The Book of Acts

Philip & the Ethiopian Eunuch

Acts 8:26-40 _NLT

“As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia.”- Acts 8:26-27a

            In spite of Philip great success preaching the gospel in Samaria, when an angel of the Lord instructed him to take a certain desert road south he left immediately. Even when you do not understand his plans, the results always prove that God’s way is right. On his way Philip met an Ethiopian eunuch riding in a carriage who was reading aloud from the Book of Isaiah. Running alongside the eunuch’s carriage Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading...the man said no that he needed someone to instruct him, so the eunuch invited Philip into his carriage. Philip then proceeded to explain that Isaiah was speaking of the coming Messiah and how Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah the Jews had been waiting for. 

            They came upon some water and the eunuch asked to be baptized, so Philip obliged. Scripture goes on to announce that the Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing, no doubt in the fact that his sins had been forgiven by Jesus, which Philip revealed to him through the prophet Isaiah. “We are told that the Spirit of the Lord ‘suddenly took’ Philip from the scene. This verb connotes both a forceful and sudden action by the Spirit and a lack of resistance from Philip.” I’ve never had this happen to me, but that certainly doesn’t mean it didn’t happen to Philip, nor does it mean it hasn’t happened to others. It does make me wonder why such things no longer take place today unless they do and I’m simply unaware of their occurrence. 

             Is it possible that Christians today have become complacent? Are we not spiritually ‘in tune’ with God’s Spirit? Or is it simple not for today? Believing that God has no limitations to what he is capable of doing, it strikes me as odd that miraculous events do not legitimately take place in this day and age. I have no final judgment on this topic, but I do understand that those things which perplex us should cause us to investigate to find an adequate biblical explanation either as to why they do not happen or what we need to do to allow God to use us in such a manner. Perhaps it’s nothing more than a lack of spiritually maturity. We reach a comfortable level of spirituality and then shut off the engine and enjoy the scenery. It’s something we need to make a matter of prayer. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In his name & for his glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.