Acts 8:39 Meaning and Explanation
“And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Coming up out of the water, Philip is caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and the eunuch goes on his way rejoicing.
What Does Acts 8:39 Mean?
As suddenly as Philip was sent, he is taken: the Spirit of the Lord catches him away, and the eunuch sees him no more. Luke closes the convert's story with one clause: 'he went on his way rejoicing.'
The teacher vanishes and the joy remains, because the joy was never in the teacher. The eunuch rides toward home with Isaiah opened, Christ confessed, and baptism received; he needs no further escort. The chapter that began with a city's great joy (verse 8) ends with one man's — for the gospel's reach runs from whole multitudes to a single glad heart on a desert road.
Acts 8:39 in the Original Language
harpazo (ἁρπάζω), 'caught away' -- to seize or snatch suddenly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 8:39
What does Acts 8:39 mean?
Coming up out of the water, Philip is caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and the eunuch goes on his way rejoicing.