From Acts 7-8
Philip was open to the Spirits leading to go up to the Ethiopian and share the good news with him. I believe we also need to be sensitive to the Spirit if we want to be used by Him.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
Jesus said at the end of the gospel of Luke (Lk 24.27) that in some way all scripture points to him. Through the ministry of the Spirit, people can see how the Old Testament points to Jesus. Here we see another example of the Spirit and the Old Testament in action as Philip, one person among many who were scattered abroad by Saul, now shares the gospel with an Ethiopian.
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” (Acts 8.26-34)
For many Christians today it doesn’t get easier than this. Christians believe that Isaiah 53 is speaking about Jesus. But the Ethiopian didn’t know this. This scripture predicts the work of Christ.
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8.35)
All Philip had to do was connect the events of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection with this prophecy for the Ethiopian to see Jesus was the prophesied Christ, he died for sins and rose again from the dead.
36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. (Acts 8.36-38)
This part following the good news about Jesus might be unexpected for many today. Baptism. The man had believed the message about Jesus Philip proclaimed, he repented (in a sense reorienting his life to Jesus), and now the next step is for him to be baptized. In the apostles time baptism was expected if someone believed the gospel.
It gets a bit more unusual here.
39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. (Acts 8.39-40)
The Spirit carried Philip away … and he found himself at Azotus.
Was Philip teleported by the Spirit to Azotus to continue his gospel ministry? If so would you want to be teleported by the Spirit somewhere as well?
About Mission
Philip was open to the Spirits leading to go up to the Ethiopian and share the good news with him. I believe we also need to be sensitive to the Spirit if we want to be used by Him.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2014. All Rights
