Acts 8:31
◄  Acts 8:31  ►
New International Version (©2011)
"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The man replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.

English Standard Version (©2001)
And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
How can I," he said, "unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

International Standard Version (©2012)
The man replied, "How can I unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.

NET Bible (©2006)
The man replied, "How in the world can I, unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And he said, “How can I understand unless a man will instruct me?” And he asked Philippus to come up and sit with him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The official answered, "How can I understand unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to sit with him in his carriage.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

American King James Version
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

American Standard Version
And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Who said: And how can I, unless some man shew me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Darby Bible Translation
And he said, How should I then be able unless some one guide me? And he begged Philip to come up and sit with him.

English Revised Version
And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up, and sit with him.

Weymouth New Testament
"Why, how can I," replied the eunuch, "unless some one explains it to me?" And he earnestly invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

World English Bible
He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.

Young's Literal Translation
and he said, 'Why, how am I able, if some one may not guide me?' he called Philip also, having come up, to sit with him.

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.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 31. - One shall for man should, A.V. and T.R.; he besought Philip to come up and sit with him for he desired Philip that he would, etc., A.V. He besought, etc. Tim humility and thirst for instruction of this great courtier are very remarkable, and the instance of the joint use of the written Word and the living teacher is noteworthy.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he said, how can I, except some man should guide me?.... Which shows that he was of an excellent spirit and temper; since instead of answering in a haughty and disdainful manner, as great men are too apt to do; and instead of charging Philip with, impertinence and insolence, in interrupting him whilst reading, and putting such a question to him, he expresses himself with great and uncommon modesty; with a sense and confession of his ignorance and incapacity and of the necessity and usefulness of the instructions of men, appointed of God to open and explain the Scriptures: and though he wanted such a guide, and could have been glad of one, yet he was willing to use all diligence himself in reading, that he, might, if possible, come at some knowledge of the truth; which was very commendable in him; and no doubt but the spirit he was in was much owing to his reading the word, and to the Spirit of God disposing his mind in this manner:

and he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him; which is an instance of his great humanity and courteousness, and of his meekness and condescension, as well as of his vehement thirst after the knowledge of the Scriptures; he concluding, or at least hoping by Philip's question, and by the air and look of the man, that he was one that might be useful to him this way.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

31. How can I, except some man guide me?—Beautiful expression at once of humility and docility; the invitation to Philip which immediately followed, to "come up and sit with him," being but the natural expression of this.

Acts 8:31 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Philip and the Ethiopian
…30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understand you what you read? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: …

Acts 8:30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.
Acts 8:32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?