In The Word
Read: Acts 8:26-40
26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get ready and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) 27 So he got ready and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
“He was led like a sheep to slaughter;
And like a lamb that is silent before its shearer,
So He does not open His mouth.
33 In humiliation His justice was taken away;
Who will describe His generation?
For His life is taken away from the earth.”
34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself, or of someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”38 And he ordered that the chariot stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Phillip was visited by an angel of the Lord who directed him to head south on a deserted road. Scholars and commentators say this road did not make sense, in the natural, to travel on to see a lot of people to preach Jesus Christ to. This road wasn’t a common one used for travel. However, Phillip obeyed and came across a man in a chariot. This man was an Ethiopian eunuch. He was in charge of all the treasure for the Queen of Ethiopia. This eunuch had just returned from worshipping in Jerusalem and was reading the Scriptures. Phillip, this time prompted by the Holy Spirit, went and joined the eunuch in his chariot. The eunuch’s heart was hungry to hear about whom the Scriptures were prophesying about. The Word explains that Phillip started with the Scripture the eunuch was already reading and preached Jesus to him. The man got saved and baptized immediately after. Wow!
This account in Scripture should encourage us as believers to always follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Phillip obeyed and went a direction no one else traveled because God knew the eunuch would be there. The Lord is greatly concerned for all those that are lost. Are you? If so, are you willing to hear and obey His voice? Because He will open opportunities to bring the gospel to those around you. Be willing and obedient! Let’s see people inherit the Kingdom of God one soul at a time!