LESSON SEVEN

THE ETHIOPIAN OFFICIAL

ACTS 8:26-38

KEY VERSE: “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached JESUS to him” (Acts 8:35).

We have studied in this unit, as we examine the spread of the Gospel into Judea and Samaria, how Stephen was chosen as one the first seven deacons in the early church to help administer daily service to his fellow Hellenistic Christians, who felt slighted by the apostles. Also, we learned of his FAITHFULNESS to the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST to the extent of his being stoned “as he was calling on GOD and saying...’LORD, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (7:59-60).

We further learned in Chapter 8, Saul consented to Stephen’s death and, after aiding in the scattering of the church “throughout Judea and Samaria...made havoc of the church, entering every house and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison” (vv.2-3).

Then, in our last examination, we saw how Philip, another one of the first seven deacons, “went down to the city of Samaria and preached CHRIST to them” (v.5). We considered Philip’s MISSION as the beginning of ‘EVANGELISM,’ because he and the other church members were ‘forced’ to scatter “throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria,” allowing the Samaritans an opportunity to have the privilege to ‘see’ and ‘hear’ the miracles that Philip did. “For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed” (v.7). And, as a result, “the multitude with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip...And there was great joy in the city” (vv.6a, 8).

We also saw how Philip was confronted by “Simon, who practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great” (v.9). And, how the people saw him as “the great power of GOD...because he had astonished them with his sorcery (magic acts) for a long time” (vv.10-11). However, as we continued, we saw that when the people ‘saw’ and ‘heard’ Philip “as he preached the things concerning THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, both men and women were baptized” (v.12).

Not only did the people recognize the TRUE POWER OF GOD and BELIEVE,” according to verse 13, “Simon himself also BELIEVED... and when he was BAPTIZED he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.”

In the final section, we learned that it is possible to receive BAPTISM without receiving THE HOLY SPIRIT, but it is impossible to receive THE HOLY SPIRIT without receiving BAPTISM. For, our closing verses told us, “When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received THE WORD OF GOD, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down prayed for them that they might receive THE HOLY SPIRIT. For as yet, HE had fallen upon none of them. They had only been BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS” (vv.14-16). Thus, while EVANGELISM (the seeing and hearing of THE GOSPEL) leads to BELIEVING, BAPTISM prepares one to RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.

This brings us to today’s lesson as we examine CHRIST being preached to an Ethiopian 8:26-38). In this study, we will see how Philip followed THE HOLY SPIRIT’S lead, causing an encounter with an Ethiopian eunuch “reading the prophet Isaiah” (v.30). We will further find that Philip begins with the scripture that he is reading and “preached JESUS to him” (v.35). Finally we will see that the eunuch BELIEVES and is BAPTIZED by Philip (v.38).

1. FOLLOW THE SPIRIT’S LEAD (Acts 8:26-29)

The first verse introduces the ‘INSTRUMENT’ who acts as ‘THE AGENT or AMBASSADOR, if you will, for THE HOLY SPIRIT. For verse 26 says, “Now AN ANGEL OF THE LORD spoke to Philip, saying ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is a desert.” I propose that from the beginning of time, GOD HAS USED “ANGELS” AS HIS REPRESENTATIVE ON EARTH. From Genesis to Revelation, we can see clearly the documented “WORKS” of THIS INSTRUMENT in ‘some form.’ However, I must point out that GOD’S “ANGEL” is always a person just like us. This is an important issue to keep in mind as we proceed.

Here in this study, we see “an ANGEL OF THE LORD” commanding Philip to leave the ‘comforts’ of Jerusalem, a flourishing city, and go to Gaza, “This is a desert” (v.26). I like the way the scripture describes his journey “along the road which goes down” (v.26). When one leaves Jerusalem to head to Gaza, one literally, figuratively, and spiritually “goes down.” This is what makes Philip’s response even more dramatic, “he arose and went” (v.27a). In other words, he trusted GOD enough to FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT’S LEAD. If GOD says through THE HOLY SPIRIT to go, THEN GO!

The next encounter explains why GOD wanted Philip to go “down to Gaza.” THE HOLY SPIRIT led Philip to “a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship” (v.27b). During his return home, the eunuch was “sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet,” when THE SPIRIT SPOKE to Philip and said, “Go near and overtake this chariot” (v.29). This was GOD’S PURPOSE FOR Philip to go “down” to Gaza. Even though Philip did not know why GOD had sent him there, he simply trusted in GOD enough to go. However, as always, GOD HAD A SPECIFIC PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR HIS COMMAND.

