The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth.
- KJV The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
- NKJV The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
- NASB Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: “He was led like a sheep to slaughter; And like a lamb that is silent before its shearer, So He does not open His mouth.
- NLT The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.
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 passage being read was Isaiah 53, describing the Servant who suffers silently like a sheep led to slaughter. This points directly to Christ's atoning death.
Overview
Isaiah 53 is the great prophecy of the suffering Servant who bears the sins of his people. The image of the silent, slaughtered lamb foreshadows Jesus, who did not resist his accusers but went willingly to the cross. That the eunuch was reading this exact text shows God's providence, for here the gospel is hidden in plain sight.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Isa 53:7–8He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
- 1 Pet 2:21–24For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
- Jer 51:40I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats.
- Jer 11:19For I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter; I did not know that they had plotted against me: “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be remembered no more.”
- Rom 8:36As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
- Ps 44:11–12You have given us up as sheep to be devoured; You have scattered us among the nations.
- Ps 39:9I have become mute; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.
- Ps 39:2I was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred.
- John 1:29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
- Matt 26:62–63So the high priest stood up and asked Him, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”
- Jer 12:3But You know me, O LORD; You see me and test my heart toward You. Drag away the wicked like sheep to the slaughter and set them apart for the day of carnage.
- 1 Pet 1:19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.
- Luke 23:34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
- John 18:9–11This was to fulfill the word He had spoken: “I have not lost one of those You have given Me.”
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 8:32 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
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