The road from Jerusalem to Gaza
A place in the Bible
The road that went down from Jerusalem to Gaza, toward the south, through a desert area.
What happened here
- Philip: an angel told Philip to take that road. There he met an Ethiopian, a high official of the queen of Ethiopia, who was returning from worshiping God in Jerusalem.
- The man reading Isaiah: the Ethiopian was riding in his chariot reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading, and he proclaimed Jesus to him.
- The baptism: they came to a place with water, and Philip baptized him. The Ethiopian continued on his way full of joy.
Where it appears in the Bible
Acts 8:26-27; Acts 8:28-30; Acts 8:35; Acts 8:36; Acts 8:38-39
What the Bible says
Acts 8:26-27
26Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise, go towards the south, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem into Gaza: this is desert. 27And rising up, he went. And behold a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch, of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge over all her treasures, had come to Jerusalem to adore.
Acts 8:28-30
28And he was returning, sitting in this chariot, and reading Isaias the prophet. 29And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30And Philip running thither, heard him reading the prophet Isaias. And he said: Thinkest thou that thou understandest what thou readest?
Acts 8:35
Then Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached unto him Jesus.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Acts 8:26-39