Acts 8:26-40 NIV
Philip and the Ethiopian 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."
27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a]eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.
29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.
31 "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."[b]
34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?"
35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"[c]
38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Yesterday we talked about Philip ministering in Samaria. We also talked about Simon and that he became a believer but then sinned. I think the main thing to learn from that Scripture is to just keep on preaching the Gospel. In this Scripture (Acts 8:26-40), God sent Philip to the desert. Philip wasn't sure what was going to happen but he obeyed God and went down the road. There was an appointed place and time for Philip to meet an Ethiopian man, who was actually the Queen's treasurer; a high ranking man in his kingdom. The Holy Spirit quickened him to follow the chariot until he had an opportunity to speak with this man. This man had gone up to worship God in Jerusalem. He could have been born a Jew or maybe he was just following the Jewish religion and was reading the Scriptures. The Ethiopian man was reading the Book of Isaiah and Philip had an opportunity to ask him if he understood what he was reading. This man said to Philip that he needed someone to guide him through this Book. Even though he was a high ranking man in his kingdom, he didn't get upset with Philip for interrupting him. He said he wasn't sure how to interpret what he was reading and was glad that someone was willing to help him understand. He was thirsty for the Word. Philip spoke boldly and confidently and preached the Gospel to this man. The prophecy of Isaiah was about Jesus. Philip explained that this Scripture was referring to Jesus. This man had questions and Philip answered and went back and forth until the man requested to be baptized and he confessed his faith. I think that this man probably went back to his country and preached the Gospel there.
Many times the Holy Spirit prompts us to go somewhere off our trail for an appointed place and time. Will we be obedient like Philip? My prayer is that we all will and that someone will be touched and transformed. There is nothing more rewarding then to lead someone to Christ. I encourage you to be aware at all times where God wants you to go; listen to the Holy Spirit. We have to be willing to listen and obey what He is telling us to do for the sake of His Gospel. We cannot force someone to come to know Jesus but we can be ready to tell them about Him and to answer any questions they may have about what we believe in. Be ready!
Yesterday we talked about Philip ministering in Samaria. We also talked about Simon and that he became a believer but then sinned. I think the main thing to learn from that Scripture is to just keep on preaching the Gospel. In this Scripture (Acts 8:26-40), God sent Philip to the desert. Philip wasn't sure what was going to happen but he obeyed God and went down the road. There was an appointed place and time for Philip to meet an Ethiopian man, who was actually the Queen's treasurer; a high ranking man in his kingdom. The Holy Spirit quickened him to follow the chariot until he had an opportunity to speak with this man. This man had gone up to worship God in Jerusalem. He could have been born a Jew or maybe he was just following the Jewish religion and was reading the Scriptures. The Ethiopian man was reading the Book of Isaiah and Philip had an opportunity to ask him if he understood what he was reading. This man said to Philip that he needed someone to guide him through this Book. Even though he was a high ranking man in his kingdom, he didn't get upset with Philip for interrupting him. He said he wasn't sure how to interpret what he was reading and was glad that someone was willing to help him understand. He was thirsty for the Word. Philip spoke boldly and confidently and preached the Gospel to this man. The prophecy of Isaiah was about Jesus. Philip explained that this Scripture was referring to Jesus. This man had questions and Philip answered and went back and forth until the man requested to be baptized and he confessed his faith. I think that this man probably went back to his country and preached the Gospel there.
Many times the Holy Spirit prompts us to go somewhere off our trail for an appointed place and time. Will we be obedient like Philip? My prayer is that we all will and that someone will be touched and transformed. There is nothing more rewarding then to lead someone to Christ. I encourage you to be aware at all times where God wants you to go; listen to the Holy Spirit. We have to be willing to listen and obey what He is telling us to do for the sake of His Gospel. We cannot force someone to come to know Jesus but we can be ready to tell them about Him and to answer any questions they may have about what we believe in. Be ready!
