The holy spirit talks to philip

THE HOLY SPIRIT TALKS TO PHILIP
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Acts 8:29 29TheSpirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot
and stay near it."
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
The Inquiring Proselyte
Acts 8:27-39
R. Tuck
Give some accountof Ethiopia, of the queen of that day, of the office the
eunuch occupied, and of the probable means by which he had been made a
Jewishproselyte. He was one of those men among the heathen who had been
awakenedto spiritual anxiety by the ever-working Spirit of God. He may have
had some Jewishconnections, throughwhom he had come to know of
Jehovah. We can recognize in him:
1. An inquirer.
2. A spiritually awakenedinquirer, one who had come to see that his own
personalrelations with God were matters of extreme importance.
3. A wise seeker, who had found the revealed Word of God, and was searching
it in full confidence that therein was the "eternallife." To such a seekerhelp
will never be long withheld. "Godwaiteth to be gracious."Philip was divinely
guided to meet the eunuch on his return from the holy city, and to join him in

the chariotjust when he was hopelesslypuzzled with his reading. The passage
which engagedhis attention was one which opened up the applications of
truth to sinful souls. The greatchapter of the evangelicalIsaiahdeals with
human sins, calling them transgressions;and it disclosesthat wonderful
scheme of Divine wisdomand love by which those transgressions were
vicariously borne, and borne away. Philip preached unto him Jesus, who "was
wounded for our transgressions," onwhom the "Lord laid the iniquity of us
all," whose "soulwas made an offering for sin;" who now saves his people
from their sins; from the penalty of their sins, by the virtue of his great
sacrifice, from the power of their sinfulness by the cleansing energiesofhis
Holy Spirit. With opened soul the eunuch listened, and the truth dawned upon
him; Christ, the Messiah, the Savior, was revealedto him. He believed the
record, and longed at once to sealin baptism his faith and love to the crucified
One. He thus simply declares his faith, "I believe that Jesus Christis the Son
of God." What was this eunuch's faith? and can we learn from him what the
saving faith is? Evidently it was a simple acceptanceofand confidence in the
testimony rendered by Philip to Christ, basedas the testimony was upon the
revealedWord of God. And that is faith still - receiving the recordwhich God
hath given us of his Son, and acting on the record. Faith is the greatdifficulty
in the way of seekers, yet, when it is won, it seems strange thatso simple a
matter should have hindered. Some of the expressions and figures of Scripture
may help us.
I. To BELIEVE IN CHRIST IS TO APPREHEND OR LAY HOLD OF HIM.
AS St. Peter, sinking in the waters, put out his hand and graspedthe offered
hand of Christ, so our souls, sinking in sin and despair, by faith lay hold of the
strong, rescuing Savior.
II. To BELIEVE IN CHRIST IS TO RECEIVE HIM. As the imprisoned
debtor welcomesand receives the man who brings into his cell the money of
his ransom, so our souls, by faith, welcome and receive him by whose precious
blood we have been bought out of our prison-house of sin.
III. To BELIEVE IN CHRIST IS TO ROLL OUR BURDEN UPON HIM. To
shift the weightof all the trouble and anxiety from our own shoulders, and let

Christ bearit all for us; as one might do who had an important trial coming
on, but trusted the whole matter to his skilful lawyer-friend.
IV. To BELIEVE IN CHRIST IS TO APPLY TO HIM. As the hungry and
the thirsty apply for food and drink, so the hungry soul applies to Christ for
the bread which, if a man eats, he lives for ever.
V. To BELIEVE IN CHRIST IS TO COME TO HIM. To flee to him as the
villagers flee into the strongholds before invading armies; as the doomed man
fled into the sanctuary to lay hold of the horns of the altar, or as the
manslayer fled before the avengerof blood to gain the shelterof the city of
refuge. So the soul enters the stronghold of Christ, takes sanctuarywith
Christ, passes within the gates ofChrist, the Refuge for the sinner.
VI. To BELIEVE IN CHRIST IS TO LEAN UPON HIM, TO STAY UPON
HIM, as we lean upon a stafffor support. Christ is the strong Staff, on which
the soul, with all its eternalinterests, may safelylean; Christ is the healthy,
strong Friend, on whom the sick, fainting, weary soul may wholly rely.
VII. To BELIEVE IN CHRIST IS TO ADHERE TO HIM, TO CLEAVE TO
HIM. As the drowning man clutches so must we grasp, cling to, cleave to, the
Lord Jesus, binding the soulto him as with everlasting bands. With so many
and so simple illustrations, how well you may be urged now - even now - to
believe on the Sonof God, and find the pardon he speaks, the life he gives, and
the love with which he will make you his own forever. - R.T.

Biblical Illustrator
Then said the Spirit to Philip, Go near.
Acts 8:29
Lessons from the desertways
MorganDix, D. D.
These two men were alike in a few respects, but in all others different. Both
were travellers, both were stewards, and eachhad authority. But one was
rich, the other poor. One was the stewardof a greatqueen, and returning to
her court and to the charge of all her treasure;but the other was going clown
to Gaza which is desert, in trust with the gospelministry and the commission
of the MostHigh. Here is an instance to the point; men were feeling after
Christ, in the unsatisfied hunger of the soul. Whateverimpression that
equipage may have made on Philip, as he looked, he was greatly in error if he
thought, "Here is probably a haughty man of the world!" Appearances
deceive. The humble and meek may be in kings'courts; under the robe of
wealth and state may beat a heart uncorrupt before God. This person, for
example, had the charge of vast earthly treasure, and yet his thoughts are far
away;he is meekly reading the Word of life, and seeking the pearl of great
price.
(MorganDix, D. D.)
Guidance in doing good
C. S. Robinson, D. D.

There was an unseenchance of serving a fellow-man down in a distant desert.
Christ offeredthat chance to this Christian preacher. If a true believer's heart
is alert, and his temper willing, the Lord will surely put him and keephim in
the wayof doing good. Only he must watch for heavenly providences to
summon him, and instantly obey.
I. NO EXERTION SHOULD BE CONSIDEREDTOO DIFFICULT, NO
PROSPECT TOO DISCOURAGING, IF DOING GOOD IS OUR PURPOSE.
Philip cheerfully started to go sixty or seventymiles just to save a single soul.
"He arose and went." Sprang to meet the command. On the other hand the
eunuch traversedmore than half a continent to render God worship and find
peace.
II. SOMETIMESTHE HOLY SPIRIT CHOOSES THE BEST PEOPLE IN
THE UNLIKELIEST PLACES. Christ had saints in Caesar's householdand
Herod's family; so there was a seekeraftertruth in the court of Ethiopia.
III. RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS ARE OF INESTIMABLE VALUE, AND
OUGHT TO BE CHERISHED AS WE WOULD CHERISH LIFE ITSELF.
The eunuch had been all the way, to Jerusalemwithout any helpful
illumination of grace. Bathe will net give up without the blessing; so he
searchesthe Scriptures on his way back, in spite of the tediousness ofthe
journey.
IV. IT IS WRONG TO BE FASTIDIOUS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES.
Wherever souls are, in the desertor not, there let us try to save them.
V. WE ARE NEVER TO DESPISE THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS. Philip,
like our Lord at Sychar, had an audience of one-but he preached
notwithstanding.
VI. THE MEASURELESS WORTHOF A SINGLE CHANCE OF TELLING
A FELLOW-BEING ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. Philip had not met this man
before: there is nothing to show that he met him again. A moment lost might
have been the loss of a soul.

