Acts 8:36

34 “Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”

35 Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”

38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”
KJV
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?
WEB
As they went on the way, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”
ASV
And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
DARBY
And as they went along the way, they came upon a certain water, and the eunuch says, Behold water; what hinders my being baptised?
BLB
And as they were going along the road, they came upon some water, and the eunuch says, “Behold, water! What prevents my being baptized?”
ÅB
Og som de dro fram på veien, kom de til et sted hvor det var vann, og hoffmannen sa: Se, her er vann; hva er til hinder for at jeg blir døpt?
OTB
Mens de reiste langs veien, kom de til noe vann, og evnukken sa: "Se, her er vann. Hva hindrer meg i å bli døpt?"
B1930
Og som de drog frem på veien, kom de til et sted hvor det var vann, og hoffmannen sa: Se, her er vann; hvad er til hinder for at jeg blir døpt?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Acts 10:47

    “Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!”

    Read in context
  • John 3:5

    Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

    Read in context
  • John 3:23

    Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized.

    Read in context
  • Titus 3:5–6

    He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

    Read in context
  • 1 John 5:6

    This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 36:25

    I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.

    Read in context