“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.”
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing - the eunuch emerges from baptism 'rejoicing' (chairō, joyful), the eschatological emotion of the kingdom. Philip is 'suddenly taken away' (harpazō autos pneuma kyriou, the Spirit snatched Philip away) in a miraculous translation, suggesting divine satisfaction with the mission: the Ethiopian eunuch has been evangelized, converted, and baptized. Philip's work is done; he is transported to the next mission.
Church Fathers on Acts 8:39
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized? Acts 8:36 Mark the eager desire, mark the exact knowledge. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they had 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…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!