Even with us today, if we will simply trust GOD enough to FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT’S LEAD, we too will find HIM sending us to someone who is waiting on us to come to them while they are ‘pondering’ THE WORD.

2. LEAD THE SPIRIT’S FOLLOWERS (vv.30-35)

This section explains what took place during Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch, after he had “overtaken him.” THE HOLY SPIRIT led Philip to get right to the MISSION at hand. According to the text, without exchanging ‘niceties,’ Philip greets the Ethiopian with a question, as “he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?” (v.30) This seemed strange to me at first, for him to walk up to a complete stranger and ask him if he understands what he is reading. How could he know whether or not the man would take offense to this implicit question? Was there something about his countenance or demeanor that gave it away that this man was having problems understanding what he was reading? Surely there had to be some motivation for such a ‘forward’ question. Then I had to remind myself that it was THE HOLY SPIRIT that had led Philip there in the first place, so THE HOLY SPIRIT must have assured him that there was a need for his service. And the man’s answer confirms this perspective in verse 31, “How can I, unless someone guides me? And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.”

That, I propose, was a powerful admission for an individual, to admit that they do not understand something. This is the first step toward learning what one does not know. It is so difficult sometimes for us, especially Christians, to admit that we do not understand anything, more so the Scriptures. We do not realize that without a full understanding of the scriptures, we are unable to develop the knowledge necessary to BELIEVE.

Paul tries to explain, in his letter to the Romans in Chapter 10, the sequence to Salvation, “For with the heart one BELIEVES unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto SALVATION...For whosoever calls on THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED. How then shall they call on HIM in WHOM THEY HAVE NOT BELIEVED? How shall they BELIEVE in HIM of WHOM they have not heard? AND HOW SAHLL THEY HEAR WITHOUT A PREACHER? And how shall they PREACH UNLESS THEY ARE SENT? (vv.10, 13-15)

The text further describes the Scripture contained in Isaiah 53: 7-8. The Ethiopian’s dilemma centered upon the question of the ‘PERSON’ represented in Isaiah writing. “So the eunuch asked Phillip and said, ‘I ask you, of WHOM does the prophet say this (contained in the Scripture passage, Acts 8:32-33), of himself or of some other man?’” (v.34) It was at this juncture that Philip was able to do what he was “led” there to do, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, PREACHED JESUS TO HIM” (v.35). This is what is required us those BELIEVERS who are ‘led’ by THE HOLY SPIRIT, to “LEAD” others to BELIEVE!

3. BELIEVING LEADS TO BAPTISM: THE MISSING LINK (vv.36-38)

Now, we arrive at the other part of Philip’s MISSION, to explain the significance of BELIEVING TO BAPTISM. The eunuch thought that just because he had ‘heard’ THE WORD of the life, death, burial, and resurrection of our LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, this qualified him to be BAPTIZED. For he said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being BAPTIZED?” (v.36). In other words, he wanted to know what was ‘the missing link’ between “hearing THE WORD” and BAPTISM? How do we keep from going into the water a ‘dry devil’ and come out just a ‘wet devil?’ What connects ‘hearing’ to BAPTISM?

The next verse represents the KEY to ‘the missing link’ in Philip’s answer to the eunuch’s question, and the eunuch’s ultimate response. “Then Philip said, ‘if you BELIEVE with all your heart, YOU MAY.’ And he answered and said, ‘I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD” (V.37). Not only is this the KEY to BAPTISM, but, also according to John 3:16, “For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever BELIEVES IN HIM should not perish but have everlasting life.” Not only does BELIEVING prepare one for BAPTISM, but also for “EVERLASTING LIFE.”

It was at this point, Philip “commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he BAPTIZED him” (v.38). While we realize that EVANGELISM allows people to “see” and “hear” THE WORD leading them to BELIEVE, and that BAPTISM is the preparation to RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, we must not forget that BELIEVING is ‘the missing link’ that leads to BAPTISM and eventually THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THINK ABOUT IT!!!!

Spiritually Yours.

Rev. Chris Lowe, Sr. DD