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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Acts 8:31 "How can I," he said, "unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/acts/8-31.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/44_Act_08_31.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Acts 8:31 - Philip and the Ethiopian" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="How can I, he said, unless someone guides me? 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And he invited Philip, having come up, to sit with him. <a href="/kjv/acts/8.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/acts/8.htm">New King James Version</a> And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/nasb_/acts/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/nasb/acts/8.htm">NASB 1995</a> And he said, &#8220Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?&#8221 And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/nasb77/acts/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/lsb/acts/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/amp/acts/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a> And he said, “Well, how could I [understand] unless someone guides me [correctly]?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/csb/acts/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me? ” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/hcsb/acts/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> How can I,&#8221 he said, &#8220unless someone guides me?&#8221 So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/asv/acts/8.htm">American Standard Version</a> And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/cev/acts/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The official answered, "How can I understand unless someone helps me?" He then invited Philip to come up and sit beside him. <a href="/erv/acts/8.htm">English Revised Version</a> And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/gwt/acts/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The official answered, "How can I understand unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to sit with him in his carriage. <a href="/gnt/acts/8.htm">Good News Translation</a> The official replied, "How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?" And he invited Philip to climb up and sit in the carriage with him. <a href="/isv/acts/8.htm">International Standard Version</a> The man replied, "How can I unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. <a href="/msb/acts/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> ?How can I,? he said, ?unless someone guides me?? And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/net/acts/8.htm">NET Bible</a> The man replied, "How in the world can I, unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/nheb/acts/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/wbt/acts/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> 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. <a href="/wey/acts/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Why, how can I," replied the eunuch, "unless some one explains it to me?" And he earnestly invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/web/acts/8.htm">World English Bible</a> He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/acts/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And he said, “Why, how am I able, if someone may not guide me?” He called Philip also, having come up, to sit with him. <a href="/blb/acts/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And he said, "How indeed could I be able, unless someone will guide me?" And he invited Philip, having come up, to sit with him. <a href="/ylt/acts/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and he said, 'Why, how am I able, if some one may not guide me?' he called Philip also, having come up, to sit with him. <a href="/slt/acts/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And he said, How can I, except somebody guide me? And he called upon Philip coming up to sit with him.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/acts/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Who said: And how can I, unless some man shew me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. <a href="/cpdv/acts/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And he said, “But how can I, unless someone will have revealed it to me?” And he asked Philip to climb up and sit with him. <a href="/nabre/acts/8.htm">New American Bible</a> He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. <a href="/nrsvce/acts/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/acts/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And the E-thi-o’pi-an said, How can I understand unless some one teach me? and he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/8.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And he said, “How can I understand unless a man will instruct me?” And he asked Philippus to come up and sit with him.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/acts/8.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> He answered: How can I, unless some one instruct me? And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/godbey/acts/8.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> And he said, How could I, unless some one shall guide me? And he called upon Philip coming up, to sit with him; <a href="/haweis/acts/8.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> He replied, How indeed can I, except some person guide me in the way? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/mace/acts/8.htm">Mace New Testament</a> how can I, answer'd he, without some expositor? and he desired Philip to mount, and sit with him. <a href="/wey/acts/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Why, how can I," replied the eunuch, "unless some one explains it to me?" And he earnestly invited Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/worrell/acts/8.