VII. COURTESYIS NEVER LOST ON ANYBODY IN THIS UNEASY AND
SOMEWHAT ROUGH WORLD. A churl would have told this strangerto
move on and attend to his ownconcerns.
VIII. NOTICE THE ETHIOPIAN'S HUMILITY. He was ignorant and
acknowledgedit. To be conscious ofignorance is the first step to knowledge.
IX. WHOEVER DESIRES TO NO GOOD MUST FIND OUT WHERE THE
SPIRIT IS LEANING HIM, AND SIMPLY AND HUMBLY FOLLOW ON.
X. WATCH EVEN CHARIOTS PASSING BY.
(C. S. Robinson, D. D.)
The meeting
W. Arnot, D. D.
Marriages, theysay, are made in heaven;i.e., the steps of two, both being
God's dear children, are so directed that after eachhas passedover many
windings, the two paths converge, andthe two lives meet and melt into one
like two rivers, flowing thenceforth one broader, deeper, strongerstream.
Meetings that are of shorter duration, and partnerships that are less intimate,
come under the same rule. "It is not in man that walkethto direct his steps."
If God's purposes in creationrequire the meeting of two circling worlds, He
will so arrange that the two shall touch at the very point of space and time
which He has designed. The same might and wisdom have been at work to
arrange a meeting whereverone earthen vesselchargedbears Christ, and
another empty receives Christ at a brother's hand. This case is recordedas a
specimenof the Lord's way. Such meetings occurnow, and ye know not the
day nor the hour when the messengersentby God to meet you may heave in
sight — in church, street, lonely path, or home. Those who desire to meet him
will not miss him. Though the place was desert and the path dimly traced, and
the time not told at all, Philip and the Ethiopian met with all the exactitude of
tides and seasons. Thesemeetings, long prepared and wiselyarranged, are
sometimes lostthrough obstinate unbelief. What a meeting was that between

Paul and Felix! How far up the lines of preparation for it ran; and how
skilfully they were held by God until the missionary and the ruler met! Now,
Felix, or never. "Go thy way," etc. Fool! You will never getanother. He
thought he was only politely putting off the Christian: in reality he was rudely
rejecting Christ. To lose such a meeting may be to lose your soul. Philip ran to
meet the eunuch. Hitherto he had walked, perhaps slowly. So when two
objects attracteachother by hidden magnets, their mutual motion towards a
meeting is scarcelyperceptible at first; but when they have approachednear
the movement quickens, and they traverse the rest of the space ata rush.
(W. Arnot, D. D.)
A providential meeting
At one of Mr. Moody's meetings in Belfast, the Rev. WesleyGuard mentioned
an incident of which he said the facts had just been related to him. It was to
the effectthat a farmer, living three miles out in the country, wantedto come
into the meeting one day, but was unexpectedly detained, and did not know
how he would getthere in time. He started, and presently he heard a car
coming behind him. When it came up the vehicle was stopped, and the man
said to the driver, "Thank you, sir, for giving me a lift." "I did not offer you a
lift; but as the horse stopped you had better get up." The farmer gotup, and
they drove on. After a little conversationthe driver confessedthat he was in
greatdistress about his soul, and the tears beganto fall. The good man told
him the way of life, and there and then as they journeyed on the car the
gentleman found salvation. Said he, "I can see now why the horse stopped; it
was that I might getinto the light."
Little events leading to great
In walking across Alpine glaciers, travellers oftencome upon narrow and
apparently insignificant fissures, that seem to be merely superficialcracks;
while the guides know that, if one but sounds them, they shall be found
sinking down, fathom after fathom, to the very bottom, and sometimes,

though small to the eye externally, they are cavernous, and at the bottom
torrents rush and roar in silence, for so far down are they, and so in covered,
that their angriestnoises are smothered. It is just so in human life. The most
insignificant incidents often lead to greatevents. Often, if we hearGod's voice
in the small matters of life, and obey His commands, we shall find that we are
led on to greatthings. Philip was told in what direction to go, and by going in
that particular direction he met the Ethiopian, and was able to lead him to
Christ.
A timely visit
It is recorded of Mr. Dod, one of the Puritan ministers, that being one night
late in his study, his mind was strongly inclined, though he could assignno
reasonfor it, to visit a gentleman of his acquaintance at a very unseasonable
hour. Notknowing the design of Providence, he obeyed and went. When he
reachedthe house, after knocking a few times at the door, the gentleman
himself came, and inquired if he wanted him upon any particular business.
Mr. Dod, having answeredin the negative, and signified that he could not rest
till he had seenhim, the gentlemanreplied, "Oh, sir, you are sentof God at
this very hour, for I was just now going to destroy myself," and immediately
pulled the halter out of his pocketby which he had intended to commit the
horrid deed, which was thus prevented.
Philip the Evangelist
A. Maclaren, D. D.
Acts 8:26-39
And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the
south to the way that goes downfrom Jerusalemto Gaza…

The little that is knownabout Philip, the deaconand evangelist, may very
soonbe told. His name suggests, thoughby no means conclusively, that he was
probably one of the so-calledHellenists, orforeign-born and Greek-speaking
Jews. This is made the more probable because he was one of the sevenselected
by the Church, and after selectionappointed by the apostles to dispense relief
to the poor. The purpose of the appointment being to conciliate the grumblers
in the Hellenist sectionof the Church, the persons chosenwould probably
belong to it. He left Jerusalemduring the persecution"that arose afterthe
death of Stephen." As we know, he was the first preacherof the gospelin
Samaria;he was next the instrument honoured to carry the Word to the first
heathen ever gatheredinto the Church; and then, after a journey along the
seacoastto Caesarea, the then seatof government, he remained in that place
in obscure toil for twenty years;dropped out of the story; and we hear no
more about him but for one glimpse of his home in Caesarea.
I. We may gather a thought as to CHRIST'S SOVEREIGNTYIN
CHOOSING HIS INSTRUMENTS. Didyou ever notice that events exactly
contradictedthe notion of the Church, and of the apostles, in the selectionof
Philip and his six brethren? The apostles said, "It is not reasonthat we should
leave the Word of God and serve tables. Pick out sevenrelieving-officers —
men who shall do the secularwork of the Church." So said man. And what
did facts say? That out of these twelve, who were to give themselves to prayer
and the ministry of the Word, we never hear that by far the larger proportion
of them were honoured to do anything worth mentioning for the spread of the
gospel. But, on the other hand, of the men that were supposedto be fitted for
secularwork, two at all events had more to do in the expansionof the Church,
and in the development of the universal aspects ofChrist's gospel, than the
whole of the original group of apostles. So Christpicks His instruments.
Christ chooses His instruments where He will; and it is not the apostle's
business, nor the business of an ecclesiastic ofany sort, to settle his own work
or anybody else's. The Commander-in-Chief keeps the choosing ofthe men
for specialservice in His own hand. Christ says, "Go and join thyself to that

chariot," and speak there the speechthat I shall bid thee. Brethren, do you
listen for that voice calling you to your tasks, and never mind what men may
be saying.
II. The next lessonthat I would take from this story is the spontaneous speech
of a believing heart. There came a persecutionthat scatteredthe Church. Men
tried to fling down the lamp, and all they did was to spill the oil, and it ran
flaming whereverit went. And so we read that, not by appointment, nor of set
purpose, nor in consequenceofany officialsanction, nor in consequence of
any supernatural and distinct commandment from heaven, but just because it
was the natural thing to do, and they could not help it, they went everywhere,
these scatteredmen of Cyprus and Cyrene, preaching the Word. And when
this Philip, whom the officials had relegatedto the secularwork of
distributing charity, found himself in Samaria, he did the like. So it always
will be; we canall talk about what we are interested in. The full heart cannot
be condemned to silence. Do you carry with you the impulse for utterance of
Christ's name wherever you go? And is it so sweetin your hearts that you
cannot but let its sweetness have expressionby your lips?
III. Another lessonthat seems to me strikingly illustrated by the story with
which we are concerned, is THE GUIDANCE OF A DIVINE HAND IN
COMMON LIFE, AND WHEN THERE ARE NO VISIBLE NOR
SUPERNATURALSIGNS. Philip goes downto Samaria because he must,
and speaks because he cannothelp it, He is next bidden to take a long journey,
from the centre of the land, away down to the southern desert; and at a
certain point there the Spirit says to him, "Go! join thyself to this chariot."
And when his work with the Ethiopian statesmanis done, then he is swept
awayby the power of the Spirit of God, as Ezekielhad been long before by the
banks of the river Chebor, and is setdown, no doubt all bewildered and
breathless, at Azotus — the ancient Ashdod — the Philistine city, down on the
low-lying coast. Was Philip less under Christ's guidance when miracle ceased
and he was left to ordinary powers? Did it seemto him as if his task in

