized?"
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.