Acts 8:27
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,
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 25
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀναστὰς
he arose
G450
ἀναστὰς
he arose
Strong's:
G450
Word #:
2 of 25
to stand up (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)
ἐπορεύθη·
and went
G4198
ἐπορεύθη·
and went
Strong's:
G4198
Word #:
3 of 25
to traverse, i.e., travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
4 of 25
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
εὐνοῦχος
an eunuch
G2135
εὐνοῦχος
an eunuch
Strong's:
G2135
Word #:
8 of 25
a castrated person (such being employed in middle eastern bed-chambers); by extension an impotent or unmarried man; by implication, a chamberlain (sta
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὃς
who
G3739
ὃς
who
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
14 of 25
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἐπὶ
the charge of
G1909
ἐπὶ
the charge of
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
16 of 25
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτῆς
her
G846
αὐτῆς
her
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
20 of 25
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὃς
who
G3739
ὃς
who
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
21 of 25
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἐληλύθει
and had come
G2064
ἐληλύθει
and had come
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
22 of 25
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
προσκυνήσων
for to worship
G4352
προσκυνήσων
for to worship
Strong's:
G4352
Word #:
23 of 25
to fawn or crouch to, i.e., (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore)
Cross References
Psalms 68:31Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.Zephaniah 3:10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.Psalms 87:4I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.Jeremiah 38:7Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;Matthew 12:42The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.John 12:20And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
Historical Context
Ethiopia (Greek Aithiops) likely refers to Nubia/Kush, south of Egypt in modern Sudan. 'Candace' was a dynastic title for queens, like 'Pharaoh.' Ethiopian Jews existed from ancient times, possibly tracing to Solomon and Sheba or to Jewish merchants and exiles.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the eunuch's conversion demonstrate that no one is beyond God's saving reach?
- What does his journey to Jerusalem reveal about authentic spiritual hunger?
- How does God bring salvation to those physically or socially excluded from religious community?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The Ethiopian eunuch was a 'man of great authority' under Candace, queen of Ethiopia, with charge over her treasury. Despite his power and wealth, he sought God, traveling to Jerusalem to worship. His status as a eunuch meant he couldn't fully join the Jewish community (Deuteronomy 23:1), yet Isaiah prophesied eunuchs would have a place in God's house (Isaiah 56:3-5). His reading Isaiah while returning shows sincere spiritual hunger. Reformed theology sees God's electing grace reaching across barriers - race, social status, and physical condition - to save whom He will.