preaching the gospelin these villages through which he passedon his way to
Caesarea wasless distinctly obedience to the Divine command than when he
heard the utterance of the Spirit, "Go down to the road which leads to Gaza,
which is desert"? Byno means. To this man, as to every faithful soul, the
guidance that came through his own judgment and common sense, through
the instincts and impulses of his sanctified nature, by the circumstances which
he devoutly believed to be God's providence, was as truly direct Divine
guidance as if all the angels ofheaven had blown the commandment with their
trumpets into his waiting and stunned ears. And so you and I have to go upon
our paths without angelvoices, orchariots of storm, and to be contentedwith
Divine commandments less audible or perceptible to our senses than this man
had at one point in his career. There is no gulf for the devout heart between
what is called miraculous and what is called ordinary and common. Equally in
both did God manifest His will to His servants, and equally in both is His
presence capable ofrealisation. We do not need to envy Philip's brilliant
beginning. Let us see that we imitate his quiet close of life.
IV. The last lessonthat I would draw is this. — THE NOBILITY OF
PERSISTENCE IN UNNOTICED WORK. Whata contrast to the triumphs
in Samaria, and the other greatexpansionof the field for the gospeleffected
by the God-commanded preaching to the eunuch, is presentedby the
succeeding twentyyears of altogetherunrecordedbut faithful toil! Persistence
in such unnoticed work is made all the more difficult, and to any but a very
true man would have been all but impossible, by reasonof the contrastwhich
such work offered to the glories ofthe earlier days. Philip, who began so
conspicuously, and so suddenly ceasedto be the specialinstrument in the
hands of the Spirit, kept plod, plod, plodding on with no bitterness of heart.
For twenty years he had no share in the development of Gentile Christianity,
of which he had sowedthe first seed, but had to do much less conspicuous
work. He toiled awaythere in Caesarea patient, persevering, and contented,
because he loved the work. He seemedto be passedoverby his Lord in His
choice of instruments. It was he who was selectedto be the first man that
should preachto the heathen. But did you ever notice that, although he was
probably in Caesareaatthe time, Cornelius was not bid to apply to Philip,

who was at his elbow, but to send to Joppa for the Apostle Peter? Philip might
have sulked, and said, "Why was I not chosento do this work? I will speak no
more in this Name." It did not fall to his lot to be the apostle to the Gentiles.
One who came after him was preferred before him, and the Hellenist Saul was
setto the task which might have seemednaturally to belong to the Hellenist
Philip. He cordially welcomedPaulto his house in Caesareatwenty years
afterwards, and rejoicedthat one sows and anotherreaps; and so the division
of labour is the multiplication of gladness. A beautiful superiority to all the
low thoughts that are apt to mar our persistencyin unobtrusive and
unrecognisedwork is setbefore us in this story. Boys in the streetwill refuse
to join in games, saying, "I shall not play unless I am captain, or have the big
drum." And there are not wanting Christian men who lay down like
conditions. "Play wellthy part," whereverit is. Never mind the honour.
(A. Maclaren, D. D.)
STUDYLIGHT RESOURCES
Adam Clarke Commentary
Then the Spirit said unto Philip - This holy man having obeyedthe first
direction he receivedfrom God, and gone southward without knowing the
reasonwhy, it was requisite that he should now be informed of the object of
his mission: the Spirit said unto him, go near, and join thyself, etc. The angel
who had given him the first direction had departed; and the influence of the
Holy Spirit now completed the information. It is likely that what the Spirit did
in this case was by a strong impression on his mind, which left him no doubt
of its being from God.

Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Bibliography
Clarke, Adam. "Commentary on Acts 8:29". "The Adam Clarke
Commentary". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/acts-
8.html. 1832.
return to 'Jump List'
Albert Barnes'Notes onthe Whole Bible
The Spirit - See the notes on Acts 8:26. The Holy Spirit is evidently intended
here. The thought in Philip‘s mind is here tracedto his suggestion. All good
thoughts and designs have the same origin.
Join thyself - Join him in his chariot. Go and sit with him.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Barnes, Albert. "Commentaryon Acts 8:29". "Barnes'Notes onthe New
Testament". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/acts-8.html.
1870.
The Biblical Illustrator
Acts 8:29
Then said the Spirit to Philip, Go near.
Lessons from the desertways

These two men were alike in a few respects, but in all others different. Both
were travellers, both were stewards, and eachhad authority. But one was
rich, the other poor. One was the stewardof a greatqueen, and returning to
her court and to the charge of all her treasure;but the other was going clown
to Gaza which is desert, in trust with the gospelministry and the commission
of the MostHigh. Here is an instance to the point; men were feeling after
Christ, in the unsatisfied hunger of the soul. Whateverimpression that
equipage may have made on Philip, as he looked, he was greatly in error if he
thought, “Here is probably a haughty man of the world!” Appearances
deceive. The humble and meek may be in kings’courts; under the robe of
wealth and state may beat a heart uncorrupt before God. This person, for
example, had the charge of vast earthly treasure, and yet his thoughts are far
away;he is meekly reading the Word of life, and seeking the pearl of great
price. (MorganDix, D. D.)
Guidance in doing good
There was an unseenchance of serving a fellow-man down in a distant desert.
Christ offeredthat chance to this Christian preacher. If a true believer’s heart
is alert, and his temper willing, the Lord will surely put him and keephim in
the wayof doing good. Only he must watch for heavenly providences to
summon him, and instantly obey.
I. No exertion should be consideredtoo difficult, no prospect too discouraging,
if doing goodis our purpose. Philip cheerfully started to go sixty or seventy
miles just to save a single soul. “He arose and went.” Sprang to meet the
command. On the other hand the eunuch traversedmore than half a continent
to render God worship and find peace.
II. Sometimes the Holy Spirit chooses the best people in the unlikeliest places.
Christ had saints in Caesar’shouseholdand Herod’s family; so there was a
seekeraftertruth in the court of Ethiopia.

III. Religious convictions are of inestimable value, and ought to be cherished
as we would cherish life itself. The eunuch had been all the way, to Jerusalem
without any helpful illumination of grace. Bathe will net give up without the
blessing;so he searchesthe Scriptures on his way back, in spite of the
tediousness ofthe journey.
IV. It is wrong to be fastidious about opportunities. Wherever souls are, in the
desertor not, there let us try to save them.
V. We are never to despise the day of small things. Philip, like our Lord at
Sychar, had an audience of one-but he preached notwithstanding.
VI. The measurelessworthof a single chance of telling a fellow-being about
Jesus Christ. Philip had not met this man before:there is nothing to show that
he met him again. A moment lost might have been the loss of a soul.
VII. Courtesy is never lost on anybody in this uneasy and somewhatrough
world. A churl would have told this strangerto move on and attend to his own
concerns.
VIII. Notice the Ethiopian’s humility. He was ignorant and acknowledgedit.
To be conscious ofignorance is the first stepto knowledge.
IX. Whoeverdesires to no goodmust find out where the Spirit is leaning him,
and simply and humbly follow on.
X. Watcheven chariots passing by. (C. S. Robinson, D. D.)

The meeting
Marriages, theysay, are made in heaven;i.e., the steps of two, both being
God’s dear children, are so directed that after eachhas passedover many
windings, the two paths converge, andthe two lives meet and melt into one
like two rivers, flowing thenceforth one broader, deeper, strongerstream.
Meetings that are of shorter duration, and partnerships that are less intimate,
come under the same rule. “It is not in man that walkethto direct his steps.”
If God’s purposes in creationrequire the meeting of two circling worlds, He
will so arrange that the two shall touch at the very point of space and time
which He has designed. The same might and wisdom have been at work to
arrange a meeting whereverone earthen vesselchargedbears Christ, and
another empty receives Christ at a brother’s hand. This case is recordedas a
specimenof the Lord’s way. Such meetings occurnow, and ye know not the
day nor the hour when the messengersentby God to meet you may heave in
sight--in church, street, lonely path, or home. Those who desire to meet him
will not miss him. Though the place was desert and the path dimly traced, and
the time not told at all, Philip and the Ethiopian met with all the exactitude of
tides and seasons. Thesemeetings, long prepared and wiselyarranged, are
sometimes lostthrough obstinate unbelief. What a meeting was that between
Paul and Felix! How far up the lines of preparation for it ran; and how
skilfully they were held by God until the missionary and the ruler met! Now,
Felix, or never. “Go thy way,” etc. Fool! You will never get another. He
thought he was only politely putting off the Christian: in reality he was rudely
rejecting Christ. To lose such a meeting may be to lose your soul. Philip ran to
meet the eunuch. Hitherto he had walked, perhaps slowly. So when two
objects attracteachother by hidden magnets, their mutual motion towards a
meeting is scarcelyperceptible at first; but when they have approachednear
the movement quickens, and they traverse the rest of the space ata rush. (W.
Arnot, D. D.)
A providential meeting
At one of Mr. Moody’s meetings in Belfast, the Rev. WesleyGuard mentioned
an incident of which he said the facts had just been related to him. It was to
the effectthat a farmer, living three miles out in the country, wantedto come

