Presumably, in his explanation of the good news, Philip had mentioned that those who recognize Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ should be baptized in his name as a visible and public mark of belonging and submission.1 Now the eunuch saw some water and, because he desired to identify with Jesus, he wondered whether or not he could be baptized.2 He knew that he was not Jewish, and so he was curious if there might be some barrier which prevents his identification with Jesus and reception of the blessings of his work.
36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”