Philip, one of the seven men chosen to serve, had been teaching in Samaria. An angel told him to go south to the desert road that ran from Jerusalem to Gaza. He arose and went.
On the road was an important official from Ethiopia, the treasurer of the queen, riding home in his chariot after worshipping in Jerusalem. He was reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit told Philip to go near, so Philip ran to the chariot and asked, “Understandest thou what thou readest?” The man answered, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” He was reading Isaiah’s words about a lamb led to the slaughter. Philip began with that scripture and taught him about Jesus. When they came to water, the man asked to be baptized. Philip baptized him, and the man went on his way rejoicing.
Who’s who
Philip: one of the seven chosen to serve the Church
The Ethiopian: a treasurer of Candace, queen of Ethiopia
An angel: a messenger who sent Philip to the road
Where and when
The desert road from Jerusalem toward Gaza, soon after the Church began to spread beyond Jerusalem.
Watch for the Savior
Watch how one scripture in Isaiah leads to Jesus, and how the Lord guides Philip to one person.
Eight stops from Jerusalem down the desert road. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
Part 2 of 7
The story, plainly
Four scenes: the angel, the chariot, the scripture and the water. Look for the Savior in each one.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
Acts 8:27 “an Meaning: here, a trusted royal servant and official. of great authority”
Acts 8:27 “Meaning: a title for the queens of Ethiopia. queen of the Ethiopians”
Acts 8:28 “read Meaning: Isaiah; Esaias is the Greek form of his name. the prophet”
Acts 8:32 “like a lamb dumb before his Meaning: the person who cuts a sheep’s wool.”
Acts 8:33 “who shall Meaning: tell about, describe. his generation?”
Part 3 of 7
Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from prophets. Each card says which.
0 of 9 turned
All nine. The desert road, the chariot, Isaiah, the lamb, the guide, the water, the Spirit, the run and the rejoicing. Acts 8:26–40
Part 4 of 7
Where are you?
Reading but not understanding, ready to guide, held back, or going on rejoicing. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
Your choice is saved only on this device.
Try it
Ride along
Follow Philip down the desert road, one stop at a time. A light goes ahead of you, and the trail you’ve traveled stays on the map. Near the end, you choose.
“Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.” Acts 8:29
Part 5 of 7
Their world, their words
A little background helps us see who was on that road. Outside sources are labeled.
Church resource · Bible Dictionary
Philip, one of the seven
The Bible Dictionary: Philip was “one of the seven; an evangelist,” who “preaches at Samaria, and to the Ethiopian eunuch.”5
Not the Apostle Philip, but one of the seven chosen to serve.
Church resource · Bible Dictionary
Far to the south
Ancient Ethiopia, also called Cush, “extended from Syene on the frontier of Egypt southward to the neighborhood of Khartoum.”6
He had traveled a very long way to worship.
Church resource · Seminary manual
A trusted servant
The seminary manual explains that “a eunuch is a trusted servant.” He had “the charge of all her treasure.”41
He was an important official of the queen.
Scripture · Isaiah 53
The verse he was reading
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter.”2
Isaiah 53 is a prophecy of the Savior’s suffering.
Word study · Greek
hodēgeō ὁδηγέω · “guide” (Acts 8:31)
Bible Hub: “To lead, to guide, to show the way.”7Outside · lexicon
He asked for someone to show the way, and Philip “preached unto him Jesus.”1
Word study · Greek
chairō χαίρω · “rejoicing” (Acts 8:39)
Bible Hub: “Rejoice, be glad, be joyful.”8Outside · lexicon
He went home glad. Elder Soares connects this joy to coming to know the Savior.3
What the text does not say
The story does not say the man was foolish for not understanding. He was humble enough to ask. Elder Soares teaches that sometimes we are like the Ethiopian and sometimes like Philip.3
Part 6 of 7
Look to Him
Every scripture can lead us to Jesus. Philip began with one verse in Isaiah and “preached unto him Jesus.”
Elder Ulisses Soares: “How can I [understand], except some man should guide me?”
Elder Ulisses Soares, “How Can I Understand?,” April 20193
“We are sometimes like the Ethiopian—we need the help of a faithful and inspired teacher; and we are sometimes like Philip—we need to teach and strengthen others in their conversion.”
“The question asked by this Ethiopian man is a reminder of the divine mandate we all have to seek to learn and to teach one another the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
Philip and the Ethiopian is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for July 5–11, 2027 (Acts 6–9).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The story is told in Acts 8:26–40, with the passage from Isaiah 53; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