into the meeting one day, but was unexpectedly detained, and did not know
how he would getthere in time. He started, and presently he heard a car
coming behind him. When it came up the vehicle was stopped, and the man
said to the driver, “Thank you, sir, for giving me a lift.” “I did not offer you a
lift; but as the horse stopped you had better get up.” The farmer gotup, and
they drove on. After a little conversationthe driver confessedthat he was in
greatdistress about his soul, and the tears beganto fall. The good man told
him the way of life, and there and then as they journeyed on the car the
gentleman found salvation. Said he, “I can see now why the horse stopped; it
was that I might getinto the light.”
Little events leading to great
In walking across Alpine glaciers, travellers oftencome upon narrow and
apparently insignificant fissures, that seem to be merely superficialcracks;
while the guides know that, if one but sounds them, they shall be found
sinking down, fathom after fathom, to the very bottom, and sometimes,
though small to the eye externally, they are cavernous, and at the bottom
torrents rush and roar in silence, for so far down are they, and so in covered,
that their angriestnoises are smothered. It is just so in human life. The most
insignificant incidents often lead to greatevents. Often, if we hearGod’s voice
in the small matters of life, and obey His commands, we shall find that we are
led on to greatthings. Philip was told in what direction to go, and by going in
that particular direction he met the Ethiopian, and was able to lead him to
Christ.
A timely visit
It is recorded of Mr. Dod, one of the Puritan ministers, that being one night
late in his study, his mind was strongly inclined, though he could assignno
reasonfor it, to visit a gentleman of his acquaintance at a very unseasonable
hour. Notknowing the design of Providence, he obeyed and went. When he
reachedthe house, after knocking a few times at the door, the gentleman
himself came, and inquired if he wanted him upon any particular business.
Mr. Dod, having answeredin the negative, and signified that he could not rest
till he had seenhim, the gentlemanreplied, “Oh, sir, you are sentof Godat

this very hour, for I was just now going to destroy myself,” and immediately
pulled the halter out of his pocket by which he had intended to commit the
horrid deed, which was thus prevented.
Copyright Statement
Text Courtesyof BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliography
Exell, JosephS. "Commentary on "Acts 8:29". The Biblical Illustrator.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tbi/acts-8.html. 1905-1909.
New York.
Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible
And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And
Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiahthe prophet, and said,
Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some
one shall guide me? And he besoughtPhilip to come up and sit with him.
And the Spirit said ... How did the Spirit speak to Philip? It might have been
through the angelwho had previously appearedto him, or it could have been
that one of God's prophets gave him the message. Howeverit was, there is no
evidence that this was merely an impression, a feeling, or any other kind of
merely subjective thing. Intelligible words were spoken, a definite message
communicated to Philip, and receivedand actedupon by him without delay.
Before Acts was completed, Luke would relate circumstances which shed a
greatdeal of light upon this question. See under Acts 20:23;21:10. As it was
there, so it must have been here.

Heard him reading ... The eunuch was reading aloud from the roll of the
prophecy.
Every man has a certain responsibility for his own salvation; but the man who
fully exercisesthat responsibility does not in so doing receive that salvation by
his ownefforts alone. The providence of God, the ministry of others, and
above and beyond all, the grace ofthe Lord Jesus Christare all in it.
Nevertheless,if a man should refuse or neglect to meet his own responsibilities
in the matter, it is not likely that he shall be saved. Notice the part played by
this Ethiopian officer in the circumstances leading to his salvation:
He was a devout and faithful worshiper of God, living up to all the light he
had.
He made a journey of fifteen hundred miles to worship in the city where God
had commanded men to worship.
He either took with him on the journey, or procured at Jerusalem, a copy of
the prophecy of Isaiah.
He was reading aloud from the word of God at the time of his encounterwith
Philip.
He confessedto a strangerthat he could not understand what he was reading
and that he needed guidance in his study.
He invited a preacherof the gospelto sit with him in his chariot.
He askeda question concerning a passageofGod's word that he could not
understand. (See under Acts 8:39 for more on this.)SIZE>
There are countless men today who have never done any of the things
mentioned above;and, when it is consideredthat this Ethiopian did
everything mentioned here, there can be no wonderthat God acted
providentially to bring him to a knowledge ofhis full duty and to open for him
the door of eternallife. The bare facts of this episode shout the messageto

every lost soul on earth that one should be mightily exercisedin pursuing a
saving knowledge ofthe truth.
Copyright Statement
James Burton Coffman Commentaries reproduced by permission of Abilene
Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. All other rights reserved.
Bibliography
Coffman, James Burton. "Commentary on Acts 8:29". "Coffman
Commentaries on the Old and New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bcc/acts-8.html. Abilene
Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible
Then the Spirit said unto Philip,.... Notthe angel, a ministering Spirit, as in
Acts 8:26 but the Holy Spirit, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, the
same with the Spirit of the Lord, Acts 8:39 who spoke unto him, either by an
articulative voice, such as was the Bath Kol among the Jews;or inwardly, by a
secretimpulse upon him, he directed him, saying:
go near, and join thyself to this chariot; he bid him make up to the chariot, he
saw driving on the road at such a distance, and follow it, and attend it closely;
and not leave it, till an opportunity of conversing with the personin it offered.
Copyright Statement
The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Modernisedand adapted
for the computer by Larry Pierce of Online Bible. All Rightes Reserved,
Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.
A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard
Bearer, 1 Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855

Bibliography
Gill, John. "Commentary on Acts 8:29". "The New John Gill Exposition of
the Entire Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/acts-
8.html. 1999.
McGarvey's OriginalCommentary on Acts
Just as Philip enteredthe road to which he had been directed by the angel,
and saw the chariot before him, the Holy Spirit beganto work for the
conversionof the treasurer. And where does he begin his work? In the heart
of the sinner, by direct communication? No. Like the angel, he begins with the
preacher. (29) "Thenthe Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join yourself to
this chariot." This was a miraculous communication from the Spirit, such as
frequently directed the labors of inspired men. The object of it was the same
as that of the angel's visit, to bring the preacherand the subjectfor
conversionface to face.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that
is available on the Christian ClassicsEtherealLibrary Website.
First published online at The RestorationMovementPages.
Bibliography
McGarvey, J. W. "Commentary on Acts 8:29". "J. W. McGarvey's Original
Commentary on Acts".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/oca/acts-8.html. Transylvania
Printing and Publishing Co. Lexington, KY. 1872.
Robertson's WordPictures in the New Testament

Join thyself (κολλητητι — kollēthēti). See this vivid word (be glued to, first
aoristpassive imperative) already in Acts 5:13; Luke 10:11; Luke 15:15.
Philip probably jumped on the running board on the side of the chariot.
Copyright Statement
The Robertson's WordPictures of the New Testament. Copyright �
Broadman Press 1932,33,Renewal1960. All rights reserved. Used by
permission of Broadman Press (Southern BaptistSunday SchoolBoard)
Bibliography
Robertson, A.T. "Commentary on Acts 8:29". "Robertson's WordPictures of
the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/rwp/acts-8.html. Broadman
Press 1932,33. Renewal1960.
Vincent's Word Studies
Join thyself ( κολλήθητι )
See on Luke 15:15; and Luke 10:11;and Acts 5:12.
Copyright Statement
The text of this work is public domain.
Bibliography
Vincent, Marvin R. DD. "Commentaryon Acts 8:29". "Vincent's Word
Studies in the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/vnt/acts-8.html. Charles
Schribner's Sons. New York, USA. 1887.

