Ethiopian Eunuch Hears the Good News

Acknowledging God

All Glory and Honor

The Risen Lord Appears

Acts 8:26-35 The Message (MSG)

The Ethiopian Eunuch

26-28 Later God’s angel spoke to Philip: “At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza.” He got up and went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road. The eunuch had been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was returning to Ethiopia, where he was minister in charge of all the finances of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.
29-30 The Spirit told Philip, “Climb into the chariot.” Running up alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”
31-33 He answered, “How can I without some help?” and invited Philip into the chariot with him. The passage he was reading was this:
As a sheep led to slaughter,
    and quiet as a lamb being sheared,
He was silent, saying nothing.
    He was mocked and put down, never got a fair trial.
But who now can count his kin
    since he’s been taken from the earth?
34-35 The eunuch said, “Tell me, who is the prophet talking about: himself or some other?” Philip grabbed his chance. Using this passage as his text, he preached Jesus to him.

For Reflection

When your soul is filled with the Holy Spirit, you can hear God speak to you.  Even though you may not hear words as Philip did, you will understand God's command.  

In obedience, Philip was able to teach the Ethiopian. Was it entirely coincidental that the Eunuch was on the same road as Philip, or that he, somehow got a copy of Isiah, or that he was born into a culture and was educated to serve the elite?  I think not.  God has a habit of preparing us in ways that are so natural they lie hidden in our experiences.  By the time the Ethiopian was readied to learn, Philip was readied to teach and each grew into the grace of God.
Pray
As God had prepared the Ethiopian and Philip, God has prepared you. Suffer obedience to God's will and make your prayers evidence of doing the Word.

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