Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz
Back in Jerusalem again with Peter and John, Philip heard a word from the angel of the Lord. Philip obeyed, and headed for the road to Gaza. It is a main trade route following the coast line all the way to Egypt. Once on the road, Philip meets a man of the Court of the Queen of the Ethiopia. He is a eunuch, faithful and devoted to doing the Queen’s business. Such servants were often made eunuchs so that no desires of intimacy would interfere with their Master’s or Mistress’s business and household needs.
He had traveled to Jerusalem to worship, and while returning home, Philip came upon him as he was sitting in his chariot, reading the Book of Isaiah. An Ethiopian reading Isaiah? It seemed odd for the time, but in their conversation, Philips asks him if he understands what he is reading, which was Isaiah 53: 7,8. The Ethiopian wanted to know to whom the passage referred. Philip was not going to miss such an important opportunity!
This is a story for today! With all the gender reassignment and transgenderism in our culture, a man physically mutilated into a genderless and sex-less life, finds new purpose, and eternal life by following Jesus Christ.
With the eunuch’s question, Philip obliged him, and shared Jesus with the man. As they traveled together, the two came to a body of water. The eunuch asked if he could be baptized. Philip’s response was appropriate and correct - “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” And after having listened to Philip’s story of Jesus’ life, and power, and sacrifice, the eunuch said,
“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
The chariot driver was ordered to stop, and the two went down into the water, where Philip baptized him. At the testimony of Philip, this eunuch became a man of Christ, a follower of Jesus Christ.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:2
Bobservations' Column: Audio Version
Sunday Morning Message:
Acts 8:25-40 - "The Eunuch of Ethiopia"
Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:
Last week we looked at Acts 8:1-24 and saw the outbreak of severe persecution of the church in Jerusalem following the martyrdom of Stephen. Saul was a major figure in this persecution and was even going house to house to find believers and drag them off to jail. In Acts 22:4 he even said that he had persecuted them to death. The result was that believers fled from Jerusalem into the regions of Judea and Samaria. The goal of the persecution was to destroy the church, but the actual effect was to spread and expand the church for, as verse 4 states, “those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.”
We also saw last week the role that Philip had in taking the gospel to the Samaritans. Remember that Philip was one of the Seven chosen in Acts 6 because he was of good reputation and full of the Spirit and wisdom. He preached Jesus Christ to the Samaritans despite the traditional animosity that existed between the Jews and them. The Samaritans were the descendants of the remnant of Jews that had intermarried with the gentiles brought to the land by Assyria after they had conquered Israel. By the time of Jesus they had developed a perverted form of worship of the true God, yet even with their errors, they were looking for the promised Messiah. When Philip explained Jesus to them and accompanied his preaching with miracles of healing and casting out demons, many believed and were baptized.
When Peter and John came, they prayed and imparted the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans. The apostles were first hand witnesses that the Samaritans had truly become disciples of Jesus, and the Samaritans saw they were only a part of something bigger and no longer could cling to their independent religion. The division that had existed between the Jews and Samaritans was closed by their common faith in Jesus Christ.
We also saw last week the false faith of Simon the Magician. Tragically, profession and reality can often be very different from each other. Simon’s interest was being able to have the power that Philip, Peter and John had, not in actually himself being a true disciple of Jesus Christ. He was more interested in his own glory than that of God. Peter rebuked him and called him to repent, and though Simon asked Peter to pray for him, there is no indication that Simon did repent. Church history attributes the origin of a heretical theological system to Simon.
Both external persecution and the internal threat of heresy failed in their purpose. The church continued to grow.
This week we are in Acts 8:25-40, and we see the gospel extended to an Ethiopian and to the coastal cities while at the same time we find a sharp contrast between a true seeker of God and the false profession of Simon. This Ethiopian, by the way, is the first Gentile reached with the gospel.
Persecution failed its purpose. It did not destroy the church. Instead, the believers spread out over the regions of Samaria and Judea proclaiming the gospel to everyone. Luke cites Philip as a key figure in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to the Samaritans, then to an Ethiopian eunuch who believed and was baptized, then to the coast cities of Judea. We can trust God to fulfill His purposes regardless of what efforts man may make to try to stop them. In the chapter ahead, we will find out that God can even change the hearts of persecutors so that they also become proclaimers.
Sunday Morning Audio Message: Coming Soon!
Key Words and Definitions with Reference:
Testified (8:25) - The word used, diamarturomai, is stronger than simply testifying. It is the giving of full and clear testimony. HELPS Word Studies says it “is always in the Greek middle voice which emphasizes witnessing done with a high level of self-involvement, i.e., with strong personal interest motivating it.” Hence, it may be more suitably translated “having earnestly testified.”
Preached (8:25) - "to say" or "to speak" - They earnestly testified and spoke the word of the Lord.
Gaza (8:26) - One of the five chief cities of the Philistines. The original city was destroyed in the first century B.C. and a new city was built near the coast. Gaza, or Azzah, means “Strong,” or “Strong Place.” It was granted to Israel as a part of their inheritance when the borders were originally defined in Numbers 34. It was then assigned to Judah in Joshua 15:47.
