The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”
Parallel translations
- KJV Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
- BSB The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
- 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 10:19While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you.
- Acts 11:12The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house.
- Acts 20:22–23Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there;
- Acts 13:2–4As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”
- Acts 16:6–7When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
- Hos 6:3Let us acknowledge Yahweh. Let us press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.”
- 1 Tim 4:1But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,
- Acts 21:11Coming to us, and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: ‘So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
- 1 Cor 12:11But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
- Isa 65:24It will happen that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet 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.