The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
Parallel translations
- WEB The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”
- KJV Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
- NKJV Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
- NASB Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”
- NLT The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”
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 Holy Spirit directed Philip to approach the chariot, showing that the spread of the gospel is led by God himself.
Overview
As in the rest of Acts, the Spirit actively guides the mission, moving Philip toward a specific person at a specific moment. This underscores that evangelism is not merely human initiative but obedience to the Spirit's leading. God orchestrates the meeting so that the seeking eunuch will hear of Jesus.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Acts 10:19As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
- Acts 11:12The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s home.
- Acts 20:22–23And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
- Acts 13:2–4While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
- Acts 16:6–7After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
- Hos 6:3So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.
- 1 Tim 4:1Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
- Acts 21:11Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
- 1 Cor 12:11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.
- Isa 65:24Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
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 8:29 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.