Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Parallel translations
- WEB The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself 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 thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
- Acts 11:12And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:
- Acts 20:22–23And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
- Acts 13:2–4As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
- Acts 16:6–7Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
- Hos 6:3Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
- 1 Tim 4:1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
- Acts 21:11And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
- 1 Cor 12:11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
- Isa 65:24And it shall come to pass, 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.