The Meaning of Acts 8:31 Explained

Acts 8:31

KJV: And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

YLT: and he said, 'Why, how am I able, if some one may not guide me?' he called Philip also, having come up, to sit with him.

Darby: And he said, How should I then be able unless some one guide me? And he begged Philip to come up and sit with him.

ASV: And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  he said,  How  can I,  except  some man  should guide  me?  And  he desired  Philip  that he would come up  and sit  with  him. 

What does Acts 8:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 8:26-40 - Winning A Traveler
From the great city revival in Samaria Philip was led to the desert to minister to one seeking soul. It seems strange that God should be able to spare him from his busy and fruitful ministry in Samaria; but probably the comparative retirement was needed for soul and body after the strain of that successful campaign. How certain these Spirit-filled men were of the heavenly impulse! Every appearance suggested that this man of God was needed in the city, but the inner voice was the deciding factor, and his journey was so timed as to bring him in contact with a soul that was groping its way toward Christ.
The Bible is good as a traveling companion. Take it on your journeys. Read it as other men do their newspapers; not exclusively but boldly. There are many stories afloat of bullets being stopped by pocket Testaments; and it is certain that many a desperate thrust of the devil has been warded off by the Word of God being hidden in the heart and worn as a breastplate. Live in touch with God, and He will put you in touch with souls. This conversion of a son of Ham was a worthy fulfillment of Isaiah 56:3-8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 8

1  By occasion of the persecution in Jerusalem, the church being planted in Samaria,
4  by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracles, and baptized many;
9  among the rest Simon the sorcerer, a great seducer of the people;
14  Peter and John come to confirm and enlarge the church;
15  where, by prayer and imposition of hands giving the Holy Spirit;
18  when Simon would have bought the like power of them,
20  Peter sharply reproving his hypocrisy and covetousness,
22  and exhorting him to repentance,
25  together with John preaching the word of the Lord, return to Jerusalem;
26  but the angel sends Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian Eunuch

Greek Commentary for Acts 8:31

How can I, except some one shall guide me? [Πως γαρ αν δυναιμην εαν με τις οδηγησει με]
This is a mixed condition, the conclusion coming first belongs to the fourth class (undetermined with less likelihood of being determined) with αν — an and the optative, but the condition (εαν — ean instead of the usual ει — ei and the future indicative) is of the first class (determined or fulfilled. Robertson, Grammar, p. 1022), a common enough phenomenon in the Koiné. The eunuch felt the need of some one to guide (οδηγεω — hodēge from οδηγος — hodēgos guide, and that from οδος — hodos way, and εγεομαι — hegeomai to lead). [source]
How can I [πῶς γὰρ ἂν δυναίμην]
Lit., for how should I be able? the for connecting the question with an implied negative: “No; for how could I understand except,” etc. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 8:31

Luke 19:40 If these shall hold their peace [εαν ουτοι σιωπησουσιν]
A condition of the first class, determined as fulfilled. The use of εαν — ean rather than ει — ei cuts no figure in the case (See note on Acts 8:31; note on 1 Thessalonians 3:8; and the note on 1 John 5:15). The kind of condition is determined by the mode which is here indicative. The future tense by its very nature does approximate the aorist subjunctive, but after all it is the indicative. [source]
1 John 5:15 And if we know [και εαν οιδαμεν]
Condition of first class with εαν — ean (usually ει — ei) and the perfect active indicative, assumed as true. See 1 Thessalonians 3:8; Acts 8:31 for the indicative with εαν — ean as in the papyri. “An amplification of the second limitation” (D. Smith). [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 8:31 mean?

- And he said How for - could I be able if not someone will guide me He invited then - Philip having come up to sit with him
δὲ εἶπεν Πῶς γὰρ ἂν δυναίμην ἐὰν μή τις ὁδηγήσει με παρεκάλεσέν τε τὸν Φίλιππον ἀναβάντα καθίσαι σὺν αὐτῷ

  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εἶπεν  he  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Πῶς  How 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πῶς  
Sense: how, in what way.
ἂν  - 
Parse: Particle
Root: ἄν  
Sense: has no exact English equivalent, see definitions under AV.
δυναίμην  could  I  be  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Optative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
τις  someone 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ὁδηγήσει  will  guide 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ὁδηγέω  
Sense: to be a guide, lead on one’s way, to guide.
με  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
παρεκάλεσέν  He  invited 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: παρακαλέω  
Sense: to call to one’s side, call for, summon.
τὸν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Φίλιππον  Philip 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Φίλιππος  
Sense: an apostle of Christ.
ἀναβάντα  having  come  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀναβαίνω  
Sense: ascend.
καθίσαι  to  sit 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: καθίζω  
Sense: to make to sit down.