Acts 8:37 - Authentic?

I certainly do not question the validity of the statement found in the KJV of Acts 8:37. The eunuch from Ethiopia has asked Philip what hinders him from being baptized? In all likelihood there was a response from Philip about belief/faith, repentance, confession, etc. I'm also sure much more discussion took place between the two fellows than is recorded for us by Luke in Acts 8:26-40. However, when we examine the textual evidence for Acts 8:37 we find that the oldest and best manuscripts of the Greek New Testament lack the verse. It is not found in any Greek manuscript before the 6th century A.D. Dr. Neil R. Lightfoot comments:

"Another passage of interest is found in Acts 8:37. The King James translation of this verse reads, 'And Philip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' These words are represented as part of a conversation between Philip the Evangelist and the eunuch at the time of the eunuch's baptism. These are familiar words stressing the importance of faith in Jesus Christ. Yet the words are not found in the American Standard Version or the Revised Standard Version. These and other recent translations, on the basis of evidence, are compelled to omit theis verse from the Book of Acts. It is true that a sixth century uncial, some good minuscule manuscripts, and the Old Latin Version support the verse, but practically all the other manuscripts and versions stand opposed to it. Because no Greek manuscript earlier than the sixth century knows of this reading, beyond doubt it could not have formed a part of the original account of Acts." {Source: "How We Got the Bible" by Neil R. Lightfoot, Third Edition, 2003, pages 99-100}

I was preaching about this text last evening and asked those in attendance if it was possible that something similar to Acts 8:37 was actually said by Philip. Most responded with a shaking of the head yes, or either answering affirmatively, and I agree. It is possible, and quite likely that Philip responded to the eunuch by telling him what he needed to do before baptism (belief, repentance, confession) but we can't just insert words into the text on the possible words of Philip. 

For example, we find that the Jailor asked Paul in Acts 16:30 what he needed to do to be saved. Paul's response was to believe in Yeshua (Acts 16:31), but the text goes on to say that after this response they spoke the message of the Lord to the Jailor. What was included in the message of the Lord? Many things I'm sure, but it would not be correct for us to insert a few verses in the text relying on the possibility of Paul teaching the Jailor about the death, burial and resurrection.

There is nothing unorthodox about Acts 8:37 as found in the KJV. And, contrary to many staunch KJV ONLY advocates, the newer versions of Scripture like the ASV, RSV, or NIV are not trying to diminish from the person of Christ. There are many other verses in these newer versions of the Bible that show one must believe Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of Yahweh (see Matthew 16:13-18 and 1 John 4:15).

Matthew Janzen