John Trapp Complete Commentary
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Ver. 29. Then the Spirit said] sc. By revelation, or secretinspiration.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Trapp, John. "Commentary on Acts 8:29". John Trapp Complete
Commentary. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jtc/acts-8.html.
1865-1868.
Greek TestamentCriticalExegeticalCommentary
29.]This is the first mention of that inner prompting of the Spirit referred to
again, probably ch. Acts 13:2, but certainly ch. Acts 10:19;Acts 16:6-7.
Chrysostomunderstands the words of the appearance ofan angel, but the text
hardly allows it.
κολλ.] no stress—attachthyselfto.
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Alford, Henry. "Commentary on Acts 8:29". Greek TestamentCritical
ExegeticalCommentary.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hac/acts-8.html. 1863-1878.
Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomonof the New Testament
Acts 8:29. εἶπε, said) The Holy Spirit is therefore a Person:ch. Acts 1:16, Acts
10:19-20, Acts 13:2, Acts 21:11 [in all which passagesthe Holy Ghostis
representedspeaking as a Person].
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Bengel, JohannAlbrecht. "Commentary on Acts 8:29". Johann Albrecht
Bengel's Gnomonof the New Testament.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jab/acts-8.html. 1897.
Matthew Poole's EnglishAnnotations on the Holy Bible
The Spirit said, either by the ministry of an angel, as Acts 8:26, or by
inspiration immediately by himself.
Go near; so near that you may speak with him that sits in it.
Join thyself to this chariot; stick close unto it, and leave it not.

Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Poole, Matthew, "Commentaryon Acts 8:29". Matthew Poole's English
Annotations on the Holy Bible.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/mpc/acts-8.html. 1685.
Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament
The Spirit; the Holy Spirit.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Edwards, Justin. "Commentary on Acts 8:29". "Family Bible New
Testament". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/fam/acts-8.html.
American Tract Society. 1851.
Cambridge Greek Testamentfor Schools andColleges
29. εἶπεν δὲ τὸ πνεῦμα τῷ Φιλίππῳ, and the Spirit said unto Philip, i.e. by
some inward prompting.
πρόσελθε καὶ κολλήθητι κ.τ.λ.,go nearand join thyself to this chariot. No
doubt this royal treasurer had a numerous retinue, and a single traveller on a
desertroad would be doing what was natural in attaching himself to a train of

people who were journeying in the same direction. Philip would therefore be
able to approach and hear what was read without being deemed an intruder.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
"Commentary on Acts 8:29". "Cambridge Greek Testamentfor Schools and
Colleges".https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cgt/acts-8.html.
1896.
PeterPett's Commentary on the Bible
‘And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.” ’
It was quite normal for solitary travellers to join themselves up with a
travelling caravanfor safetyreasons, and so Philip’s approachwould neither
be resentednor suspected. Others would be walking with the caravan. But
Philip knew that God had sent him here for a purpose, and sensing the
prompting of the Spirit, he recognisedthathe had to approachThe Man
himself. Thus he attachedhimself to his conveyance andran alongside.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography

Pett, Peter. "Commentary on Acts 8:29". "PeterPett's Commentary on the
Bible ". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/pet/acts-8.html. 2013.
The Expositor's Greek Testament
Acts 8:29. τὸ πνεῦμα εἶπεν: nothing inconsistentwith the previous statement
that an angelhad spokento him, as Weiss supposes by referring the angelvisit
to a reviser. There was no reasonwhy the angelshould accompanyPhilip, or
reappearto him, whilst the inward guidance of the Spirit would be always
present, as our Lord had promised.— κολλήθητι, cf. Acts 5:13, in Acts five
times, and in eachcase ofjoining or attaching oneselfcloselyto a person, of
socialor religious communion with a person, twice in Luke’s Gospel, cf. Acts
15:15 for its sense here, and elsewhereonly once in the Evangelists, Matthew
19:5, and that in a quotation, Genesis 2:24, cf. its use three times in St. Paul,
Romans 12:9, 1 Corinthians 6:16-17. In classicalGreeksimilar usage, andcf.
LXX, Ruth 2:8, Sirach 2:3; Sirach 19:2, 1 Maccabees 3:2;1 Maccabees6:21,
etc. Hebrew ‫ד‬ָּ‫ב‬ ַ‫,ק‬ see Wetsteinon Acts 10:28.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Nicol, W. Robertson, M.A., L.L.D. "Commentary on Acts 8:29". The
Expositor's Greek Testament.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/egt/acts-8.html. 1897-1910.
Mark Dunagan Commentary on the Bible
Acts 8:29 And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this
chariot.

"THE SPIRIT"-The Holy Spirit.
"GO NEAR, AND JOIN THYSELF TO THIS CHARIOT"-
Points to Note:
"There are many people today who think that conversionis achievedby the
direct action of the Holy Spirit on the heart (mind) of the unconverted
sinner." (Reesep. 334)But the Holy Spirit doesn"tdirectly speak to the
eunuch (the sinner), in this case he is speaking to the preacher. The only
messagethe eunuch will hear in this context is the message found in the Word
of God (). A direct operation of the Holy Spirit in addition to the gospel
messageis not neededto open the mind of the sinner (Romans 1:16; Romans
10:17).
Note that when the Holy Spirit speaks directlyto an individual that the
messageis loud, CLEAR AND SPECIFIC!This idea that the Holy Spirit lays
a "thought, intuition or feeling" on my heart--that I in turn translate, is false.
How many charismatic preachers will saysomething like, "in a small quiet
voice, in something like a whisper, I could tell, feel that the Spirit was saying
something like..."or, "now Goddidn"t actually sayit in this way, but I could
tell that God was saying...." Friends, the Spirit doesn"tmumble when He
speaks. He doesn"t need a Hookedon Phonics Course or a speechtherapist.
And neither does He talk like Charlie Brown"s teacher!When the Holy Spirit
spoke to people directly, He plainly told them what to do. Philip didn"t have
to pause and ask himself, "Now I wonder what God is trying to tell me".
Opportunities must be seized. Erdman notes: "Had the chariotrolled by, as
far as the evangelistwas concerned, it would have been gone forever." (p. 85)
We too must seize and use the opportunities that come our way (Ephesians
5:16).
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Dunagan, Mark. "Commentary on Acts 8:29". "Mark Dunagan
Commentaries on the Bible".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dun/acts-8.html. 1999-2014.
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Then = And.
the Spirit, i.e. the angel. App-101.
join thyself. Greek. kollaomai. Seenote on Acts 5:13.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Bullinger, Ethelbert William. "Commentary on Acts 8:29". "E.W. Bullinger's
Companion bible Notes".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bul/acts-8.html. 1909-1922.
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Then the Spirit said unto Philip - by an unmistakable voice within, as in Acts
10:19;Acts 16:6-7,
Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. This would reveal to Philip the
hitherto unknown object of his journey, and encourage him to expectsome
fruit of his interview with this stranger.

Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Jamieson, Robert, D.D.;Fausset,A. R.; Brown, David. "Commentary on Acts
8:29". "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -
Unabridged". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jfu/acts-8.html.
1871-8.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(29) Join thyself to this chariot.—The actimplied is that of laying hold and, as
it were, attaching himself to the chariotin which the eunuch rode.
Contextual Overview
26Butan angelof the Lord said to Philip, Get up, and go to the south, to the
road which goes from Jerusalemto Gaza, through the waste land. 27And he
went and there was a man of Ethiopia, a servant of greatauthority under
Candace, queenof the Ethiopians, and controller of all her property, who had
come up to Jerusalemfor worship; 28He was going back, seatedin his
carriage, andwas reading the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29And the Spirit
said to Philip, Go near, and get on his carriage.30AndPhilip, running up to
him, saw that he was reading Isaiah the prophet, and said to him, Is the sense
of what you are reading clearto you? 31And he said, How is that possible
when I have no guide? And he made Philip get up by his side. 32Now the place
in the book where he was reading was this: He was taken, like a sheep, to be
put to death; and as a lamb is quiet when its woolis being cut, so he made no
sound: 33Being oflow degree, his cause was not given a hearing: who has
knowledge ofhis family? for his life is cut off from the earth. 34And the

Ethiopian saidto Philip, About whom are these words said by the prophet?
about himself, or some other? 35So Philip, starting from this writing, gave
him the goodnews about Jesus.
END OF STUDYLIGHT RESOURCES
Guided to Mission'
The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot [carrying an Ethiopian official] and
stay near it."
— Acts 8:29 NIV
Key Thought
As in a previous Key Thought section, we are reminded againthat reaching
the ends of the earth with the goodnews of Jesus is the Holy Spirit's work.
Throughout the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit inspires, convicts, empowers,
emboldens, directs, guides, and leads God's servants in sharing the story of
Jesus in much of the RomanEmpire. In the book of Acts, we see that four
greatcities become major touch points for the advancement of the goodnews:
Jerusalemis the heart of the Jewishfaith; Antioch, Ephesus, and Rome are
among the largestcities in the world at that time. Another large city,
Alexandria, is not mentioned in Acts. However, the conversionof the
Ethiopian reminds us that the message ofGodspread to Africa just as it had
elsewhere.WhereverJesus'followers go, theytake the messageofJesus (Acts
8:1-4; Acts 11:19-21). The Holy Spirit made sure Philip, a servant full of the
Holy Spirit (Acts 6:1-7), found the Ethiopian at just the right place and time
(Acts 8:26-40). Let's ask the Holy Spirit to be at work opening doors to new
peoples and cultures for the goodnews to spread, and let's ask for the Holy
Spirit to getthe right people to those who are seeking!
Today's Prayer