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> But he said, "How, in fact, were I able, unless some one should guide me?" And he besought Philip, having come up, to sit with him. <a href="/worsley/acts/8.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> And he said, How can I, unless some one guide me? and he desired Philip to come up and sit with him. <a href="/parallel/acts/8-31.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=2591" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/acts/8.htm">Philip and the Ethiopian</a> …30So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31<a href="/greek/4459.htm" title="4459: Pōs (Adv) -- Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!">“How</a> <a href="/greek/1063.htm" title="1063: gar (Conj) -- For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason."></a> <a href="/greek/302.htm" title="302: an (Prtcl) -- A primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty."></a> <a href="/greek/1410.htm" title="1410: dynaimēn (V-POM/P-1S) -- (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.">can I,”</a> <a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: Ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: eipen (V-AIA-3S) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">he said,</a> <a href="/greek/1437.htm" title="1437: ean (Conj) -- If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.">“unless</a> <a href="/greek/3361.htm" title="3361: mē (Adv) -- Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether."></a> <a href="/greek/5100.htm" title="5100: tis (IPro-NMS) -- Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.">someone</a> <a href="/greek/3594.htm" title="3594: hodēgēsei (V-FIA-3S) -- To lead, guide; met: I instruct, teach. From hodegos; to show the way (teach).">guides</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: me (PPro-A1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">me?”</a> <a href="/greek/5037.htm" title="5037: te (Conj) -- And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also.">And</a> <a href="/greek/3870.htm" title="3870: parekalesen (V-AIA-3S) -- From para and kaleo; to call near, i.e. Invite, invoke.">he invited</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ton (Art-AMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/5376.htm" title="5376: Philippon (N-AMS) -- From philos and hippos; fond of horses; Philippus, the name of four Israelites.">Philip</a> <a href="/greek/305.htm" title="305: anabanta (V-APA-AMS) -- To go up, mount, ascend; of things: I rise, spring up, come up. From ana and the base of basis; to go up.">to come up</a> <a href="/greek/2523.htm" title="2523: kathisai (V-ANA) -- Another form for kathezomai; to seat down, i.e. Set; intransitively, to sit; figuratively, to settle.">and sit</a> <a href="/greek/4862.htm" title="4862: syn (Prep) -- With. A primary preposition denoting union; with or together.">with</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autō (PPro-DM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">him.</a> 32The 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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/isaiah/53-7.htm">Isaiah 53:7-8</a> He 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. / By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was stricken for the transgression of My people. <a href="/romans/10-14.htm">Romans 10:14</a> How 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? <a href="/luke/24-27.htm">Luke 24:27</a> And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself. <a href="/john/16-13.htm">John 16:13</a> However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. <a href="/1_corinthians/2-14.htm">1 Corinthians 2:14</a> The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. <a href="/matthew/13-13.htm">Matthew 13:13-15</a> This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ / In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ <a href="/2_timothy/3-15.htm">2 Timothy 3:15-17</a> From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. / All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, / so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work. <a href="/psalms/119-18.htm">Psalm 119:18</a> Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law. <a href="/proverbs/4-7.htm">Proverbs 4:7</a> Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding. <a href="/jeremiah/31-33.htm">Jeremiah 31:33-34</a> “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. / No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.” <a href="/1_john/2-27.htm">1 John 2:27</a> And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught. <a href="/nehemiah/8-8.htm">Nehemiah 8:8</a> So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read. <a href="/hosea/14-9.htm">Hosea 14:9</a> Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them. <a href="/john/5-39.htm">John 5:39</a> You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me, <a href="/2_peter/1-20.htm">2 Peter 1:20-21</a> Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. / For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>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.How.<a href="/psalms/25-8.htm">Psalm 25:8,9</a> Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way… <a href="/psalms/73-16.htm">Psalm 73:16,17,22</a> When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; … <a href="/proverbs/30-2.htm">Proverbs 30:2,3</a> Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man… And he.<a href="/2_kings/5-9.htm">2 Kings 5:9,26</a> So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha… <a href="/2_kings/10-15.htm">2 Kings 10:15,16</a> And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/acts/7-11.htm">Able</a> <a href="/john/9-8.htm">Begged</a> <a href="/john/19-38.htm">Besought</a> <a href="/acts/7-46.htm">Desired</a> <a href="/acts/3-12.htm">Earnestly</a> <a href="/acts/8-30.htm">Eunuch</a> <a href="/acts/8-1.htm">Except</a> <a href="/acts/7-3.htm">Guide</a> <a href="/john/5-30.htm">Guides</a> <a href="/acts/7-14.htm">Invited</a> <a href="/acts/8-24.htm">Me</a> <a href="/acts/8-30.htm">Philip</a> <a href="/acts/8-22.