Bible In A Year | Read: 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 That is, from the southern Nile region eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “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 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,and as a lamb before its 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. Acts 8:26-35
Overview of Chapter
The persecution of the church becomes more widespread and organized with Saul as a leading persecutor. One of Stephen’s colleagues in chapter 6 is Philip. He preaches in Samaria and to an Ethiopian. This means the message of Jesus has crossed racial barriers. Samaritans were Israelites who had married non-Israelites and also did not practice the same form of the Jewish religion as those in Jerusalem. The Ethiopian was a convert to Judaism, but was probably black. Like Ananias and Sapphira, Simon wants to personally gain from his relationship with Christ and is dealt with harshly for his mistake.
Early on in the story of the church, it is established that the church was not to be limited to those of one race. The church has spread to many places and people groups since that day, but the job is still not done. Jesus is for everyone. We may still struggle with accepting those who are different from us, but that is our problem, not God’s.
Thoughts on the verses
When someone is really saved, the Holy Spirit reveals the Word to us. Usually, He uses His own children to deliver it. Let’s see how that happens ….After Samaria, God called Philip to go south to the Gaza strip, an ancient trade route from Egypt and Ethiopia. When Philip gets there, he finds God has made his appointment for him.
On his way from Jerusalem, a high-ranking dignitary from Ethiopia rode in his chariot reading the prophet Isaiah, but didn’t understand what it meant. God’s Spirit prompted Philip to approach the official along the road. (The Spirit leads, using His Word, delivered by His child.) He asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The Ethiopian doesn’t, so he stops his caravan and invites Philip to ride with him.
The Ethiopian happened to be reading Isaiah 53:7-8 about Jesus, the One who was wounded for our sins, and by whose stripes we are healed. Philip is given a marvelous place to begin. Philip then makes the Scripture clear and preaches to him about Jesus.
Action Steps
Bible: What is God showing me? What am I going to do about it?
Bless: Serve one person through word, action, or gift today.
Have you ever thought it would be cool to hear some C3 leaders discuss the daily verses, share about their lives and mostly just talk about nonsense? Of course not!…even though nobody has ever thought that we are still doing it. You can follow along with us each morning in a brand new podcast – Friday Cobra Kai & Eunuch Paradise.
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