O God of the nations, please use me in any way you choose to share the
messageofJesus with those who do not know him. I also pray that you will
bless eachone of your servants who is seeking to share Jesus acrosscultural
boundaries. Pleasemake your word successfulthrough their efforts. Please,
dear Father, renew our world through the movement of the Holy Spirit! In
Jesus'name, I pray. Amen. https://www.heartlight.org/
Bob Deffinbaugh
The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)
Introduction
This week I spent a greatdeal of time working on the church grounds—
something I do not usually do. As David Mills and I were standing in front of
the church talking, a womanwho lives across the street from the church
walkedup to us and asked, “Do youmen attend this church?” We told her we
both were members of the church. She seemedsatisfiedby this and followed
up with this request: “My husband and I went out for a walk and accidentally
lockedourselves outof the house. Do you suppose that you could help us get
back into the house?” David knew that I had some skill in this area, and so he
went on back to his work. I told the woman I would be delighted to help her
“break in” to her house if she would not tell anybody what I had done. In less
than a minute she was back in her house, pleasedto be in so easily, but a little
distressedto see the ease with which I got pasther front door lock.
Later in the day, David called. He askedif I had been successful. I told him
that I managedto get in in less than a minute. It only later occurred to me
that there might be a connectionbetweenthis neighbor’s asking if we were
from the church and her asking if we could help her break into her own
house. She wanted someone to help her break in, but she also wanted some

assurance thatthe person who did so was trustworthy. In effect, she wanted
an honest “secondstory man.” I guess that was me.
It is strange how things like this work out, isn’t it? It reminds me of another
time, when I was helping a friend “break into” his truck. It suddenly occurred
to me, as I was standing there in the darkness, clotheshangerin hand, that my
friend was holding the light, and I was doing the breaking in. That amused me
because he had spent a fair bit of time in prison for dealing in stolencar parts.
The conversionof the Ethiopian eunuch is similar, as I read this text in the
eighth chapter of the Book of Acts. Here was a man who had just been to
Jerusalem, to worship the God of Israel there. And yet he was not savedin
Jerusalem, but in the desert. And rather than being “led to the Lord” by one
of the apostles there in Jerusalem, or even by Peteror John in a Samaritan
city, he was convertedthrough Philip, who was divinely directed to him in
that remote desert place. One would think that the first Gentile convert
(specificallymentioned in Acts) would have been won by an apostle. How
strange the ways of God are!The salvationof this Ethiopian eunuch was
clearly a matter of divine electionand calling, as was the choice of the human
instrument (Philip) a part of God’s sovereignwill. The reasons for this are
important, and we shall seek to discoverthem as we continue on with our
study.
The Return of the Apostles
(8:25)
25 And so, when they had solemnly testified and spokenthe word of the Lord,
they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospelto many
villages of the Samaritans.
Stephen’s preaching resulted in his own death, and in the persecutionof the
whole church in Jerusalem, with Saulas a prominent and dominant force
behind this. This brought about the exodus of the church, except for the
apostles (Acts 8:1-3). Along with Stephen (and five others), Philip was one of
those chosento oversee the feeding of the widows, giving particular attention
to the Hellenistic Jewishwidows, who had previously been overlooked(Acts

6:1-6). This same Philip had fled from Jerusalem, and had gone to Samaria,
where he performed many amazing signs (Acts 8:4-7). As a result of his
ministry, many Samaritans were saved, including Simon the magician(8:9-
13). When the apostles in Jerusalemlearned of the revival which was taking
place in Samaria, they sent Peterand John to Samaria. These apostles laid
their hands on the Samaritan believers and prayed that they might receive the
Holy Spirit (8:14-15). When they had finished their task, they departed for
Jerusalem, preaching the gospelin the Samaritanvillages as they journeyed
home (8:25).
The Conversionof the Ethiopian
(8:26-40)
26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Arise and go south to the
road that descends from Jerusalemto Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) 27 And
he arose and went; and behold, there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court
official of Candace, queenof the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her
treasure;and he had come to Jerusalemto worship. 28 And he was returning
and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the
Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” 30 And when Philip had
run up, he 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 ofScripture which he was reading was this: “HE WAS LED
AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS
SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH. 33”IN
HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY; WHO SHALL
RELATE HIS GENERATION?FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE
EARTH.”
34 And the eunuch answeredPhilip and said, “Pleasetellme, of whom does
the prophet saythis? Of himself, or of someone else?”35 And Philip opened
his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preachedJesus to him. 36
And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch
said, “Look!Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37 (See

marginal note.) 38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went
down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39
And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched
Philip away; and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip found himself at Azotus; and as he passedthrough he kept
preaching the gospelto all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.
We are not told how it was that Philip ended up in “the city of Samaria” (Acts
8:5). We can safelyassume that Philip left Jerusalembecause ofthe intense
persecutionthat arose in connectionwith the death of Stephen (8:1). We are
not told that Philip was divinely directed to this city. The impressionI get is
that he simply ended up there. When the power of God was manifested
through Philip, both by means of his miracles and his message, many were
converted. In the case ofthe conversionof the Ethiopian, we are very clearly
told that Philip was specificallydirected to this man, and to the meeting place,
in a remote locationin the desert.
This divine direction is given through the “angelofthe Lord”119 (8:26) and
through the Holy Spirit (8:29, 39). I think it is significant that both the “angel
of the Lord” and the Holy Spirit are employed in guiding Philip to the eunuch.
The “angelof the Lord” is perhaps God’s primary means of specifically
guiding individuals in the Old Testament, while the Holy Spirit is the more
dominant instrument of guidance in the New. Usedtogether, the guidance of
Philip and the salvationof the Ethiopian is shownto be the fulfillment of Old
Testamentprophecies and promises,120 pertaining to the salvationof
Gentiles, as well as a New Testamentphenomenon, brought about by means of
the Holy Spirit. Thus the Old and New Testaments are demonstratedto be in
harmony in this matter of the eunuch’s salvation.
There could be no mistaking it. God intended to save this one individual. He
was an Ethiopian, a high government official, and possibly a eunuch.121 Had
this man been savedin Jerusalem, it might have been lookedupon as a kind of
fluke, an exception. But this man was being soughtby God. Here, in the midst
of a Samaritan revival, and before the accounts ofwide-spread evangelismof
Gentiles, this Gentile was sought and saved by God, a kind of “first-fruits” of
that which was to come. According to church tradition, this man was to

become an evangelistamong his own people. There is no mention of this in the
Scriptures, however.
Obediently, Philip went to the place he was directed by the “angelof the
Lord.” It was at this place that he saw the eunuch. Then, the Holy Spirit
directed Philip to join himself with the chariot122 (8:29), and thus with its
rider. While Philip was very preciselyguided to the man, he was not told what
to say. His message wasto be indicated by the passagethe eunuch was
studying, and the question which he asked.
There is no doubt that Philip was guided to this man, in this remote desert
spot. This is clearand it is emphatic in the text. While not so clear, nor so
emphatic, it would seemthat the eunuch was divinely prepared for Philip’s
appearance as well. The man was not on his way to Jerusalem, but from the
holy city. He had been there to worship. What could have happened in
Jerusalem, which might have prepared the eunuch for his encounterwith
Philip, and with the gospel?
In the first place, the eunuch may have heard about Jesus. If this were the
eunuch’s first pilgrimage to the holy land, he would have many questions. If
the eunuch had been in Jerusalembefore, he would likely have heard of Jesus,
of His claim to be the Messiah, ofHis ministry, His rejection, His trial, His
death and burial, and likely His empty tomb. He may have heard of the
apostles, oftheir radical change afterthe death of Jesus, and of their ministry
and message. At the time of the eunuch’s arrival in Jerusalem, the “headline
news” would have had to do with Stephen’s ministry and martyrdom, and of
the widespreadpersecutionof the church, led (at leastin part) by a Jew
named Saul.
It would seemthat the eunuch had a strong commitment to Judaism (his
pilgrimage to Jerusalemwas no small effort), and that he also had a strong
sense ofmessianic expectation. Would he not have askedabout Jesus? Would
he not wish to look into this matter of Messiahpersonally, to see for himself
what the Old Testamentprophets had written? Did the eunuch purchase his
copy of the Isaiahscroll(an expensive gesture)so that he could read the
prophecies about Messiah? And who told the eunuch about baptism? We all

