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: 'He was led like a sheep to be slaughtered; and like a lamb that is dumb before the shearer, he does not open his mouth. 8 ³³ He has been humiliated and has no redress. Who will be able to speak of his posterity? For he is cut off from the world of living men.'

8 ³⁴ 'Now', said the eunuch to Philip, 'tell me, please, who it is that the prophet is speaking about here: himself or someone else?' 8 ³⁵ Then Philip began. Starting from this passage, he told him the good news of Jesus. 8 ³⁶ As they were going along the road, they came to some water. 'Look,' said the eunuch, 'here is water: what is there to prevent my being baptized?'; 8 ³⁷ Some manuscripts insert: Philip said, 'If you wholeheartedly believe, it is permitted.' He replied, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' 8 ³⁸ and he ordered the carriage to stop. Then they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 8 ³⁹ When they came up out of the water the Spirit snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw no more of him, but went happily on his way. 8 ⁴⁰ Philip appeared at Azotus, and toured the country, preaching in all the towns till he reached Caesarea.