PHILIP AND THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH
Acts 8:25–40
After the episode recorded in the first part of this chapter, Peter and John stay in this city of Samaria for an apparently short time. But, while here, they testify and speak the word of the Lord. They then return to Jerusalem to resume their work with the church there. They seem to take some time in going back to Jerusalem, stopping in many of the villages of the Samaritans and proclaiming the gospel.
Samaria is somewhat of a “halfway station” between the gentile world and the Jews. Notice how great the emphasis is on the preaching in the towns of Samaria so early in the history of the Christian church. The apostles are indeed following the orders Jesus gave them in Acts 1:8. Suddenly the Samaritans do not seem to have the dreaded quality which the Jews had always ascribed to them. Our Lord Himself had not hesitated to speak to a woman of Samaria (John 4). The disciples must not call unclean that which their Lord has chosen. He also has His people here.
A Mission in the Desert
But, the previous verse is only the connecting link to that which follows in this chapter. We have heard of large numbers being brought to the faith: 3000 at Pentecost, 5000 some time later, but there is also room in the gospel preaching for the individual. It surely is true that the more people we are able to reach with the gospel the better; but the Lord now sends Philip on an entirely different mission. By the word of an angel he now sends him south of Jerusalem to the road leading to Gaza, one of the main cities of the Philistines in the days of David, a road which is desert. This is hardly the place in which we would look for a mission field. There were other roads which led to Gaza, but he must go to the loneliest of them. Don’t object that there are no people here . God will see to that. Philip is called to be obedient to the command which he receives and he must leave the results in the hands of the Lord of the harvest. How do we find mission fields? Is it only by counting the number of people in a place or the number of prospective believers? Then Philip would not have gone to the desert road that leads to Gaza!
To an “Outsider”
The godly evangelist, Philip, obeys the command he has received. On this road awaits an experience for him which he will never forget and which will have far–reaching results. Although it is a desert road , there is a carriage driving along this road. It is not a common carriage, but one which speaks of the great wealth and power of its occupant. The man who is riding this carriage is an Ethiopian, a native from one of the African countries which we now call the Sudan. The Psalmist had written: “Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God” (Psalm 68:31). How could the gospel come to such a distant land in so short a time? The Lord has His own methods. This man was a eunuch, one who was not allowed to come into the assembly of Jehovah (Deut. 23:1). Yet, that is the kind of person with whom the gospel first comes into contact (f. Isa. 56:3–5). Besides this, here is a man of great authority under queen Candace. This seems to have been the name of all the queens of Ethiopia as Pharaoh was the name of every ruler in Egypt. He was the finance minister of Candace, which may mean that he controlled her fortune or that he controlled all monetary affairs of the land, because these two things were often not differentiated. At least, here is a man of great wealth, of high position and of great ability. When Ethiopia stretched forth her hand to God, she did it by means of a man of stature.
Through the Bible
This man had been in Jerusalem to worship. He was not a Jew, but he was a proselyte. He had come to the knowledge of the Jewish religion and had accepted it. It was worth a long trip to Jerusalem for him. He did this even though he was not allowed in the sacred places! Again, to show that he was a man of means, he had his own scroll of at least one of the books of the Old Testament! He was reading the prophecy of Isaiah. Had he already read Isaiah 56:3 “. . . neither let the eunuch say, Behold I am a dry tree?” This would have spoken to his heart. He is reading aloud.
The Spirit (note: not an angel) now tells Philip to join himself to this chariot. No doubt it means, come close to the carriage so that you will be able to talk to the occupant. Philip can hear the man read from the book of Isaiah in the Greek language. We have here a rather strange situation. This simple evangelist, on foot, catching up with and then trying to keep up with this chariot, this elegant carriage, and seeking to strike up a conversation with the man in the carriage. How do you approach such a person? But, the opening is evident. Philip is acquainted with the words which he hears this man read. The question is: does he understand what he is reading? That is exactly the question which Philip asks him. The answer is blunt if not brusque. He readily admits that he does not understand the words he is reading. How can I understand, he asks, unless someone shall guide me? He is not too proud to receive instruction from a man who seems to be far inferior to him in many ways. He asks Philip to come and ride with him in this beautiful carriage! They are both going the same way!