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/acts/7-39.htm">Side</a> <a href="/acts/3-10.htm">Sit</a> <a href="/acts/8-9.htm">Someone</a> <a href="/john/20-25.htm">Unless</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/9-7.htm">Able</a> <a href="/acts/9-2.htm">Begged</a> <a href="/acts/13-42.htm">Besought</a> <a href="/acts/9-2.htm">Desired</a> <a href="/acts/10-19.htm">Earnestly</a> <a href="/acts/8-32.htm">Eunuch</a> <a href="/acts/11-19.htm">Except</a> <a href="/romans/2-19.htm">Guide</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/4-15.htm">Guides</a> <a href="/acts/10-23.htm">Invited</a> <a href="/acts/9-4.htm">Me</a> <a href="/acts/8-34.htm">Philip</a> <a href="/acts/17-27.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/acts/9-39.htm">Side</a> <a href="/acts/14-8.htm">Sit</a> <a href="/acts/8-34.htm">Someone</a> <a href="/acts/15-1.htm">Unless</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 8</div>1. <a href="/acts/8-1.htm">By occasion of the persecution in Jerusalem, the church being planted in Samaria, </a> 4. <a href="/acts/8-4.htm">by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracles, and baptized many;</a> 9. <a href="/acts/8-9.htm">among the rest Simon the sorcerer, a great seducer of the people;</a> 14. <a href="/acts/8-14.htm">Peter and John come to confirm and enlarge the church; </a> 15. <a href="/acts/8-15.htm">where, by prayer and imposition of hands giving the Holy Spirit;</a> 18. <a href="/acts/8-18.htm">when Simon would have bought the like power of them, </a> 20. <a href="/acts/8-20.htm">Peter sharply reproving his hypocrisy and covetousness, </a> 22. <a href="/acts/8-22.htm">and exhorting him to repentance, </a> 25. <a href="/acts/8-25.htm">together with John preaching the word of the Lord, return to Jerusalem;</a> 26. <a href="/acts/8-26.htm">but the angel sends Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian Eunuch.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/acts/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” This phrase is spoken by the Ethiopian eunuch, a high-ranking official in charge of the treasury of the Kandake, queen of the Ethiopians. His question highlights the necessity of guidance in understanding Scripture, reflecting the broader biblical theme that spiritual truths often require explanation and teaching. This aligns with <a href="/romans/10-14.htm">Romans 10:14</a>, which emphasizes the need for preaching and teaching for faith to arise. The eunuch's humility in admitting his need for guidance contrasts with the pride often seen in religious leaders of the time, such as the Pharisees, who believed they had all knowledge. This moment also underscores the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers into all truth, as promised in <a href="/john/16-13.htm">John 16:13</a>.And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Philip, one of the seven deacons chosen in <a href="/acts/6.htm">Acts 6</a>, is led by the Holy Spirit to this divine appointment. The eunuch's invitation to Philip signifies openness and a desire to learn, which is crucial for spiritual growth. This act of inviting Philip to sit with him symbolizes fellowship and the breaking down of social and cultural barriers, as Philip, a Jew, engages with an Ethiopian Gentile. This moment foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles into the early Christian church, a theme that becomes more prominent in <a href="/acts/10.htm">Acts 10</a> with Peter and Cornelius. The physical act of sitting together to study Scripture reflects the rabbinic tradition of learning in community, emphasizing the importance of communal study and interpretation of God's Word.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/p/philip.htm">Philip</a> One of the seven deacons chosen in <a href="/bsb/acts/6.htm">Acts 6</a>, Philip is an evangelist who is led by the Holy Spirit to meet the Ethiopian eunuch on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. 2. <a href="/topical/e/ethiopian_eunuch.htm">Ethiopian Eunuch</a> A high-ranking official in charge of the treasury of the Kandake (queen) of the Ethiopians. He is a God-fearing Gentile who is returning from worshiping in Jerusalem and is reading the book of Isaiah. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_road_from_jerusalem_to_gaza.htm">The Road from Jerusalem to Gaza</a> A desert road where Philip encounters the Ethiopian eunuch. This setting emphasizes the divine orchestration of their meeting. 4. <a href="/topical/i/isaiah_the_prophet.htm">Isaiah the Prophet</a> The eunuch is reading from the book of Isaiah, specifically a passage that prophesies about Jesus Christ, which Philip uses to explain the gospel. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_holy_spirit.htm">The Holy Spirit</a> The Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding Philip to the eunuch, demonstrating the importance of divine guidance in evangelism.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_guidance_in_understanding_scripture.htm">The Importance of Guidance in Understanding Scripture</a> Just as the Ethiopian eunuch needed Philip to explain the Scriptures, believers today benefit from teachers and mentors who can help them understand God's Word. