The Ethiopian Eunuch

30. September 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Our text for today is as follows:

Acts 8: 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 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.” 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?” 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.

In our text today, I would like to bring a couple of things to your attention.  The text indicates that we have an Ethiopian Eunuch who came to Jerusalem to worship and he has a copy of the book of Isaiah in his hand.    Questions that would arise from this incident, is why would Ethiopians (Africa) come to worship and how did the Hebrew Scriptures end up in Ethiopia.  If you recall when we studied the Queen of Sheba (Ethiopia) visited Solomon, we talked about Ethiopian stories tell of how Solomon sent the ark of the covenant there for safety (which they claim is still with them today) and it is said that they also ended up with copies of the holy scriptures.

This is an interesting text though to argue that point.   Evidently this Ethiopian  was taught something about Jesus because we know he did not have full understanding, and when he had an opportunity to come to Jerusalem, he went to worship.

He probably did not go on the inside of the temple, for Eunuchs were not allowed to attend worship services in the temple, but he appears to have been maybe on the outer courts or outside. 

The text teaches us that the “angel of the Lord” spoke to Philip though he was in the middle of preaching elsewhere and instructed him to leave the masses and go minister to the one.  Whow….. I love this about God.  This Ethiopian would then return to his own country with the truth about Jesus Christ and saved.  The GOSPEL GOES TO AFRICA….   So see, my friends… the gospel was in Africa long before people began to go there as missionaries. 

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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