Acts 8:26

King James Version (KJV)

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

Translations

Acts 8:26 - Amplified Bible

But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Rise and proceed southward {or} at midday on the road that runs from Jerusalem down to Gaza. This is the desert [route].

Acts 8:26 - American Standard Version

But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert.

Acts 8:26 - Bible in Basic English

But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Get up, and go to the south, to the road which goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, through the waste land.

Acts 8:26 - Darby Bible

But [the] angel of [the] Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Rise up and go southward on the way which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza: the same is desert.

Acts 8:26 - English Standard Version

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place.

Acts 8:26 - King James Version

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

Acts 8:26 - La Biblia de las Americas

Un ángel del Señor hablò a Felipe, diciendo: Levántate y ve hacia el sur, al camino que desciende de Jerusalén a Gaza. (Este es un camino desierto.)

Acts 8:26 - The Message

Later God’s angel spoke to Philip: "At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza." He got up and went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road. The eunuch had been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was returning to Ethiopia, where he was minister in charge of all the finances of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.

Acts 8:26 - New American Standard Bible

But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert {road.})

Acts 8:26 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Un ángel del Señor le dijo a Felipe: "Levántate y ve hacia el sur, al camino que desciende de Jerusalén a Gaza." Este es un camino desierto.

Acts 8:26 - World English Bible

But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert."

Acts 8:26 - Young's Living Translation

And a messenger of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, `Arise, and go on toward the south, on the way that is going down from Jerusalem to Gaza,` -- this is desert.

Acts 8:26 - Additional Comments

Though angels were not used to preach the gospel, they were often used to carry messages to ministers for advice, encouragement, and aid, as in Acts 5:19.
Philip had returned to Jerusalem (vs 25). He was to head south from there, to pick up this road that goes between Jerusalem and Gaza. Gaza is on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, southwest from Jerusalem. This road through Gaza was the trade route down into Egypt and Ethiopia. This road was mostly through the desert, so it was mostly deserted and barren, causing a difficult trip.
The eunuch (vs 27) was traveling on this road from Jerusalem to Gaza after worshipping in Jerusalem.
Those whose desire is to follow God can be confident that God will be directing them to where He can use them. Philip was told to go, not knowing who or what was in store for Him, just that God had plans to minister through him. He did not hesitate to go (vs 27), trusting God to reveal where he was to minister. As God directs our steps and places us in various circumstances, we should look forward with anticipation to how He plans to minister through us.
We may also be tempted to question why God would be sending us to such a bizarre location or circumstance, but we need to trust that God has His divine plans for us. Philip was sent into a seemingly barren and forsaken area, yet he ran into the precise person God had planned for Him to minister to.

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