FURTHERING THE GOOD NEWS- ACTS 8:26-39
I.
II.
III.
10/28/2012
DIVINE GUIDANCE PROVIDED- ACTS 8:26-29
HUMAN NEED EXPRESSED- ACTS 8:30-34
ETERNAL LIFE GIVEN- ACTS 8:35-39
Principle:
To stress that the Gospel must be shared with everyone who will listen
INTRODUCTION:
Do things just happen? or does everything flow according to a carefully crafted Master Plan.
There are some things that we can learn from Phillips’ encounter with the Ethiopian Eunuch in
our lesson today.
I.
DIVINE GUIDANCE PROVIDED- ACTS 8:26-29
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto
the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Our lesson today picks up with the matter of Phillip’s conversation with Simon now being
concluded. Peter and John, accompanied by Phillip returned to Jerusalem, preaching and having
a very successful ministry to the Samaritans along the way. Somewhere along the road, God
gave specific instructions to Phillip.
The angel of the Lord spake unto Phillip in this instance this angel was not the Divine presence,
but a special angel assigned to the task of giving Phillip special instructions. Saying, Arise, and
go toward the south Phillip was to leave his travelling companions and head toward the south
unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
He was instructed to go into the region of Gaza, taking the desert road. Ancient Gaza was
destroyed in 93BC and later rebuilt nearer to the Mediterranean; this road was in a deserted area.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority
under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had
come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Phillip wasted no time, he immediately arose and went and many of us would do well to follow
his example, when God impresses something upon our hearts or expressly commands us to do
something.
While Phillip is travelling the scene now changes to a man of Ethiopia who was heading
southward along the same road. Ethiopia does not refer to the Ethiopia of modern times, but to
the land just south of Egypt known as Cush. The Cushites were descendants of Ham, and they
were a dark skinned people. This man was described as a eunuch of great authority. The term
eunuch usually describes an emasculated male, but it can also mean a high ranking official or
administrator. The same word is used to describe Potiphar, who was a high ranking official under
Pharoah and he was married. This Ethiopian official served under Candace queen of the
Ethiopians. In this case the name Candace is actually a title, and it was used of Queen Mothers
who ruled for their sons, there had apparently been a succession of powerful Queen Mothers in
Ethiopia. The Ethiopian official was in charge of all her treasure, so he would have functioned
as a Treasurer. He had come to Jerusalem for to worship which meant that he was a GodFearing Gentile, he may have been a proselyte or partial proselyte to Judaism. A proselyte is one
who is not Jewish born but had come to accept the teachings of Judaism.
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
On his return from Jerusalem he was sitting in his chariot signifying that he must have been a
person of wealth and substance for he read Esaias the prophet such writings were difficult to
obtain and expensive. This Ethiopian was obviously a seeker of truth, he had gone to Jerusalem
to worship at Temple, and now he was searching the scriptures, and God will always reveal His
truth to those who are sincerely seeking Him.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
The angel of the Lord gave Phillip a general directive to go to Gaza, but now the Spirit gave him
the specific reason why he was there. We should bear in mind that it is the Holy Spirit who is
the active agent in salvation, He reveals God’s truth to us, it is the Holy Spirit that draws us to
God, it is the Holy Spirit who gives us the sense of conviction of sin, and also it is the Holy
Spirit that gives us the power to witness to others about Christ. So now the Spirit simply speaks
Go near, and join thyself to this chariot
In short Phillip was to go and approach this man.
Thus far in our lesson we can be sure of one thing, God is sovereign and nothing for a Christianjust happens!- it is all by divine appointment. God has a reason and a purpose for all that He
allows us to encounter in this life. God will allow some people to cross our path and enter our
lives for a reason, and some of them will be passing through only for a season.
II.
HUMAN NEED EXPRESSED- ACTS 8:30-34
30.And Phillip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said,
Understandest thou what thou readest?
Phillip approached the Ethiopian and heard him reading from the Prophet Isaiah, in those days it
was the usual custom to read aloud. It is also interesting to note that he was reading from Isaiah,
a book that is literally filled with prophecies about Jesus. This gave Phillip the perfect
opportunity to make his introduction Understandest thou what thou readest ?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he
would come up and sit with him.
The Ethiopian was eager for an explanation, no doubt he was somewhat perplexed and as a
seeker of truth, he wanted to know more. He invited Phillip to come into his Chariot and sit with
him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for
his life is taken from the earth.
The text the Ethiopian was reading was from Isaiah 53:7-8 which speaks of Jesus as the
Suffering Servant. It shows Him as being unresisting in the face of His accusers, and as a sheep
being sheared before its’ slaughter. It goes on to describe how the Just suffered and paid the
ultimate price for the Unjust. As believers today, we know that these scriptures are speaking
directly about Jesus Christ, however to the Jews at that time, especially to those who living
before the Cross, the understanding and interpretation was not so clear.
