Act 8:27 | TNotes | STEP | 8:27 In the ancient world, a eunuch was an official, typically castrated, who served in a royal court (see 2 Kgs 9:30-32 ; Esth 1:10 ; 2:3 , 14-15 , 21 ; 4:4-5 ). Eunuchs were often scorned by Jews because they could not perpetuate the covenant family, and the law of Moses excluded men who had damaged genitals from the assembly of Israel (Deut 23:1 ; cp. Lev 21:17-23 ), but Isaiah spoke of God’s acceptance of Gentiles and eunuchs (Isa 56:3-8 ; see also Matt 19:12 ). In the new covenant, all who have genuine faith have a place among the people of God. • The eunuch had traveled from Africa to Jerusalem to worship in the Temple, probably for one of the great Jewish festivals.

a8:27►

b2 Kgs 9:30-32►

cEsth 1:10►

d2:3►

e14-15►

f21►

g4:4-5►

hDeut 23:1►

iLev 21:17-23►

jIsa 56:3-8►

kMatt 19:12►

‏ Acts 8:27

8:27 ^a In the ancient world, a eunuch was an official, typically castrated, who served in a royal court (see 2 Kgs 9:30-32 ^b; Esth 1:10 ^c; 2:3 ^d, 14-15 ^e, 21 ^f; 4:4-5 ^g). Eunuchs were often scorned by Jews because they could not perpetuate the covenant family, and the law of Moses excluded men who had damaged genitals from the assembly of Israel (Deut 23:1 ^h; cp. Lev 21:17-23 ⁱ), but Isaiah spoke of God’s acceptance of Gentiles and eunuchs (Isa 56:3-8 ^j; see also Matt 19:12 ^k). In the new covenant, all who have genuine faith have a place among the people of God.

• The eunuch had traveled from Africa to Jerusalem to worship in the Temple, probably for one of the great Jewish festivals.