assume that Philip did, but we do not know this to be so. The apostles had
preachedthat Israelites must repent and be baptized, calling upon the name
of the Lord to be saved. Is this why the eunuch was so eagerto be baptized,
when he saw the water? There may have been a greatdeal of groundwork
already accomplishedin the eunuch’s life, so that he was ready to receive the
messagewhichPhilip would disclose to him, from the Scriptures.
What a thrill it must have been for Philip to hear the eunuch reading aloud
from the prophecy of Isaiah. What an evidence of God’s leading. Indeed, this
was the right man. When Philip run alongside the eunuch’s chariot and asked
if he understood what he was reading, the Ethiopian quickly acceptedhis
help. He needed, as he said, someone to guide him. The Old Testamentonly
went so far as to prophecy concerning things to come. The gospelwas the
record of these prophecies having been fulfilled. Philip was about to tell this
man that the prophecies of Isaiah concerning Messiahwere fulfilled in the
person of Jesus. Thus, he beganwith this text, proclaiming Jesus to him.
The prophecy which the eunuch was reading included these words, words
which greatly perplexed him:
“HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB
BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS
MOUTH. IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
WHO SHALL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS
REMOVED FROM THE EARTH.”
These words come from Isaiah53:7-8. I would understand that these words
were especiallyperplexing to the eunuch, and thus the focus of his attention
and of his question. But I would also assume that the eunuch had read the
entire text, and thus was well aware of the overall passageand of its context.
The problem which the eunuch had with this passagewas wrappedup in the
identity of the one referred to in the text:
“Pleasetellme of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself, or of someone
else?” (Isaiah53:34).

If the prophet was referring to himself, his suffering (and death) would not
come as a surprise. After all, the prophets were rejected, despised, and
persecuted(cf. Stephen’s words in 7:52). But how could Isaiahbe speaking of
himself? The immediately preceding verses spoke ofthe death of this
mysterious figure, but a substitutionary death—a death for the benefit of
others:
Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we
ourselves esteemedHim stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was
pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are
healed. All of us like sheephave gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own
way; But the LORD has causedthe iniquity of us all To fall on Him (Isaiah
53:4-6).
If Isaiah could not be referring to himself, and he was referring to another,
than was this person not Messiah?But if this was the Messiah, He was not the
kind of Messiahthat Israelwas looking for. They lookedfor a hero, to rid
Israelof her oppressors. In fact, this description perfectly portrayed the
coming of Jesus, and His rejectionby Israel. Jesus’message,was rejectedby
Israel, just like the rest of the prophets (Isaiah53:1). Jesus was not outwardly
attractive, and indeed, He was rejectedby men, who viewed His suffering and
death as deservedlyfrom God. He was, however, from God’s point of view,
sinless. His suffering and death were for the sins of others, rather than His
own. If these words of Isaiah were a description of Messiah, then Jesus was
the Messiah. No wonderthe identity of this One was so important to the
eunuch.
Philip’s answerwas to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, beginning with this text,
and then from the rest of the Old Testament(Acts 8:35). The eunuch joyfully
acceptedPhilip’s words. When he saw water(a rare thing in this desert place)
he wished to make the best use of it. He wanted to be baptized.123 Who told
him of the need for baptism is not stated, but he was right in seeing it as an
important responsibility for a true believer. When the chariot stopped, both
got out, and Philip baptized him.124

Even more quickly than he appeared on the scene, Philip disappeared. Some
may doubt the fact of a miraculous disappearance andtransporting of Philip,
but the words strongly imply such. Philip was “snatchedaway”125by the
Holy Spirit, in a way that is similar to the transporting of Old Testament
saints like Elijah, end even of New Testamentpersonalities.126Philip found
himself at Azotus, some twenty or so miles distant,127 from which place he
passedon to other cities, preaching the gospelas he went on his way to
Caesarea (Acts 9:40).
The Ethiopian, on the other hand, proceededin a more normal way, back to
his native land. We are told no more of this man in the New Testament,
although some ancients viewed this man as the father of evangelismin
Ethiopia.128 Whatwe are told is that this man went his way rejoicing (8:39).
When the gospel comes and is received, there is greatjoy. Such was the case in
the city of Samaria (8:8). It is always the case (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:6). This is,
I believe, the “joy of our salvation” (cf. Psalm 51:12). Sin may rob of this joy
for a season, but repentance will restore it to us, and us to God. It is difficult
to believe that salvationhas come when there is no joy.
Conclusion
There are a number of important lessons to be learned from this brief account
of the conversionof the Ethiopian eunuch. First, let us look at this event in the
light of the argument of the Book ofActs. It is a significant event in the
transition from Jerusalemto Rome (cf. Acts 1:8) and from the preaching of
the gospelto the Jews (only, at first) to the Gentiles. We have been prepared
for the evangelizationof the Gentiles throughout the Gospelof Luke and in
Acts (thus far) as well. In Luke chapter 2, Simeonspoke of the Lord Jesus as a
“light to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32; a citation from Isaiah42:6). In Luke
chapter 4, when Jesus was welcomedby His own people at the synagogue in
Nazareth, Jesus made it clearthat the salvationHe had come to bring was for
Gentiles as well, a disclosure which reversedthe attitude of the people, so that
they now tried to kill Him (cf. Luke 4:16-30). The accountof the good
Samaritan (Luke 10), the prodigal son (Luke 15), and the Pharisee and the tax
collector(Luke 18)all put the self-righteous Jew in his place, while it elevated
the despised“sinner” and gave him hope of God’s salvation, due to his

repentance. In Acts chapter 2, speaking in tongues was a sign, a sign of
“things to come” in the salvation of those from every nation, just as our Lord
had given instructions in the greatcommissionto make disciples of every
nation (Matthew 28:18-20).
The conversionof the Ethiopian eunuch was a very significant event, recorded
in the midst of the greatSamaritan revival. The Samaritans were regardedas
“half-brothers,” so to speak, but were at leastreceivedby the church as saints.
This Ethiopian was a kind of “first fruits” of the Gentiles. His race, along with
his physical deformity (if, indeed, he was a true eunuch), would have kept him
from approaching God, but God approachedhim, seeking him out in the
desert, making it clearthat he was a true saint, and the first of many more to
come. Later on, Peterwould be sent to the house of another Gentile proselyte,
a God-fearer, but the Ethiopian was first brought near to God by his faith in
Jesus as the Christ. And this man was not saved through the ministry of an
apostle (Peterand John were on their way home), but rather through Philip.
The sovereigntyof God is once more emphasized.
This text is vitally important for it would seemthat it is here, for the first
time, that Isaiah 53 is clearly indicated as a messianic prophecy. It would not
have been received(or welcomed)as such by those within Judaism who
wanted a different kind of Messiah. Philip’s identification of the One of whom
Isaiahwrote as the Messiah, Jesus, wasthat which opened the door to much
further study, meditation, and apostolic preaching. But here this text is seenin
what appears to be a new light.
This text is a key, I believe, to Jewishevangelism. It not only helps us
understand why unbelieving Jews wouldreject Jesus (as Sauldid), but also
what an unbelieving Jew must do in order to be saved. This passagewould
require a Jew to repent (to change their mind about Jesus, and about
Messiah), so as to acknowledgeJesus as the Messiah(something Saul is going
to do in chapter 9). They must recognize that their conceptionof Messiahwas
wrong, as was their rejectionof Jesus as the Messiah. Theymust see that
Jesus was the innocent, suffering Savior, who came to be rejectedand to die,
not for His own sins, but the for sins of the world, so that men could be saved.
They must see that it was their perception of Him that was wrong, and that in