Please note that the Bible does not contradict itself but it confirms itself, we can use scripture to
interpret and confirm scripture, we do not always need to turn to outside sources. God’s word
interprets itself and also confirms itself, as long as we are led and enlightened by the Holy Spirit
of God’s truth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet
this? of himself, or of some other man?
The Eunuch had read the verses but his mind struggled with the understanding, he knew that the
scripture was speaking about a person, but he could go no further with the interpretation. Of
whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man?
This was a God-ordained moment, it was no accident that Phillip came along at the precise time
that the Eunuch was reading and needed the understanding of this passage. Both the Ethiopian’s
quest for truth, and Phillip’s readiness and preparation with the answer, were orchestrated and
ordained by our Sovereign God.
Sometimes we will need the experience and guidance from those who God has gifted and called
to be Pastors, Preachers and Teachers. While searching the scriptures is good, sometimes we
won’t arrive at the correct interpretation on our own, we’ll need to have the truth explained and
the answer correctly given by one whom God has prepared.
If you desire to be a Teacher, that’s a great desire, but in order to be effective you must study the
scriptures yourself, in order to show yourself approved (2 Tim. 2:15)
When must also make ourselves available to do God’s work in whatever shape or form it may
take- God wants to use us and He’ll often put us in places where we will be required to answer or
supply a need. God does not always call the equipped, but He certainly equips those who are
called!
III. ETERNAL LIFE GIVEN- ACTS 8:35-39
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him
Jesus.
Phillip no doubt by this time was almost jumping to his feet with joy!- Phillip opened his
mouth, and began at the same scripture Phillip knew that the scriptures were speaking of Jesus,
and he took the opportunity to present Christ to the Ethiopian Eunuch. Not only did he explain
what the scriptures meant and who they were referring to, but he followed up to the logical
conclusion, He presented the truth that Jesus came, and died for our sins, and he laid forth God’s
plan of salvation.
Preachers, we have nothing else to preach unless we are taking people to Jesus. It’s all about
Jesus, if we’re not presenting Christ to people, and if we are not taking people to the scriptures in
the process, we may as well go home!
People need Jesus, they do not need sermons on Politics or on “how to get this or how to get
that” – People need to know about Jesus, and then once they’ve received Christ we need to teach
them how to live as Jesus lives and make them fishers of men so that they too can be reachers
and teachers!
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See,
here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Phillips’ powerful and timely presentation of the Gospel, had the desired effect upon this
individual who himself had been seeking the truth. Knowing that evidence of faith in Christ is
demonstrated by Christian Baptism, they came unto a certain water divine providence again!
(remember friends that they are in a desert- you don’t just run into a little water!) The man said
See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 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.
Salvation is of the heart, for with the heart we believe, and then with our lips we confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord (Rom. 10:10) if thou believest with all thine heart Clearly the Ethiopian
believed and his corresponding request is one that indicates that belief and subsequent baptism
are things that go hand in hand (Matt. 28:19)
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both
Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
They stopped the chariot, and got out from it and both went into the water, and Phillip baptized
him.
Here we see the progression in the spread and influence of the Gospel, salvation was first to the
Jews, then the Samaritans were preached to, and now the Ethiopian eunuch receives Christ.
Through this man, the Gospel would now be introduced to the African continent, where it
continues to thrive and abound up until this day.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip,
that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
After the miraculous meeting, the miraculous message, the miracle of salvation, now another
miracle takes place as they abruptly part and go their separate ways.
Phillip was miraculously transported by the Holy Spirit and soon found himself at Azotus
another coastal city some 20 miles away.
This was a once in a lifetime meeting their paths would never cross again, the eunuch with the
zeal that comes along with a new found faith, went on his way rejoicing. Rejoicing in the fact
that he had received salvation, and now he was about to eagerly spread God’s message of
salvation through Christ to all who he would encounter along the way.
CONCLUSION:
For the Christian there is no such thing as luck or chance, everything happens by divine
appointment. God has a purpose and a plan for all that He allows to come into our lives.
Sometimes we’ll meet people who come into our lives for a reason, and sometimes they may
stay in our lives for a season, God wanting to accomplish something special either in us, or
through us.
Phillip was prepared for the encounter that God had set before him, are we prepared to readily
give a reason for the hope that lies within us? (1 Pet 3:15). Phillip obviously had the right
relationship with Jesus, and he obviously knew the word of God? Do we take the time to learn
and to study the word of God so that we can know it for ourselves?
God wants each and every one of us to be like Phillip, who did not hesitate to fulfill the mission
that God had purposed for him to fulfill.
Lord help us to seek you as the Ethiopian did and to hunger and thirst after righteousness, then
give us the zeal of Phillip so that we can get into your word that we may be able to share your
truth, and help us through the Holy Spirit to rightly divide the word to those who may be lacking
in understanding.
Help us dear Lord, to be willing servants, ready and able to do your work in a world that so
desperately is seeking for you!