Prophecy Leads to Christ
There could have been many passages in Isaiah’s prophecy which this man would not understand but which also would not give Philip the opportunity to bring Jesus Christ into the picture as well as this one does. He is reading from the 53rd chapter of Isaiah about the suffering servant of Jehovah. Is the prophet speaking about himself or is he speaking about someone else? This is a good question. It is the kind of question every thinking man would ask who was not acquainted with the New Testament. The Old Testament is a conundrum unless we have the key of the New Testament. The Jews of today still ask the same question as this Ethiopian Eunuch does and believe they have the answer when they say that the prophet is speaking of himself!
Christ Crucified
We are here dealing with the heart of the gospel. The One of whom the prophet speaks was “led as a sheep to the slaughter.” By this death he has accomplished a great deal. Thereby the humiliation is taken away and who will be able to measure the full effect of His sacrifice?
Not only the Jews but also many of the Biblical critics conclude that the prophet could only speak of himself. He had suffered a great deal and sought to bear it as well as possible. Is this all there is to it?
Despite the enormous economic differences between the two, the Eunuch has invited the right man to come to sit next to him. No doubt this Ethiopian has brought sacrifices and gifts to Jerusalem. He is about to hear of the greatest sacrifice ever made and the greatest gift ever given. The text offers a beautiful opening for Philip to preach Jesus to him. Jesus is the one of whom the prophet is speaking! The gospel has come. All the prophecies of the Old Testament have taken on new meaning. We must not conclude that the whole conversation of Philip with this Ethiopian is recorded here. Believing the gospel would take much more than the few words which are here recorded. All of the gospel preaching Philip did on that day to this Ethiopian can be reduced to this: he preached to him Jesus! What more is there? This includes all that the Savior has come to do and it says Who He is. Only upon the true preaching of the whole counsel of God is faith instilled in the hearts of those who hear it. Philip starts with the passage from Isaiah 53 which the man was reading, but he does not limit himself to this particular section. This Ethiopian hears the whole gospel, and the whole Old Testament comes to stand in a new light.
Baptism
This is also borne out in what follows. Although it is a desert way, they come to a place where there is water. Philip must have told him about baptism! This is what this man wants. He wants to be a member of the body of Jesus Christ. He asks why he should not be baptized right now! Isn’t this a little too soon? Verse 37 is not found in the best manuscripts and is therefore also omitted from most of our English versions. Let it be omitted! It makes very little difference. Very likely it was found on the margin of old manuscripts and so later found its way into the text itself. But, the thought of the words found in verse 37 is clearly true. Philip does not object to the baptism of this man. He must have received a clear profession of his faith before he would do this . Note: the Apostles did not have to be called to administer baptism to this individual as they had been called to give the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans who believed, as is recorded in the first part of this chapter. Both Philip and the Ethiopian enter the water and Philip baptizes him.
The Spirit then removes Philip from that place. We are not told how, but we are reminded of the way in which the Lord moved Elijah from one place to another. Then we read something very strange: “and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.” That is the reason he didn’t see him anymore! He wasn’t looking for him! He had a joy like he never had before. This was enough for him. This man can go back to his own country and spread the good news of salvation there. When Ethiopia stretches out her hand unto God, her hands are filled. This man has found his Lord. The gospel preacher may have gone; Jesus remains with him .
Philip is next found in Azotus, the old city of Ashdod, also a city of the Philistines in the time of David. This is not the place where he is to stay but he passes through the land until he comes to Caesarea. That is the place where we will meet him later. Wherever he goes, he, of course, preaches the gospel. What have these enemies of the cross done! They have been instrumental in sowing the seed of the gospel everywhere.
Questions for discussion :
1. What is the significance of the fact that this deacon, Philip, was used more as an evangelist than as a deacon? 2. What should guide us in picking a mission field? 3. How could a man from Ethiopia be acquainted with the religion of Israel? 4. Do we often read whole chapters of the prophets without knowing or understanding what we are reading? What should be done about this? 5. When should an adult be baptized? Do we wait too long or do we often admit one too quickly? 6. Is there much significance in the absence of verse 37 in some texts? 7. Could the gospel have spread so fast without persecution?
