After this encounter Peter and John extended their missionary labours to many other villages of the Samaritans[751] (Acts viii. 25), and then returned to Jerusalem. But other work was reserved for Philip, for a Divine intimation bade him go toward the south, along the road leading from Jerusalem to Gaza. Of the roads leading to this well-known city[752], one by Ramleh passed through town and villages; another, better adapted for carriages, through Hebron, and thence through a district comparatively little inhabited[753], and exposed to the incursions of southern marauders, whence it was called _desert_[754] (Acts viii. 26). The latter was the one which the heavenly Voice bade the Evangelist take, and as he traversed it, probably ignorant of the cause wherefore he was sent, he perceived a chariot, in which one sat reading as he rode. This was a man of Ethiopia[755], a eunuch, the chief officer of Candace, queen of Meröe, and steward of all her treasure, who had come up to worship at one of the Feasts at Jerusalem, and was now returning (Acts viii. 27, 28). Bidden by the heavenly Voice to join the Stranger, Philip quickened his steps, and presently overheard him reading aloud[756], probably in the Septuagint Version[757], the words of the prophet Isaiah (chap. liii. 6, 7): _He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened He not His mouth: in His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation? For His life is taken away from the earth._ _Understandest thou what thou readest?_ enquired Philip. _How can I_, answered the other, _unless some man should guide me?_ and he besought him to get up and sit down by his side. Then the conversation began. _I pray thee_, said the eunuch, _of whom is the prophet speaking this? of himself, or of some other man?_ Thereupon Philip opened his mouth, and told him who that “Man” was, and preached the glad tidings of Him, who died, and rose again, and ascended into heaven. As he went on, the eunuch was filled with an ardent desire to embrace the faith, and, being probably informed by Philip of the last command of his ascended Lord to the Apostles, on reaching a stream of water, enquired whether aught could hinder his being baptized? Thereupon the chariot was stayed[758], and the two went down to the water[759], and Philip baptized him, and then, either in consequence of some sudden inward summons or by a miraculous withdrawal, was instantly caught away, so that the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing (Acts viii. 39). Meanwhile Philip had passed on to Azotus, the ancient Ashdod[760], and thence evangelizing all the towns[761] in his way, and following the coast-line, proceeded to Cæsarea on the Sea[762] (Acts viii. 40). CHAPTER II. _THE CONVERSION OF ST PAUL._ A.D. 36 or 37‒A.D. 40.