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Texts are listed below for reference. Acts written in Greek and the Septuagint (LXX) are word for word the same but is this enough evidence to say the Ethiopian read from the LXX. Phillip probably could read both. The Ethiopian probably could read Greek, but the Ethiopian language was a semitic language similar to Hebrew. Is this a dead-end question, or is there more evidence to answer this question?
Do we know if a Gentile was allowed to own an Isaiah scroll in Hebrew? That would point to an LXX Isaiah scroll. Judaism did get to the point of not allowing the scriptures to be touched by human hands, but this probably occurred after the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D.
Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
(Acts 8:32–33, ESV)
ὡς πρόβατον ἐπὶ σφαγὴν ἤχθη
καὶ ὡς ἀμνὸς ἐναντίον τοῦ κείραντος αὐτὸν ἄφωνος,
οὕτως οὐκ ἀνοίγει τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ.
Ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει °[αὐτοῦ] ἡ κρίσις αὐτοῦ ἤρθη
τὴν γενεὰν αὐτοῦ τίς διηγήσεται;
ὅτι αἴρεται ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἡ ζωὴ αὐτοῦ.
(Acts 8:32b–33, NA28)
ὡς πρόβατον ἐπὶ σφαγὴν ἤχθη
καὶ ὡς ἀμνὸς ἐναντίον τοῦ κείροντος αὐτὸν ἄφωνος
οὕτως οὐκ ἀνοίγει τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ.
ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει ἡ κρίσις αὐτοῦ ἤρθη,
τὴν γενεὰν αὐτοῦ τίς διηγήσεται;
ὅτι αἴρεται ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἡ ζωὴ αὐτοῦ,
(Isa. 53:7–8, LXX)
כַּשֶּׂה֙ לַטֶּ֣בַח
יוּבָ֔ל וּכְרָחֵ֕ל לִפְנֵ֥י גֹזְזֶ֖יהָ נֶאֱלָ֑מָה
וְלֹ֥א יִפְתַּ֖ח פִּֽיו׃
מֵעֹ֤צֶר וּמִמִּשְׁפָּט֙ לֻקָּ֔ח
וְאֶת־דּוֹרֹ֖ו מִ֣י יְשׂוֹחֵ֑חַ
כִּ֤י נִגְזַר֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּ֔ים
(Isa 53:7–8, BHS2006)
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
(Isa. 53:7b–8a, ESV)
Like a sheep being led to slaughter,
Like a ewe, dumb before those who shear her,
He did not open his mouth.
By oppressive judgment he was taken away,
Who could describe his abode?
For he was cut off from the land of the living
(Isa. 53:7b–8a, JPS1985)
Anonymous
Septuagint of course!
Anonymous
Philip Williams says WHO and HOW so?
Anonymous
Troy Day Greek was the lingua franca of the Hellenistic period and widely used then even in Judea. Philip was himself also Greek speaking.
Anonymous
My dear friend, the late Peter Flint, scholar assigned to the biblical manuscripts of the Dead Sea Scrolls, including interestingly, the Great Isaiah Scroll, finds that the DSS texts align mostly with the Septuagint. Emmanuel Tov has the same opinion.
Anonymous
Philip Williams Texts are listed in the post for reference. Acts written in Greek and the Septuagint (LXX) are word for word the same but is this enough evidence to say the Ethiopian read from the LXX. Phillip probably could read both. The Ethiopian probably could read Greek, but the Ethiopian language was a semitic language similar to Hebrew. Is this a dead-end question, or is there more evidence to answer this question?
Anonymous
Troy Day this language was too different from Hebrew for that to be a factor. The eunuch’s native language would be Egyptian demotic.
Anonymous
Philip Williams do you know if that is a precursor to Amharic? 
Anonymous
Troy Day both Greek and Amharic are written left to right… 
Anonymous
Neil Steven Lawrence I am neither a linguist nor a historical philologist. I know just enough to be dangerous.
Anonymous
Philip Williams my current missions message, that I am preaching in churches now is called:
Be Dangerous 
Anonymous
whatever the eunuch read, he would have read whats out at the time which would be the OT.
I dont really care about what version.
Anonymous
John Digsby SO you basically DONT Know once again as it seems
Anonymous
Troy Day its irrelevant information.
OT is all ya gotta know.
the rest is just another gnosis distraction.