Acts 8:29-31 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Then the Spirit By that secret suggestion which inspired persons could distinguish with certainty as divine revelation; said to Philip, Go near Now Philip shall know the reason of his being sent into a desert; join thyself to this chariot Enter into conversation with the person who sits in it, without fear of offending him, or exposing thyself to any inconvenience. And Philip ran to him Ran up to the chariot; and heard him read For he read aloud, both that his own mind might be more deeply impressed with what he read, and that his servants, who were near, might receive some benefit by it. And Philip, being well acquainted with the Holy Scriptures, soon perceived that the book in which he read was that of the Prophet Isaiah, and that the passage he was reading would give him a very proper opportunity of entering into discourse with him concerning Christ, and delivering to him that evangelical message with which he was charged. He therefore took occasion to begin the conversation from this circumstance, saying to the eunuch, Understandest thou what thou readest? This question Philip puts to him, not by way of reproach, but with a design to offer him his service, and lead him into the true knowledge of the important prophecy which now engaged his attention. Observe, what we read and hear of the word of God, it highly concerns us to understand; especially what we read and hear concerning Christ; and therefore we should often ask ourselves whether we understand it or not. Philip did not begin about the weather, news, or the like. In speaking for God, we may frequently come to the point at once without circumlocution. And he said, How can I The eunuch was so far from being offended at the freedom Philip took, that he mildly and respectfully said in reply, How should I understand such obscure oracles as these, except some man should guide me Unless some person, better acquainted with the contents of them than I am, should throw that light upon them which I, who am so much a stranger to the Jewish affairs, must necessarily be destitute of. And he desired Philip to come up and sit with him Inferring from the question he put, that he was better acquainted with these things than himself. Here we see a remarkable instance of the providence and grace of God. This great man had been at Jerusalem, where the apostles were preaching the Christian faith, and multitudes professing it, and yet there he had taken no notice of it, and made no inquiries after it; nay, it seems had slighted it, and turned his back upon it. Yet the grace of God pursues him, overtakes him in the desert, and there converts him. Thus God is often found of those that sought him not!