Acts 8:26-40 Christian Standard Bible
The Conversion of the Ethiopian Official
26 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road.[a]) 27 So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem 28 and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud.
29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”
30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this:
He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb is silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will describe his generation?
For his life is taken from the earth.[b]
34 The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or someone else?” 35 Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.
36 As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?” [c] 38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, the eunuch did not see him any longer but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip appeared in[d] Azotus,[e] and he was traveling and preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Commenting on this Bible passage, a preacher noted that almost every day there’s someone, somewhere, who may need us. It could be someone who’s struggling with an addiction or who suffers from depression.
It could be someone who’s trying to make sense of life or a person who’s trying to find their way to the Lord.
It could be someone who doesn’t understand the teachings of the Bible.
That preacher challenged that congrgation to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and to tune in to the needs of the people around us.
It happened to an evangelist named Philip.
He had been teaching about the Lord Jesus in Samaria when an angel of the Lord told him to leave there and go into the desert.
Philip did as he was told, and because he listened to the Spirit’s prompting, he was able to explain the suffering and death of Jesus predicted by prophet Isaiah.
As we journey through the Bible, we recognize that Jesus did not arrive out of nowhere. From start to finish, the Bible is a book about Him. Indeed, even the Old Testament prophets, under the inspiration of the Spirit, wrote about Jesus.
If we take our eyes off Savior Jesus Christ, then, however well we think we know the Scriptures, we will have missed its true central focus, its key, and its Author.
In the Gospels, Jesus pointed people back to the Old Testament to help them understand who He was.
Early in His ministry, at the synagogue reading from the scroll of Isaiah.
As He finished, Luke tells us, He “began to say” to His listeners,
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).
Later, speaking to people who were especially interested and versed in the Old Testament Scriptures, Jesus warned them,
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39).
After His death and resurrection, when He encountered some of His confused dejected followers on the road to Emmaus, Jesus,
“beginning with Moses and all the Prophets … interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).
In other words, Jesus clearly taught that every part of the Old Testament finds its focus and fulfillment in Him.
When we read Scripture, we meet Jesus, because this book testifies to Him.
Even if our own studies and understanding of Old Testament passages provide us with good, important ethical truths about life, there’s still clear and present danger of us missing the Truth, Jesus.
The purpose of every page of our Bible is for us to meet Jesus, have a personal encounter, come to know Him, to proclaim His great name, all for His glory.
In every sermon you hear, every lesson you study, every passage of God’s word you read, ask yourselves, “Did it bring me to Christ? Did I discover Jesus in it?”
Do not stop listening, studying, and reading until you can answer yes, for it is in Him that the treasures of salvation, truth, wisdom, and comfort are to be found.
Reflecting on that unique encounter a high government official from Ethiopia went home baptized and rejoicing, able to share the good news with others.
Acts 2:37-41
Call to Repentance
37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt[a] generation!” 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.
Perhaps you are like the Ethiopian official we read about today.
You may describe yourself as a spiritual person, and you may be wondering which religion is best.
Maybe you’re exploring Christianity and have begun reading parts of the Bible–along with commentaries and diverse and various devotions, for example.
But, like the Ethiopian, you may find that some things you read are confusing or hard to understand.
There seems to be a continuous story, you aren’t sure how to connect the dots.
The journey you are on is a very important one.
It will lead you to see yourself as God sees you, a person who is deeply loved and valued by God. Jesus is the mortar that holds the foundational story together.
But you may do well to invite a “Philip” into your life.
Check out a church and start asking questions. Get into a small home group that studies the Bible, welcomes, cares about you as a person. Experience the reality of Christian community, allow for the Holy Spirit to work, to change your life.
Perhaps today you will meet someone or a group of someone’s who needs you, folks Holy Spirit communicates need to have a random encounter with Jesus.
Someone you have never met or someone you have known for a long time.
Pray! Listen closely to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and follow his direction.
Holy Spirit is always eager and delighted to intercede, to work through you!
In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit ….
Praying ….
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 