“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Parallel translations
- WEB He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.
- KJV And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
- NKJV And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
- NASB And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
- NLT The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
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 official admitted he could not understand without a guide and invited Philip to sit with him. Genuine faith is humble and teachable.
Overview
His honest acknowledgment that he needed someone to explain the text shows the proper posture of a learner. God ordinarily uses human teachers to open his word, which is why he sent Philip. The eunuch's humility and openness contrast with the proud resistance of others in Acts and prepare him to receive the good news.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Rom 10:14How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?
- Ps 73:16–17When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
- Isa 29:18–19On that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see.
- Prov 30:2–3Surely I am the most ignorant of men, and I lack the understanding of a man.
- Ps 25:8–9Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.
- Matt 18:3–4“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- 1 Cor 8:2The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
- 1 Cor 14:36–37Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
- 2 Kgs 5:26But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants?
- Mark 10:15Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
- 2 Kgs 10:15–16When he left there, he found Jehonadab son of Rechab, who was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and asked, “Is your heart as true to mine as my heart is to yours?” “It is!” Jehonadab replied. “If it is,” said Jehu, “give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand, and Jehu helped him into his chariot,
- 1 Pet 2:1–2Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
- 2 Kgs 5:9So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
- Isa 35:8And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it—only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it.
- Jas 1:10But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.
- 1 Cor 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
- Ps 73:22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
- Jas 1:21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.
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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 8:31 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.