What is…
Azotus

also known as: Ashdod, Eshdud

Azotus is the Greek name (Acts 8:40) of the city of Ashdod.

It was once a Philistine city (Joshua 15:47). It was located about midway between Gaza and Joppa (Jaffa), and 3 miles from the Mediterranean.

It was an important city, as it stood on the highroad from Egypt to Canaan (later the land of Israel), and therefore was strongly fortified.

Modern Ashdod—satellite view

So he [Philip] got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, and he was returning and sitting in his chariot [or carriage], and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” …

And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea. —Acts 8:27-29, 38-40 NASB

More information