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_the_holy_spirit_in_evangelism.htm">The Role of the Holy Spirit in Evangelism</a> Philip's encounter with the eunuch was orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, reminding us to be sensitive to the Spirit's leading in our own evangelistic efforts. <a href="/topical/t/the_universality_of_the_gospel.htm">The Universality of the Gospel</a> The Ethiopian eunuch represents the reach of the gospel beyond Jewish boundaries, emphasizing that the message of Christ is for all nations and peoples. <a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_scripture_in_evangelism.htm">The Power of Scripture in Evangelism</a> Philip uses the Scriptures to explain the gospel, demonstrating the power and necessity of God's Word in sharing the message of salvation. <a href="/topical/t/the_humility_to_seek_understanding.htm">The Humility to Seek Understanding</a> The eunuch's willingness to admit his need for guidance is a model of humility and openness to learning, which is essential for spiritual growth.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_acts_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Acts 8</a> <a href="/q/what_are_god's_key_promises.htm">What is the International Christian Church?</a> <a href="/q/main_theme_of_acts.htm">What is the main theme of the Book of Acts?</a> <a href="/q/key_events_in_acts.htm">What are the key events in the Book of Acts?</a> <a href="/q/can_anyone_fully_embody_proverbs_31.htm">How can one person realistically fulfill all the ideal qualities described in Proverbs 31:10-31 without ever falling short?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(31) How can I, except some man should guide me?--The words of the inquirer imply, as has been said above, that the prophecy was new to him. It is as though, in turning over, or perhaps unrolling, the MS., this was the passage which, in its strange, touching portraiture of the Man of Sorrows, had riveted his attention, and on which he was consequently dwelling with the prayer that some authorised interpreter would unfold its meaning. The word for "guide" connects itself with the title of "a guide of the blind," which the Rabbis were fond of claiming (<a href="/matthew/15-14.htm" title="Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.">Matthew 15:14</a>; <a href="/romans/2-19.htm" title="And are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,">Romans 2:19</a>).<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 31. - One shall for man should, A.V. and T.R.; he besought Philip to come up and sit with him for he desired Philip that he would, etc., A.V. He besought, etc. Tim humility and thirst for instruction of this great courtier are very remarkable, and the instance of the joint use of the written Word and the living teacher is noteworthy. <a href="/commentaries/acts/8-31.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>“How Πῶς (Pōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_4459.htm">Strong's 4459: </a> Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much! can I,” δυναίμην (dynaimēn) Verb - Present Optative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1410.htm">Strong's 1410: </a> (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible. he said, εἶπεν (eipen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. “unless ἐὰν (ean) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1437.htm">Strong's 1437: </a> If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc. someone τις (tis) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5100.htm">Strong's 5100: </a> Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object. guides ὁδηγήσει (hodēgēsei) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3594.htm">Strong's 3594: </a> To lead, guide; met: I instruct, teach. From hodegos; to show the way (teach). me?” με (me) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. And τε (te) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_5037.htm">Strong's 5037: </a> And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also. he invited παρεκάλεσέν (parekalesen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3870.htm">Strong's 3870: </a> From para and kaleo; to call near, i.e. Invite, invoke. Philip Φίλιππον (Philippon) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5376.htm">Strong's 5376: </a> From philos and hippos; fond of horses; Philippus, the name of four Israelites. to come up ἀναβάντα (anabanta) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_305.htm">Strong's 305: </a> To go up, mount, ascend; of things: I rise, spring up, come up. From ana and the base of basis; to go up. [and] sit καθίσαι (kathisai) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active <a href="/greek/strongs_2523.htm">Strong's 2523: </a> Another form for kathezomai; to seat down, i.e. Set; intransitively, to sit; figuratively, to settle. with σὺν (syn) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_4862.htm">Strong's 4862: </a> With. A primary preposition denoting union; with or together. him. αὐτῷ (autō) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/8-31.htm">Acts 8:31 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/acts/8-31.htm">Acts 8:31 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/acts/8-31.htm">Acts 8:31 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/acts/8-31.htm">Acts 8:31 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/acts/8-31.htm">Acts 8:31 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/8-31.htm">Acts 8:31 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/8-31.htm">Acts 8:31 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/8-31.htm">Acts 8:31 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/acts/8-31.htm">Acts 8:31 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/acts/8-31.htm">Acts 8:31 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/acts/8-31.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 8:31 He said How can I unless someone (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/8-30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 8:30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 8:30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/8-32.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 8:32"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 8:32" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>