The Word of God Comes Alive.

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 8:26-40

 

Acts 8:34-35

And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

(ESV)

 

When reading any piece of literature, it is always helpful to place the material in context.  This involves consideration of the historical context in which the literature is written as well as consideration of the audience the literature addresses.  For example, a piece of technical literature must be considered within the context of the technology available at the time of the writing of the literature, which may have advanced since the writing, and that the literature is written to a tech-savvy audience.  In contrast, a novel written to a general audience should receive historical consideration of the time in which it is written with the reader than using his or her imagination, placing themselves in the position of an observer. 

 

The Ethiopian eunuch is in his chariot studying Isaiah 53 and having difficulty understanding who Isaiah is speaking about in Isaiah 53:7-8.  As a court official, the Ethiopian is most likely a well-educated man who understands the passage speaks of someone being led to his death but wants to know if the prophet is speaking about himself or someone else (Acts 8:27-34).  While the passage does not say so, we can surmise that the Ethiopian may have prayed for God to send someone who could interpret the Scripture for him.  Whether he prayed or not, God instructs Philip to go down to Gaza and in God’s perfect timing, Philip encounters the Ethiopian and joins him in his Chariot as he studies the Scripture (Acts 8:26-29). 

 

As a well-educated man, the Ethiopian understood the historical context of the writing of Isaiah and the Jewish audience it addressed but is seeking to understand how the passage applies to him, a Gentile (Acts 8:34).  Philip who had walked with Jesus as one of the twelve (Matthew 10:1-4) had the answer the Ethiopian was seeking and from the foundation of Isaiah 53:7-8, shares the Gospel with him (Acts 8:35).  Philip makes the passage in Isaiah come alive in the heart of the Ethiopian, with him believing in Jesus as his savior and being baptized (Acts 8:36-38).  Instead of allowing Philip to remain in Gaza with the Ethiopian man, the Spirit of the Lord carries Philip away to Azotus so he can continue sharing the message of the Gospel with people in the cities between Azotus and Caesarea (Acts 8:39-40).   

 

This passage teaches us that,

 

1)      Obedience to the Lord creates opportunities for ministry (Acts 8:26-29) – Philip does not hesitate in obeying the angel of the Lord directing him to head south and by doing so encounters an Ethiopian studying Scripture.  While this might appear as a coincidence, it is God working in His perfect timing with Philip’s quick obedience opening the door to ministry.

2)      Using what we have available to share the Gospel (Acts 8:30-38) – Philip did not have the New Testament, a smartphone, or the latest book on evangelism or theology to help him teach the Ethiopian.  All he had is the passage in Isaiah the Ethiopian was reading and his testimony as a Disciple who walked with Jesus during His ministry.  Philip was also one of the 120 who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:13-15) empowering him to minister effectively.  Even though this would not seem sufficient to explain the Gospel especially to an educated court official, it was all Philip needed. 

3)      Do not bask in past success but continue ministering under the direction of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:39-40) – The Spirit of the Lord does not allow Philip to remain with the Ethiopian but immediately carries him away to Azotus with Philip preaching the Gospel in the cities he passed through on his way to Caesarea. 

 

Ministry today has tools Philip could not have even imagined.  We have smartphones that fit in our pocket containing the Bible in several translations.  We have the completed canon of Scripture as well as teachers and books to aid in interpreting the Bible and placing Scripture in its proper context.  However, these tools are ineffective unless the sharing of the Gospel comes from the heart of the one sharing.  A world in chaos needs to see God’s people at peace through an intimate personal relationship with God.  During this crisis, my family and I are dealing with not only the global crisis of Covid19 but a major family health crisis.  The only thing getting my family through the crisis is our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  I encourage anyone who has not entered into a personal relationship with Christ to do so now so they can find strength and peace in the middle of this crisis by praying with me to receive forgiveness from sin that separates you from a relationship with God,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Like the Ethiopian who needed someone to help him understand what he read in Scripture, I encourage those that just prayed to find a Church or Bible study teaching the Bible.  I also urge those that just prayed to be baptized as soon as possible as a public profession of faith in Jesus as Savior.  I also encourage you to share this post and other posts in this blog with others who need strength and peace to get them through this crisis.  May God bless everyone reading this post.