Acts 8:32-35

Philip responded to the eunuch’s perplexity by explaining how Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy of the Suffering Servant.

". . . there is no evidence that anyone in pre-Christian Judaism ever thought of the Messiah in terms of a Suffering Servant." [Note: Longenecker, p. 364.]

Most of the Jews regarded Isaiah 52:13 to Isaiah 53:12 as referring to their nation or to the Gentile nations. Jesus quoted Isaiah 53 as finding fulfillment in His passion (Luke 22:37). Philip followed Jesus’ interpretation and from this passage proceeded to preach Jesus to the eunuch.

This is an excellent example of the Spirit of God using the Word of God through a man of God to bring salvation to the elect of God (cf. 1 Peter 1:23-25). Note also the parallels between this story and the one in Luke 24 about Jesus walking with two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

"There is evidence that Luke has very carefully structured his narrative [of Philip’s ministry to the Ethiopian eunuch] in the form of a chiasm. Acts 8:32-35, the citation of Isaiah 53:7-8, are at the heart of the passage and serve as its hinge." [Note: Witherington, p. 292.]