Tomorrow’s Old Testament lesson is from Acts 8:26-35. This is a story about the apostle Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.
The apostle Philip was the brother of Bartholomew or Nathanael. Scholars believe that Bartholomew and Nathanael are the same person. Philip was told by an angel, “Rise up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza” (8:26 ESV). Most of you know more about Gaza than you did this time last year. Philip went immediately, and when he arrived, the Holy Spirit spoke to him and he ran to the eunuch. An Ethiopian eunuch was passing through here on his way back to Ethiopia. (In some courts, eunuchs were female servants of the royal family.) This gentleman was a minister to Queen Candace of Ethiopia. He was “in charge of all her treasures” and “had come to Jerusalem to worship” (v. 27).
A eunuch, whose name is not mentioned in the Bible, was returning home. When Philip arrived, he was “sitting in his chariot” reading the words of the prophet Isaiah. Philip was told to approach the eunuch, and he did so. Philip heard him reading Isaiah. This is a way for Philip to build trust. Philip asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading (verses 28-30).
The eunuch answered, “How can I do this unless someone guides me?” Then he invited Philip to “come near and sit down with him” (verse 31). The Bible verse he was reading was: Justice was denied him in humiliation. Who can describe his generation? for his life will be taken away from the earth. ” The eunuch said to Philip, “Pray, about whom is the prophet saying this, about himself or about someone else?” And “Then Philip opened his mouth and said, “Starting with these words of the Bible, they preached the gospel of Jesus” (verse 35).
The two traveled together for a short time. And as they went along the road, they came to the water, and the eunuch said, “Here is the water!” What shall I do to prevent myself from being baptized? ? ” Then, “He commanded the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both fell into the water and baptized him.” Then, “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord And he seized Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went away rejoicing” (verses 36-39).
Philip’s mission was accomplished, and for those who remember the show “Quantum Leap,” Philip flew again and went to another place where the Holy Spirit was calling him. It was the city of Azothos, he continued, “and he preached the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.” The distance was about 30 miles. Philip is said to have been captured by the Spirit (Acts 8:40).
Pastor Kathy Behrens, serving Picture Rocks Church and Tivoli United Methodist Church.
Philip, like John the Baptist, baptized with water. Even if the Holy Spirit led them there, it was not a baptism in the Holy Spirit, only water. At least that’s what it looks like in this case. In Acts 19:1-6, when Paul went to Ephesus, he was preaching and asked people how they were baptized, and they answered that it was the baptism of John the Baptist. I answered. Then Paul baptized them with the Holy Spirit. There is no mention that this was the case with the eunuchs.
The eunuch returned home rejoicing and praising God (Acts 8:39). what about you? If God were calling you, how quickly would you respond to a call from an angel or the Holy Spirit? When you arrive, would you run or walk to tell strangers about Jesus Christ?