Lesson 10
THE CONVERSION OF SAUL
Acts 9:1–19
Perhaps the most important event in the life of the early church is that which is recorded in these verses. The Biblical writer considers it so important that he refers to it no less than three times in the book of Acts—here, in chapter 22 and again in chapter 26. The man who had done more harm to the church than anyone else is met by the Savior of the church. He who “breathed in” threatening and slaughter, i.e., it is his life’s breath, is to be turned about completely. The man who possessed a fanatical zeal against the believers will later use that same burning zeal for them. The Lord singles out a man, not only of great ability. but a man who will not stop at anything to accomplish his purposes. This man is not a citizen of Laodicea!
The Persecutor
We first read of this Saul of Tarsus at the time of the martyr death of Stephen. He agreed with the chief priests that Stephen should be put to death. He thought he was doing God service by persecuting those who followed “that Nazarene.” He has not changed his views concerning that “Way” when this chapter opens. He is not satisfied to rid Jerusalem of the followers of Jesus , but asks the chief priests for permission to persecute even those who have fled to Damascus, to extradite them and bring them back to Jerusalem for trial. They readily assent to this request. They have found in this Saul of Tarsus the kind of man which they need to stamp out Christianity at its birth. Why is he so venomous in his view of the Christians? This man has a great zeal for the God of his fathers and for the revelation which He had given in former days. He is well acquainted with the Torah, the law of God. He adores that law! He is firmly convinced that the Christians are opposing the God of Israel and the law which He has given. That being the case. he must stamp out all traces of this “so called” religion. Others may be satisfied to allow it to live on because they believe these people are harmless, Not so Saul! His zeal for his God will not allow him to leave these “heretics” unmolested. They must be removed from the earth. If Jerusalem is rid of them, and it isn’t, go to neighboring Syria and bring them back from there so that they may not be able to continue their teaching and proselytizing.
The uncommon zeal of this man is even shown in the time when his conversion occurs. He nears Damascus about “noon,” he says in chapter 22. Now. nobody travels about noon in that part of the world because of the brutal heat at that time of the day. But, his mission may not be delayed! He has to make haste and drives himself as well as all those with him even through the hottest part of the day. It would have taken him a few days to travel from Jerusalem to Damascus . Any change of mind now that he has time to think it over? None. He had heard the confession of Stephen and had seen the peace on the face of that martyr when he was about to die, but it takes more than that to change his mind. He is as ruthless now as he was when he started. Christianity must be blotted out!
The Lord’s Confrontation
But, Jesus meets him! Right at noon, when the sun is the brightest and the hottest, he sees a dazzling light and is enveloped in it. He is not able to remain on his feet but falls down on the ground. Then he hears a voice which addresses him by name. “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” He is persecuting the Christians! This voice says that he is persecuting “Me!” He is persecuting One individual! In amazement he cries out: Who art thou, Lord? Someone is speaking to him from heaven , from whence this bright light comes. This One is Lord. No doubt about it but, Who? He has thought that the followers of Jesus were going contrary to all that he holds dear and they did this because the One Whom they followed has misled them. The One who is speaking to him out of the light identifies Himself with those whom he is persecuting! Therefore the important question is: Who art thou, Lord? The answer comes immediately, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” He is not dead! He is not the heretic Saul thought Him to be because He is now speaking from the heavens in this bright light. Saul wanted to erase the name of Jesus from the consciousness of Israel as well as those who followed Him. This casts an entirely different light on the whole matter. Notice how Jesus is in complete control, as He always is. You go into the city ofDamascus and there you will receive further instructions. Saul has intended to enter the city triumphantly and drive fear into the hearts of all those who follow Jesus of Nazareth. Now he is going to be led into the city while someone else holds his hand, because he has been stricken blind. What a difference! What a change! And, nothing more than a bright light shone around him and he has had a very brief conversation with One whom he was not even able to see. Those who were with him heard the voice, but they saw no one-Saul didn’t either. There has always been much speculation on just what took place. Why did it affect Saul differently from the men who were with him? We must stick to that which Luke tells us. When Saul gets up he is blind-helpless! They take him into the city of Damascus and the Lord lets him sit there stark blind for three days. In all that time Saul neither ate nor drank. He is too busy with his thoughts!
