Philip Preaches about Christ and Baptizes an Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:26–31, 35–38
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 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. . . .
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote:
“To learn the doctrines of salvation men:
“(1) Must search the scriptures diligently themselves [3 Nephi 23];
“(2) They must hearken to the voice of the prophets and inspired interpreters of the divine word who are sent among them; and
“(3) They must themselves so live as to have the spirit and gift of scriptural understanding and interpretation.
“These three requisites are illustrated in the conversion by Philip of the ‘eunuch of great authority’ in the court of ‘Candace queen of the Ethiopians’ [Acts 8:27]. This high civil official, as he returned from worshipping in Jerusalem, and as he read aloud from the messianic prophecies of Isaiah, was met by Philip who said: ‘Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me?’ [Acts 8:30–31]. Thereupon Philip taught him the gospel of salvation, which is in Christ, and the eunuch, his mind enlightened by the Spirit and believing with all his heart, was baptized for the remission of sins [see Acts 8:26–40].”
(Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 1:57.)
