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 8:32 in other translations
| BSB | The 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. |
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| WEB | Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth. |
| ASV | Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth: |
| YLT | And the contents of the Writing that he was reading was this: ‘As a sheep unto slaughter he was led, and as a lamb before his shearer dumb, so he doth not open his mouth; |
| DARBY | And the passage of the scripture which he read was this: He was led as a sheep to slaughter, and as a lamb is dumb in presence of him that shears him, thus he opens not his mouth. |
| BBE | Now the place in the book where he was reading was this: He was taken, like a sheep, to be put to death; and as a lamb is quiet when its wool is being cut, so he made no sound: |
| Webster | 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 he opened not his mouth: |
What does Acts 8:32 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 8:32-33
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
He was led, etc. This quotation is taken literally from the Septuagint. It varies very little from the Hebrew. It has been almost universally understood that this place refers to the Messiah; and Philip expressly applies it to him. The word "was led" ηχθη, implies that he was conducted by others; that he was led as a sheep is led to be killed. The general idea is that of meekness and submission when he was led to be put to death; a description that applies in a very striking manner to the Lord Jesus.
To the slaughter. To be killed. The characteristic here recorded is more remarkable in the sheep than in any other animal.
And like a lamb dumb, etc. Still, patient, unresisting.
So opened he not his mouth. He did not complain, or murmur; he offered no resistance, but yielded patiently to what was done by others.
(f) "He was lead" Isa 53:7,8
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 8:32 in the original Greek
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Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Acts 8:32
- Isaiah 53:7-8
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
- 1 Peter 2:21-24
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
- Jeremiah 51:40
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.
- Jeremiah 11:19
But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.
- Romans 8:36
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
- Psalms 44:11-12
Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen. Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
- Psalms 39:9
I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
- Psalms 39:2
I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
- John 1:29
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
- Matthew 26:62-63
And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
- Jeremiah 12:3
But thou, O Lord, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
- 1 Peter 1:19
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- 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 8:33
In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Acts 8:32 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y el lugar de la Escritura que leía, era éste: Como oveja á la muerte fué llevado; y como cordero mudo delante del que le trasquila, así no abrió su boca: |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Or le passage de l’écriture qu’il lisait était celui-ci: « Il a été mené comme une brebis à la boucherie; et comme un agneau, muet devant celui qui le tond, ainsi il n’ouvre point sa bouche; |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Die Stelle der Schrift aber, welche er las, war diese: "Er wurde wie ein Schaf zur Schlachtung geführt, und wie ein Lamm stumm ist vor seinem Scherer, also tut er seinen Mund nicht auf. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Locus autem Scripturæ quem legebat, erat hic: Tamquam ovis ad occisionem ductus est: et sicut agnus coram tondente se, sine voce, sic non aperuit os suum. |