Acts 8:31
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.
Acts 8:31 in other translations
| BSB | “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. |
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| WEB | He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. |
| ASV | And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him. |
| YLT | 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. |
| DARBY | And he said, How should I then be able unless some one guide me? And he begged Philip to come up and sit with him. |
| BBE | And he said, How is that possible when I have no guide? And he made Philip get up by his side. |
| Webster | 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. |
What does Acts 8:31 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 8:29-31
29-31. the Spirit said--by an unmistakable voice within, as in Ac 10:19; 16:6, 7. go near and join this chariot--This would reveal to Philip the hitherto unknown object of his journey, and encourage him to expect something.
Barnes' Notes
And he desired, etc. He was willing to receive instruction even from a stranger. The rich and the great may often receive valuable instruction from a stranger, and from a poor, unknown man.
(d) "How can I" Rom 10:14 (e) "some man should guide me" Ps 25:9
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 8:26-40
Philip was directed to go to a desert. Sometimes God opens a door of opportunity to his ministers in very unlikely places. We should study to do good to those we come into company with by travelling. We should not be so shy of all strangers as some affect to be. As to those of whom we know nothing else, we know this, that they have souls. It is wisdom for men of business to redeem time for holy duties; to fill up…
Acts 8:31 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Acts 8:31
- Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
- Isaiah 29:18-19
And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
- Psalms 73:16-17
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
- Proverbs 30:2-3
Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
- Psalms 25:8-9
Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
- Matthew 18:3-4
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
- 1 Corinthians 8:2
And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
- 2 Kings 5:26
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
- 1 Corinthians 14:36-37
What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
- 1 Peter 2:1-2
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
- 2 Kings 5:9
So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
- Isaiah 35:8
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Acts 8:30
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
- Acts 8:31
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.
- Acts 8:32
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:
Acts 8:31 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y él dijo: ¿Y cómo podré, si alguno no me enseñare? Y rogó á Felipe que subiese, y se sentase con él. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et il dit: Comment donc le pourrais-je, si quelqu’un ne me conduit? Et il pria Philippe de monter et de s’asseoir avec lui. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Er aber sprach: Wie könnte ich denn, wenn nicht jemand mich anleitet? Und er bat den Philippus, daß er aufsteige und sich zu ihm setze. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Qui ait: Et quomodo possum, si non aliquis ostenderit mihi? Rogavitque Philippum ut ascenderet, et sederet secum. |