Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 8:32

"Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:" — Acts 8:32 (ASV)

The place, etc. (Isaiah 53:7–8).

He was led, etc. This quotation is taken literally from the Septuagint. It varies very little from the Hebrew.

It has been almost universally understood that this passage refers to the Messiah, and Philip expressly applies it to Him.

The word "was led," hcyh, implies that He was conducted by others and that He was led as a sheep is led to be killed.

The general idea is that of meekness and submission when He was led to be put to death—a description that applies in a very striking manner to the Lord Jesus.

To the slaughter. To be killed. The characteristic here recorded is more remarkable in the sheep than in any other animal.

And like a lamb dumb, etc. Still, patient, unresisting.

So opened he not his mouth. He did not complain or murmur; He offered no resistance but yielded patiently to what was done by others.