“What doth hinder me to be baptized?”
The full verse · Acts 8:36 · KJV
they their , they a : the , , here is ; doth to be ?
Asked by
Ethiopian Eunuch: a man of Ethiopia "of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians," in charge of all her treasure, returning home from worship in Jerusalem (Acts 8:27-28), who has just heard Philip preach Jesus (Acts 8:35)
Asked to
Philip the Evangelist: one of the seven chosen in Jerusalem (Acts 6:5), who preached Christ in Samaria and was sent by the angel of the Lord to the desert road toward Gaza (Acts 8:5, 26)
The Scene
After Philip has preached Jesus from Isaiah, the chariot reaches some water along the road (Acts 8:35-36).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionThe eunuch had just heard Philip preach Jesus (Acts 8:35), and as soon as he saw water he wanted to be baptized. Philip had evidently taught him about baptism along the way. Barnes says the question "shows that he had been instructed by Philip on the nature and design of baptism." Gill agrees: "This question shows, that he had some knowledge of the ordinance of baptism, which he had received from the ministry and conversation of Philip." His question is eager. He is asking whether anything stands between him and obeying what he has just learned.
The Response
What Scripture recordsIn the KJV, Philip answers with a condition: "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." The eunuch replies, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). "He commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him" (Acts 8:38). Then "the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip," and the eunuch "went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:39). Nothing hindered him.
Historical Context
The world behind the words"Hinder" translates kolyo, to prevent or forbid. Acts 8:37, with Philip's condition and the eunuch's confession, is in the Textus Receptus behind the KJV. The ESV leaves it out of the main text and gives it in a footnote, explaining that some manuscripts add all or most of Acts 8:37. Barnes notes that the verse is missing in many manuscripts and has been rejected by many critics, though he comments on it as a statement of the proper qualification for a profession of faith. As for the water, Gill reports that some placed it at Bethhoron and others thought it was the river Eleutherus, and he thinks "the former is more likely"; Scripture itself calls it only "a certain water" (Acts 8:36).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThe surrounding story shows God removing barriers. The man was a foreigner from Ethiopia, yet God sent an angel, a Spirit-led evangelist, and the right passage of Scripture, all to bring him to Jesus (Acts 8:26-35). His question, "what doth hinder me?" is answered by the whole account: nothing that God has not already overcome.
Matthew Henry notes what followed: "As soon as he was baptized, the Spirit of God took Philip from him, so that he saw him no more; but this tended to confirm his faith." He goes on, "When the inquirer after salvation becomes acquainted with Jesus and his gospel, he will go on his way rejoicing." Henry adds a caution: water baptism "is not enough without the baptism of the Holy Ghost."
Look Closer
What prompted the eunuch to ask about baptism right then?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord, is there anything I think stands between me and wholehearted obedience to You, and how do You want me to answer it?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- What things do people sometimes think disqualify them from belonging fully to God's people?
- Tell about a baptism, yours or someone else's, that meant a lot to you, and why.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
The eunuch did not wait for a better moment. When he understood the gospel, he wanted to obey right away. If you have heard and believed, take the next step God shows you, and don't let delay or doubt about your worthiness hold you back.
Baptism is not a magic act. In the KJV, Philip's condition was about the heart: "If thou believest with all thine heart" (Acts 8:37). Matthew Henry's caution fits here: water alone "is not enough without the baptism of the Holy Ghost." The outward step follows real faith in Jesus. And the result is joy: the eunuch "went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:39).
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“How can I, except some man should guide me?”
“I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man?”
“Understandest thou what thou readest?”