was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
Parallel translations
- WEB He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
- KJV Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
- BSB and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.
- NASB and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading Isaiah the prophet.
- NLT and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Ethiopian official, returning from worship in Jerusalem, was reading aloud from Isaiah in his chariot. His hunger for God's word set the stage for a divine appointment.
Overview
This court official of Ethiopia had traveled far to worship and was now studying Scripture on his journey home. That a Gentile God-fearer possessed and pored over the prophet Isaiah shows God preparing hearts before the messenger arrives. His searching of the Scriptures opens the way for the gospel of Christ to reach the nations.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Col 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
- Acts 28:25When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah, the prophet, to our fathers,
- Isa 1:1The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
- Prov 2:1–6My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you;
- John 5:39–40“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.
- Josh 1:8This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
- 2 Tim 3:15–17From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
- Ps 1:2–3but his delight is in Yahweh’s law. On his law he meditates day and night.
- Acts 17:11–12Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
- Luke 3:4As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.
- Deut 6:6–7These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart;
- Ps 119:99I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.
- Luke 4:17The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,
- Prov 8:33–34Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
- Deut 11:18–20Therefore you shall lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul. You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.
- Ps 119:111I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
- Deut 17:18–19It shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write himself a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 8:28 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.