8 26 Then the angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Start out and go south to the road that leads down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' (This is the desert road.) 8 27 So he set out and was on his way when he caught sight of an Ethiopian. This man was a eunuch, a high official of the Kandake, or Queen, of Ethiopia, in charge of all her treasure. He had been to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage 8 28 and was now on his way home, sitting in his carriage and reading aloud the prophet Isaiah. 8 29 The Spirit said to Philip, 'Go and join the carriage.' 8 30 When Philip ran up he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah and said, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' 8 31 He said, 'How can I understand unless someone will give me the clue?' So he asked Philip to get in and sit beside him. 8 32 [ Is.53.7-8. ] The passage he was reading was this: