Why is Acts 8:37 omitted in some Bible translations? Passage Context Acts 8 records Philip’s Spirit-directed encounter with the Ethiopian official. Verse 36 ends with the eunuch asking, “What prevents me from being baptized?” Verse 38 shows Philip and the eunuch entering the water. Some English Bibles insert an intervening verse (v. 37): “And Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ He answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’” Other translations either bracket it or leave it out entirely. Patristic Witness No Greek Father before the late 4th century quotes Acts 8:37. It first surfaces in the writings of Pacian of Barcelona (c. AD 390) and later in Augustine (early 5th c.)—both of whom quote loosely from the Old Latin. Earlier Fathers who comment on Acts 8—e.g., Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, and Athanasius—move from v. 36 directly to v. 38 with no awareness of an intermediate verse. Likely Origin of the Verse As baptismal liturgies developed, catechumens were prompted to confess, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” A scribe—seeking to harmonize Luke’s narrative with this liturgical practice—probably inserted the confession as a marginal gloss that later copied into the text. The phrasing matches 1 Timothy 3:16 and 1 John 4:15, verses commonly used in early creed-forms. Translation History The verse entered the Greek Textus Receptus (1516 ff.) because Erasmus had only one late Greek manuscript (Minuscule 2817, 15th c.) for the end of Acts; that copy carried the gloss. The King James Version (1611) followed Erasmus, so English readers for centuries assumed the verse belonged. Modern eclectic editions (Nestle-Aland, Tyndale House, SBL GNT) rely on broader evidence and therefore omit or bracket it. The Berean Standard Bible prints it in the footnote: “36b … 37And Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ The eunuch answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’38 …” Theological Implications 1. Doctrine of Baptism: Faith preceding baptism is taught abundantly elsewhere (Acts 2:41; 10:43-48; 16:30-34), so omitting v. 37 removes no Christian teaching. 2. Christology: The confession “Jesus Christ is the Son of God” is preserved in Matthew 16:16, John 20:31, and 1 John 5:5 without textual question. 3. Inerrancy: Inerrancy applies to the original autographs, not later scribal additions. Identifying and excluding secondary material protects, rather than undermines, inerrancy. Consistency with Scripture All four Gospels present pre-baptismal confession (Mark 1:5 with repentance; Acts 2:38 with faith). Thus, Luke could omit the actual words here without endangering doctrine, just as he elsewhere condenses speeches (cf. Acts 2:40). Answering Skeptical Objections Objection: “If scribes added verses, how can any verse be trusted?” Response: Exactly because the overwhelming manuscript evidence can expose late additions, we can isolate and remove them. The agreement of thousands of witnesses on 99% of Acts demonstrates the textual stability of Scripture (cf. Daniel Wallace, “The Robust Reliability of the New Testament Text,” 2014). Objection: “Omission shows translators tamper with the Bible.” Response: Translators do not cut doctrine; they present the autograph as faithfully as humanly possible. The same commitment to accuracy also preserves miracles, the deity of Christ, and the resurrection in every orthodox translation. Why Some Bibles Retain or Bracket the Verse • Retain: NKJV, MEV, kjv-family versions follow the Textus Receptus for ecclesiastical continuity. • Bracket or Footnote: ESV, NASB, NIV, CSB, LSB, NET, NLT, because the earliest and best witnesses omit it. Scholarly integrity requires transparency, so modern editions alert readers in footnotes. Practical Application 1. Confidence in Scripture: Apparent omissions actually demonstrate the precision with which God’s word has been preserved; we can identify even a single post-apostolic sentence. 2. Evangelism: The eunuch’s conversion still features confession of Christ (implied in v. 36 and explicit in v. 38’s immediate action). Use the narrative to proclaim that faith in the risen Jesus and public identification through baptism remain essential today. 3. Discipleship: Encourage believers to compare translations, consult footnotes, and deepen trust in the Spirit’s superintendence of both inspiration and preservation (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:24-25). Conclusion Acts 8:37’s absence from early Greek manuscripts, silence in the earliest Fathers, and sudden appearance in later liturgical contexts compel scholars—pro-Bible and otherwise—to view it as a well-intentioned gloss. Responsible translations either omit or bracket it, but the doctrine it expresses is thoroughly biblical. God’s word stands unshaken; rigorous textual study only illuminates its reliability and the unchanging gospel: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). |
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