26Then an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Rise and go along the southern road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza. This road is deserted.27So he rose and went, and behold, there was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, a ruler under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship.28He was returning and sitting in his chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.29The Spirit said to Philip, Go near and stay close to this chariot.30Philip ran up, heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Do you understand what you are reading?31He said, How can I, unless someone guides me? And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.32The passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: Like a sheep he was led to slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth.33In his humiliation justice was taken away. Who will describe his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.34The eunuch answered Philip and said, I ask you, about whom does the prophet speak this, about himself or about someone else?35Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he proclaimed Jesus to him.36As they went along the road they came upon some water, and the eunuch said, Look, water! What prevents me from being baptized?37And Philip said, "If you believe from the whole heart, it is permitted." And answering, he said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."38He ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no longer, for he went on his way rejoicing.40Philip was found at Azotus, and as he passed through he proclaimed the good news to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.