Acts 8:26-40

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Comparative texts about Baptism: Water & Spirit from DSS, Josephus, Babylonian Talmud. At (Rutgers University Dept of Religion) Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus companion to the historical study of Christian texts.
  • III.XII.8, IV.XXIII.2, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter IV, Chapter XVIII, On Baptism,  Tertullian (c. 198)
  • I.10, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • II.1, Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius of Caesarea, (c. 320).
  • Chapter XIV, Historia Calamitatusm: The Story of My Misfortunes, Pierre Abélard / Peter Abelard, c. 1140.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "Christ, who calls freely whom he wishes, now uses Philip, who was not thinking about any such thing, to unexpectedly instruct and baptize the eunuch, and by this means extends the limits of his kingdom even into Ethiopia."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Sometimes God opens a door of opportunity to his ministers in very unlikely places."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Chief officers were anciently called eunuchs, though not always literally such; because such used to be chief ministers in the eastern courts."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "Eunuchs were generally employed for confidential offices in the East, and to some extent are still."     
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "This mutilated class of men often rose to great power in Oriental countries. This one was the royal treasurer."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Acts 8:26-40, Richard Jensen, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "The story of our text raises the issue clearly: who is worthy to be baptized? An Ethiopian eunuch, that's who. The last person in the world one would expect to be baptized."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • Commentary, Acts 8:26-40, Peter J. Paris, The African American Lectionary, 2009.
    • "God has always provided a liberation movement that can be seen in the Gospel."
  • "Suffering Servants," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Suffering," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2005.
  • "The Word Goes Where It Will," Paul Bellan-Boyer, City Called Heaven, 2009.
    • "The eunuch could never be a “full member"... Yet what is impossible with humans is possible with God."
  • "Unless Someone Guides Me," William Brosend, The Christian Century, 2000.
    • "THE FIRST CHURCH of St. John, or 'the community of the beloved disciple,' as the late Raymond Brown called it, seems a lot like the church around the corner when you read between the lines. Some of the faithful sound a little too sure of themselves. Others confuse the talk with the walk. Some members get mad and leave the church."
  • Acts 8:26-40, Acts and the Easter Season, Donald Juel, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1985.
  • "Philip and the Ethiopian," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "When the gospel comes and is received, there is great joy."
• Articles & Background:
  • "How Does Luke Portray Jesus as Servant of YHWH?" R.F. O'Toole, Biblica 81 (2000). 
    • "Acts 8,32-33 summarize Jesus' passion during which Luke views Jesus as the Servant and thus humble, innocent and silent. As the Servant Jesus is also risen and active."
  • "Reading the Painterly Text: Clarence Major's 'The Slave Trade: View from the Middle Passage'," Linda Furgerson Selzer, African American Review, 1999.
    • "According to Devisse, illustrations of the baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch, like the one in Figure 3 from the early sixteenth century, became popular in Western art from the third century on (2.1: 21). Devisse attributes the popularity of the Eunuch as a visual theme primarily to the rich theological implications he held for Christians as the first non-Jew to be brought into the Christian economy of salvation."
  • "Acts 8:26-40: Ideology of Individuals and Groups," from "Examples of Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation in the Acts of the Apostles" at Dr. Vernon Robbins' Encyclopedia of Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation.
    • "In Martin's interpretation, then, there is concern about boundaries that nurture a 'politics of omission' and a plea for interpreters to bring to light the ways in which both the texts we interpret and the methods we use to interpret them marginalize, exclude and hide persons, groups and ideologies."
  • "Blacks in the Bible," Lisa C. Jones, Ebony, 1994.
    • "Although there is evidence that Blacks were major contributors in ancient, biblical times, religious scholars say the major point is that the Bible depicted a multicultural world."
  • Eunuchs: "Let Him Accept it Who Can," from And Adam Knew Eve: A Dictionary of Sex in the Bible by Ronald L. Ecker.
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  • Bell, John L., "God's Good Gift," Journal for Preachers, 2006. Sermon.
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  • Brosend, William, "Unless Someone Guides Me," The Christian Century, 2000.
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  • Brueggemann, Walter, "Dialogue between Incommensurate Partners: Prospects for Common Testimony," Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 2001.
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  • Carson, Cottrel R., "Acts 8:37 - A Textual Reexamination," Union Seminary Quarterly Review, 1997.
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  • Das, A Andrew, "Acts 8: Water, Baptism, and the Spirit," Concordia Journal, 1993.
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  • Felder, Cain Hope, "The Bible, Black Women and Ministry," Journal of the Interdenominational Theological Center, 1984-85.
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  • Grassi, Joseph A., M.M., "Emmaus Revisited (Luke 24:13-35 and Acts 8:26-40)," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1964.
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  • Juel, Donald, "Acts and the Easter Season," Word & World, 1985. (Section on this text begins on p. 211)
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  • Martin, Clarice J., "A Chamberlain's Journey and the Challenge of Interpretation for Liberation," Semeia, 1989.
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  • Myers, William H., "No Risks, No Rewards," Journal of Religious Thought, 1992.
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  • O'Toole, S.J., R.F., "Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:25-40)," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1983.
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  • Rice, Richard J., "Breaking Down Barriers," The Living Pulpit, 1997.
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  • Rosica, Thomas M., "The Road to Emmaus and the Road to Gaza: Luke 24:13-35 and Acts 8:26-40," Worship, 1994.
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  • Smith, Abraham, "'Do You Understand What You Are Reading?': A Literary Critical Reading of the Ethiopian (Kushite) Episode (Acts 8:26-40)," Journal of the Interdenominational Theological Center, 1994.
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  • Strelan, Rick, "The Running Prophet (Acts 8:30)," Novum Testamentum, 2001.
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  • Williamson, Clark M., "The Eunuch's Evocative Question: A Sermon Preached in Sweeny Chapel," Encounter, 1998.
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• Reviews:
  • Yamauchi, Edwin, Africa and the Bible. Baker Academic, 2004. Review by Grant LeMarquand, Anglican Theological Review, 2005.
• Sermons:
  • "Telling the Story by Heart," John Wimmer, Faith & Leadership, 2009.
  • "The Inner Guiding Light," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington - Sermons from Seattle.
  • "Do You Really Understand What You Are Reading?" the Rev. Dr. Anna Carter Florence, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2004.
  • "A Crucial Crossing," the Rev. Dr. Stephanie Weiner, Day 1, 2003.
  • "Where Will the Holy Spirit Take Us Next?" the Rev. Dr. Martha Page Greene, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2000.
  • "Could you Be Wrong about God?" the Rev. Craig Barnes, Day 1, 2000.
  • "The Eunuch's Evocative Question: A Sermon Preached in Sweeny Chapel," Clark M. Williamson, Encounter, 1998.
• With Children:
  • "Philip Baptizes an Ethiopian," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "Philip and the Ethiopian," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Drama:
  • "Philip and the Official," Dan Wilson, dramatix.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • Clip Art: Philip and the Ethiopian, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
  • Leading a Goat to the Slaughter, Safety Lamb, Reverend Fun Cartoon, gospelcom.net. Check for printing permissions at right-hand side of destination page.
• Hymns and Music:
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Ethiopian Eunuch
• Movies Listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Conversion
  • Clean/Unclean
  • Baptism
  • Call
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Acts