Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 8:30

"And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?" — Acts 8:30 (ASV)

And Philip ran, etc. This indicates his haste and his desire to obey the suggestions of the Spirit. A thousand difficulties might have arisen in Philip’s mind if he had reflected a little. The eunuch was a stranger; he had the appearance of a man of rank; he was engaged in reading; he might have been unwilling to be interrupted or to converse.

But Philip obeyed the promptings of the Spirit without any hesitation and ran to him. It is good to follow the first suggestions of the Spirit, to yield to the clear indications of duty, and to perform it at once. Especially in an act of benevolence, and in conversing with others on the subject of religion, our first thoughts are commonly safest and best.

If we do not follow them, the calculations of avarice, fear, or worldly prudence are very likely to interfere. We become alarmed; we are afraid of the rich and the great; and we suppose that our conversation and admonitions will be unacceptable. We may learn from this case:

1. To do our duty at once, without hesitation or debate.
2. We will often be disappointed regarding subjects of this kind. We will find candid, humble, Christian conversation far more acceptable to strangers, to the rich, and to the great, than we commonly suppose. If, as in this case, they are alone; if we approach them kindly; if we do not rudely and harshly address them, we will find most people willing to talk on the subject of religion. I have conversed with some hundreds of people on the subject of religion, and I now recollect only two instances in which I was rudely treated, and in which it was not easy to gain respectful and kind attention to Christian conversation.

And heard him read. He was reading aloud—sometimes the best way of impressing truth on the mind in our private reading of the Scriptures.

And said, etc. There might have been reason to fear that this question would not be kindly received. But the eunuch’s mind was in such a state that he took no offence from such an inquiry, though made by a man on foot and a stranger. He doubtless recognized him as a brother Jew. It is an important question to ask ourselves when we read the sacred Scriptures.