Ethiopia (8:27) - “The name for the lands lying south of Egypt, including the modern Nubia, Cordofan, and Northern Abyssinia. Rawlinson speaks of subjects of the Ethiopian queens living on an island near Mero, in the northern part of this district. He further remarks: The monuments prove beyond all question that the Ethiopians borrowed from Egypt their religion and their habits of civilization. They even adopted the Egyptian as the language of religion and of the court, which it continued to be till the power of the Pharaohs had fallen, and their dominion was again confined to the frontier of Ethiopia. It was through Egypt, too, that Christianity passed into Ethiopia, even in the age of the apostles, as is shown by the eunuch of Queen Candace.
Eunuch (8:27) - This can refer to one who had been emasculated, or generally, to a government official. It is likely he was both since Luke refers to him as a eunuch and as one who held a position of authority in the queen's court - that of treasurer, much like a minister of finance or secretary of the treasury. As a physical eunuch, he would have been denied access to the temple (Deuteronomy 23:1) and the opportunity to become a full proselyte to Judaism.
Candace (8:27) - Rather than a name, this is a title used only here in the Bible, Kandaké. Like the term Pharaoh, it is a term used as the dynastic title for the queens of Ethiopia. As such, the person now being described is a high-level official and a eunuch assigned under her. Next, the term Kandaké is explained with the words, “the queen of the Ethiopians.” This man, who is a eunuch under Candace is the one “who had charge of all her treasury.”
Reading Isaiah (8:28) - The common way to read was out loud, and this is what would have made the coming events possible. What is most probable is that he was reading the Greek translation of Isaiah, the LXX, or Septuagint. Greek was the lingua franca at the time and would surely have been known to someone in the courts of Candace. He seems to know the importance of seeking God through the Scripture (Luke 24:25-27; John 5:39, 46; Romans 10:10-15).
The place . . . He Read (8:32, 33) - He is specifically reading Isaiah 53:7, 8. The word translated as “place” is only found here in the Bible, perioché. It signifies the contents of a passage. Today, we might say, “the chapter of Isaiah,” or something similar. This allows us to know the section, portion, or particular area that is specifically set apart in one way or another.
Led as a Sheep to the Slaughter . . . Lamb Dumb Before his Shearer (8:32) - "led as sheep . . ." signify willing compliance and even innocence as if it is the right thing to do. "Lamb Dumb . . ." indicate the calm nature of the lamb. It will not resist the master’s manipulation of its body as its hair is cut away. Likewise, Christ did not resist as He was mocked, beaten, scourged, and crucified. He willingly submitted Himself to those appointed over Him and to the will of the Father who had sent Him.
Humiliation . . . Judgment (8:33) - Isaiah 53:8 is speaking of the coming Messiah. Equivalent to the idea of His imprisonment. It is in this state of humiliation and being bound and oppressed that He was also denied justice. In studying the events of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, it is clear that a large number of actions occurred that were contrary to the law. Volumes have been written about this demonstrating the completely unfair trial that Christ Jesus faced.
Of Whom Does the Prophet Say (8:34) - His confusion was understandable. Even the Jewish religious experts were divided on the meaning of this passage. Some believed the slaughtered sheep represented Israel; others thought Isaiah was referring to himself, and others thought the Messiah was Isaiah's subject.
Preached Jesus (8:35) - The Ethiopian eunuch has been reading prophecy. As such, Philip began with prophecy. The eunuch was reading Isaiah. As such, Philip began with Isaiah. The words of Isaiah were about the Suffering Servant. As such, Philip began with this depiction. By beginning with this and building upon it, Luke next records that Philip “preached Jesus to him.” The word is the same one, euaggelizó, already seen three times in this chapter (8:4, 12, & 25). It means “to announce good news.” The Ethiopian eunuch is hearing the good news of Jesus Christ. Philip has obeyed his calling, he has been attentive to the duties associated with it, and a person who was once far off is being drawn near through the preaching of the good news. The results of this will be seen as the narrative continues.
Caught Philip Away (8:39) - Literally snatched away in a miraculous fashion. Here, the word harpazó is used. It signifies to seize, snatch, catch away, and so on. It is a forceful action of removal. Rather, he was snatched away by an external force, meaning the Spirit. As incredible as this sounds, it is not without precedent. It happened in the Old Testament, such as in the taking away of Enoch in Genesis 5, and which is explained in Hebrews 11:5. Elijah was also taken bodily to heaven in a chariot of fire and a whirlwind in 2 Kings 2:11. Ezekiel was taken in the spirit to another location in Ezekiel 3, but that could simply be a vision and not a physical transportation. In the New Testament, the word harpazó is used fourteen times. Each time it is used with a clear reference to a physical removal, even if it is stopping such a physical removal (such as in John 10:28). It is used of Paul being caught up to the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:2 & 4. Admittedly, Paul says there, “whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know.” Even if it was out of the body, there was a removal from one place to another that was not accomplished by the one being transported. If it was in the body (of which he was not sure), then a physical transport would have taken place. The word is also used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 when speaking of the saints being “caught up” together with the dead in Christ at the rapture.
Azotus (8:40) - The first-century name for the ancient Philistine city of Ashdod, located twenty miles north of Gaza. This was a distance of about thirty miles from where he was, and nothing is said of him anywhere else. He was on the desert road to Gaza, and then he was found at Azotus.
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