Ananias’ Commission
Now the Lord is setting things in motion to relieve Saul of his blindness and to prepare him for his future work. God speaks to a certain Ananias. of whom nothing else is known. This man is a believer in Jesus Christ. In almost Old Testament form, the Lord approaches this man in a vision. He at once responds to the call of his Lord. His orders are: You go to a certain street, to a certain house, and ask for a man named Saul! Do not be afraid because he is praying. One doesn’t have to be afraid of a praying man, regardless what has been heard of him. He has been rendered harmless. This Saul of Tarsus has also received a vision and in that vision he has seen a man by the name of Ananias come to restore his sight! The Lord speaks to both—the blind man and the one who will come to heal him. Perhaps these visions were seen at the same time. He is in control!
This mandate astounds Ananias. He is always ready to carry out the orders which he receives from his Lord, but this is asking the virtually impossible! This man is too dangerous. “I have heard how he has wasted the church in Jerusalem and that he has authority from the chief priests to capture all the believers in Damascus.” His notoriety has preceded him. Perhaps the communications of those days left much to be desired, but the believers here in Damascus know all about this ruthless man who is coming to arrest them. The attitude of Ananias is understandable. The fact that the Lord has said that this Saul is praying is apparently not enough to remove his misgivings. To go alone to see this enemy of the church! Ananias reacts somewhat as Moses, Elijah and Jeremiah did earlier.
But, orders are orders! The Lord says to Ananias: Go! (No more objections). I have chosen this man. He is a chosen vessel to me. I will pour the gifts into this vessel and they shall be poured out again in great measure. The Apostles are still at Jerusalem. Peter and John returned there after they had been with Philip in Samaria. This man will bear My name before the gentiles and before the kings of the earth and before My people Israel. This man will have a tremendous task to do. Although he does not yet know it, I have already determined that that will be his life’s task. I will show him how many things he will have to suffer for my name’s sake. He will indeed carry the gospel to the gentiles. He will stand before Felix, Festus, Agrippa and Nero. He will also bring My word to Israel. He will begin his work in every place in the synagogue of the Jews. This Saul of Tarsus who was going to make the believers suffer will suffer more than many others for my name’s sake. This man’s name will be the most important in the rest of the New Testament history!
The Encounter With Saul
Ananias has no more to say . He goes to find this persecutor. He does not ask for a confession of sins! He simply lays his hands on him and addresses him: Brother Saul! How things have changed! Only a short time ago he trembled at the sound of his name. Now he calls him: Brother!
He informs him that the same Jesus who had dashed him to the ground near the gates of Damascus has sent him to restore his sight and that he may be filled with the Holy Spirit. The same One who took his sight away will restore it. The Holy Spirit will also visit him and fill him. The Lord had waited so long to confront this man, allowing him to come all the way to Damascus—the believers in Damascus become more fearful the closer he comes—but, when he is about to enter the city, Jesus meets him. He now meets him again through the instrumentality of this sincere believer, Ananias.
As the hands of this disciple are laid on him, something like scales fall from Saul’s eyes and his sight is restored. What will this “seeing” Saul now do? Is the conversion genuine? No doubt about it. He is baptized at once. He receives the sign and seal of God’s promises. He, the former persecutor, is initiated into the Christian church. Now he need no longer refrain from taking food and drink and he stays with the disciples in Damascus! If this man could be converted, anyone can!
Questions for discussion:
1. Why do persecutors of the church so hate the believers? 2. Rome apparently turned its face when the priests gave permission to arrest believers in a foreign land. Why does Saul even persecute these? 3. Doesn’t the Lord make it “difficult” for Himself by the kind He chooses? 4. Why is this man later such an asset to the church? 5. Do you understand Ananias’ hesitancy? Does the Lord sometimes ask more than we can offer? 6. Isn’t it amazing that this man who was a “fanatic” against the church now becomes a “fanatic” for the church? How do you explain this? 7. Do we often find such “honesty” on the part of persecutors as Saul displays when he is faced by Jesus Christ?