Acts 8:35

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(35) Philip opened his mouth.—The phrase, wherever it occurs in the New Testament, implies something like a set discourse. (Comp. Acts 10:34; Acts 18, 14; Matthew 5:2; Matthew 13:35; 2Corinthians 6:11). It always means something more than the mere act of speaking.

And preached unto him Jesus.—The sequel shows that the teaching must have included, not only an interpretation of the prophecy as fulfilled in Christ, but instruction as to the outward condition of admission to the society of the disciples. The eunuch hears enough to make him eager for the baptism which was to bring with it so great a blessing.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:26-40 Philip was directed to go to a desert. Sometimes God opens a door of opportunity to his ministers in very unlikely places. We should study to do good to those we come into company with by travelling. We should not be so shy of all strangers as some affect to be. As to those of whom we know nothing else, we know this, that they have souls. It is wisdom for men of business to redeem time for holy duties; to fill up every minute with something which will turn to a good account. In reading the word of God, we should often pause, to inquire of whom and of what the sacred writers spake; but especially our thoughts should be employed about the Redeemer. The Ethiopian was convinced by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, of the exact fulfilment of the Scripture, was made to understand the nature of the Messiah's kingdom and salvation, and desired to be numbered among the disciples of Christ. Those who seek the truth, and employ their time in searching the Scriptures, will be sure to reap advantages. The avowal of the Ethiopian must be understood as expressing simple reliance on Christ for salvation, and unreserved devotion to Him. Let us not be satisfied till we get faith, as the Ethiopian did, by diligent study of the Holy Scriptures, and the teaching of the Spirit of God; let us not be satisfied till we get it fixed as a principle in our hearts. As soon as he was baptized, the Spirit of God took Philip from him, so that he saw him no more; but this tended to confirm his faith. When the inquirer after salvation becomes acquainted with Jesus and his gospel, he will go on his way rejoicing, and will fill up his station in society, and discharge his duties, from other motives, and in another manner than heretofore. Though baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, with water, it is not enough without the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Lord, grant this to every one of us; then shall we go on our way rejoicing.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Opened his mouth - See Matthew 5:2.

At the same scripture - Taking this as a "text" to be illustrated.

Preached unto him Jesus - Showed him that Jesus of Nazareth exactly corresponded to the description of the prophet, and that therefore he referred to the Messiah, and that the Messiah was Jesus of Nazareth. How far Philip detailed the circumstances of the life and death of Christ is unknown. What follows shows also that he stated the design of baptism, and the duty of being baptized.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

35. Then Philip opened his mouth—(See on [1964]Mt 5:2).

began at the same scripture—founding on it as his text.

preached unto him Jesus—showing Him to be the glorious Burden of this wonderful prediction, and interpreting it in the light of the facts of His history.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Opened his mouth; so they were said to do when they began to speak of some weighty matter.

Began at the same Scripture; showing that the prophet, in that most signal prophecy, Isaiah 53:7,8 could not mean such things of himself, nor of Jeremiah, or of any other.

Preached unto him Jesus; things in that prophecy are applicable unto our blessed Saviour, but to none else.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

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 (e), when they give an account of this or the other Rabbi interpreting any place of Scripture; as for instance, R. Eleazar "opened", and said, "my sabbaths you shall keep", &c. Again, R. Aba "opened", and said, "and Manoah said unto his wife", &c. Once more, "R. Simeon opened", and said, "the heavens declare the glory of God", &c. 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.

(e) In Gen. fol. 5. 3. 4. & 6. 1. 3. & 7. 1. 2. 3. & 8. 1. 2. 3. & passim.

Geneva Study Bible

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 8:35. ἀνοίξας τὸ στ. αὐτοῦ: the phrase is used to introduce some weighty and important utterance, cf. Acts 10:34, Acts 18:14, and Luke 1:64, so too Matthew 5:2, 2 Corinthians 6:11, also frequent in LXX; “aperire os in Scriptura est ordiri longum sermonem de re gravi et seria. Significat ergo Lucas coepisse Philippum pleno ore disserere de Christo,” Calvin, cf. Hebrew phrase פָּתַח אֶת־פִּיו, in various senses.—ἀρξάμενος, see on Acts 1:22, cf. Luke 24:27.—ταύτης, see above on Acts 8:3 -—εὐηγγελίσατο: used with an accusative both of the person addressed, as in Acts 8:25; Acts 8:40, and of the message delivered, cf. Luke 8:1, Acts 5:42; Acts 8:4; Acts 8:12, etc., but when the two are combined the person is always expressed by the dative, cf. Luke 1:19; Luke 2:10 (Acts 17:18), Simcox, Language of the N. T., p. 79. From the sequel it is evident that Philip not only preached the glad tidings of the fulfilment of the prophecies in Jesus as the ideal and divine Sufferer, but that he also pointed out to the eunuch the door of admission into the Church of Jesus; cf. Jerome, Epist., liii., 5.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

35. and began at the same [this] scripture, and preached unto him Jesus] It can hardly be doubted that during his sojourn in Jerusalem the eunuch had heard the history of the new teachers who had created such an excitement in the city, and so he would have had some story told him of the founder of the new community, but his informants would have been Jews, and he would only have heard from them such a version of what had been done as represented Jesus as one of the many deceivers who abounded in those times.

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 8:35. Ἀνοίξας, having opened) Already he had spoken some things; but now he lays himself out (formally applies himself) to speak. So ch. Acts 10:34.—ἀρξάμενος, having begun) A convenient mode of teaching, to begin with the text which has been presented to us, and to subjoin the remaining remarks which need to be made: ch. Acts 13:17; Luke 4:21.—ἀπὸ, from) From every text of Scripture, not merely from so remarkable a one as this was, it is possible to come to Jesus: and then there is a wide field of speaking thrown open to us.—τῆς γραφῆς, this Scripture) which indeed treats concerning the Minister or Servant of the Lord (for so Christ is called in Isaiah [Isaiah 42:1]). And often it is from the predicate alone that this subject is known (recognised): Matthew 2:23, “He shall be called a Nazarene;” Acts 8:17 [where His name as the subject is not given, but His attributes show that it is He who is spoken of].

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 35. - And for then, A.V.; beginning from this Scripture for began at the same Scripture, A.V.; preached for and preached, A.V. Acts 8:35

Vincent's Word Studies

Opened his mouth

Indicating a solemn announcement. Compare Matthew 5:2.