their sins they had rejectedthe One whom God had appointed. They must
admit that God was utterly right, and that they were wrong in this matter of
Messiah(as with all else). Jesus is the bone of contention, and rightly so. It is
not that Jesus does not fulfill prophecy perfectly, but that Israelno more
acceptedMessiahthan they did the prophets. To be savedrequired
repentance—the admissionthat they were wrong—andtrust in Jesus as the
MessiahofGod. Jewishevangelismshould lean hard on this passage, forit
says all that is needed to be said, and it point to Jesus as the Messiah, the only
One who has perfectly fit this divine description and prophecy of the Savior.
I should also add that this text is they key to Gentile evangelism. The fact is
that God’s Messiahwas a JewishMessiah. The salvationwhich we must
acceptfor eternal life is, in a sense, a Jewishsalvation. We are savedby
trusting in a JewishSavior, who perfectly fulfilled the Old Testament(Jewish)
scriptures. We are not saved(as the Judaizers would insist) by becoming
Jewishproselytes, forthe Ethiopian was a proselyte. But while he was a
religious Jew, he was not saved. People thus are saved by recognizing their
sins, just as the Jews must, and by trusting in Jesus as God’s Messiah, just like
the Jews. Gentiles mustbe savedas Jews are (so here), and Jews must be
savedas the Gentiles are (so Galatians 2:15-21).
The salvationof the Ethiopian eunuch is an interesting commentary on the
charges whichwere leveled againstStephen. He was chargedwith speaking
againstthe law of Moses andagainstthe “Holy place.” The Jews had an
undue attractionand devotion to the “holy city” and to the temple. They
attributed an excessive value to these places, notknowing (or refusing to
acceptthe fact that) God was about to destroy them. It was a new “holy city”
that would be the headquarters of the kingdom, not this city, which was to be
done awaywith. The “holy place” did little for the eunuch. Instead, he was
brought to faith in a remote “desertplace,” althoughhe had just been to the
temple and to the holy city. Just as Jesus had told the woman at the wellin
John chapter 4, worship was not a matter of the “right place,” but of the
“right person” and of the “right spirit.” We see this evidenced by the
conversionof the Ethiopian.

Finally, the process by which Godsaved the Ethiopian eunuch provides us
with an important lessonin divine guidance. Here, Philip is specifically
directed to the Ethiopian eunuch, in a remote place, so that God’s electionand
salvationmight become evident, in an undeniable way. And so it was
necessaryfor the “angelofthe Lord” and the “Holy Spirit” to direct Philip to
the eunuch. But in the salvationof the Samaritans in the “city of Samaria”
above (8:4-25), no statement is made that Philip was divinely guided to this
place. It is clearthat God “led” Philip, in an indirect way, but from all
outward appearances,Philip went there out of pure necessityand on the basis
of his own judgment.
My point is this: God guides. God guides supernaturally, at times. He
specificallyand undeniably guides men to do that which they would not have
ordinarily have done. Thus, God guided Philip to set aside his Samaritan
ministry for a time and to go to this remote place so as to bring about the
conversionof an African. This guidance was necessarybecause Philip would
have never chosento do this on his own, and rightly so. But in many (I would
say most) cases, Godguides and uses men and women, who acton their own
judgment, just as God used Philip to reachthis Samaritancity, and many of
the others who fled from Jerusalemto avoid the persecutionof Saul and
perhaps others. It may not seemlike a very kind of pious guidance—this flight
from persecution—but God succeededin putting men and women where He
wanted them. Why is it that we want the God’s particular direction, but we
turn up our nose at His providential guidance? It think it is because we deem
direct guidance to be more spiritual than indirect guidance. And this, in my
opinion, is why we so often try to sanctionour own decisions with the phrase
“Godled me to…” when, in all truth, this guidance is the indirect kind, and
not that of a specific setof instructions given by an angelof the Lord. Let us
be assuredthat God does guide, but that He is under no obligationto guide us
as we might prefer, or as we might deem more spiritual. A God who is
sovereign, who is completely in control, does not have to tell every Christian
every step they are to take. And this is why we must walk by faith, and not by
sight. Faith acts, basedupon biblical principles, trusting that God is guiding.
Faith does not presume to demand that God must give us verbal instructions
from an angel or His Spirit, so that we can be sure He is with us. Much that is

done in the name of faith is really its opposite—unbelief. Faith trusts God
when we have not seen(an angelor a vision), and when we do not need to. Let
us be men and women of faith.
One final word—aboutdiscipleship. I believe that discipleship is a divinely
given duty, as stated, for example, in the Great Commission(Matthew 28:18-
20). Having said this, I must also point out that God sometimes provides for
the discipling of men apart from the normal means. Saul, for example, was
discipled by God in the wilderness, and not by the apostles, and for a good
purpose (as we shall later see). So, too, this Ethiopian is not discipled by Philip
or by any other saints, so far as I cantell. In these exceptionalcases, Godwill
meet the need. This Ethiopian had the Word of God and the Spirit of God.
That was enough. And for those of us who become overly dependent on others
(“accountability” is a word that makes me a little nervous—it is not
thoroughly biblical), let me remind you that our primary dependence should
be upon the Word of God and the Spirit of God as well, rather than upon
men, even godly men.
The Ethiopian met God in a desertedplace, when he came to realize that his
religion was not enough, and that Jesus was the Savior, who died for his sins.
Have you met the Savior yet? I pray that if you have not, today might be the
day.
119 Fora study of the “angelof the Lord” consult these texts: Gen 16:7,9,11;
22:11, 15;Exo 3:2; Num 22:22-27, 31-32,34-35;Jud 2:1,3; 5:23; 6:11-12, 21-
22; 13:3,13, 15-17, 20-21;2Sa 24:16;1Ki 19:7; 2Ki 1:3,15;19:35;1Ch
21:12,15-16,18,30;Psa 34:7; 35:5-6; Isa 37:36; Zec 1:11-12;3:1, 5-6; 12:8; Mat
1:20,24;2:13, 19; 28:2; Luk 1:11, 2:9; Act 5:19; 8:26; 12:7,23.
120 Cf. Deuteronomy23:1; Isaiah 56:3-5; 66:18-21.
121 The title “eunuch” canbe used of a government official who is literally a
eunuch, but also for an officialwho is not. Thus, we cannot know for certain
whether or not this man was literally a eunuch. If he was, indeed, a eunuch, he

would have been forbidden to enter the “assembly of the Lord” (Deuteronomy
23:1).
122 Unromantic as it may be, this could also have been a mere ox cart.
123 Verse 37 is omitted in some texts. I am inclined to acceptit as genuine. It
may not add a greatdeal to the passage, norwould its absence do great
damage to it. It may be that the words of verse 37, which stress the
importance of the eunuch “believing with all his heart that Jesus is the Christ”
are, to some degree, a result of Philip’s disappointing experience with Simon
the magician, whose sincerityseemeda bit doubtful under close apostolic
scrutiny.
124 I am an immersionist, by conviction, but the factthat both men are saidto
go down into the waterdoes not necessarilyprove that this man was
immersed. They could have “gone down” into a creek or (more likely) an
oasis, whichwas but a few inches deep. The “going down” need not refer to
the depth of the water, but to the elevationof the water, with respectto the
two men. And even though the water were deep enough to immerse the
Ethiopian, this does not, in and of itself, prove that he was immersed. That is
an inference derived from a number of lines of evidence. This text does not
add much to these lines of evidence. After all, a man could have been
sprinkled in a pool six feet deep.
125 Paul employs this same term for being his being “caughtup” into the
third heaven in 2 Corinthians 2:2, 4, and for the rapture of the living saints in
1 Thessalonians 4:17 (cf. also Revelation12:5).
126 We see something similar happening elsewhere in the Bible. Notice the
marginal notes in the NASB here, referring to 1 Kings 18:12; 2 Kings 2:16;
Ezekiel3:12, 14; 8:3; 11:1, 24; 43:5; 2 Corinthians 12:2.
127 Cf. Charles W. Carterand Ralph Earle, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand
Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1973), p. 122.
128 “. . . tradition has assignedto this man the early evangelizationof
Ethiopia.” Carter and Earle, p. 122.

RelatedTopics:Christology, Soteriology(Salvation), Evangelism
ACTS 8:29
In Acts chapter eight we are reading the incident of Philip having met up with
the Ethiopian eunuch on a highway in Gaza. The Bible says in Acts 8:29-31,
“But the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And
Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said,
Understandeth thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some
man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit
with him.”
As we will see in just a few verses, the Ethiopian eunuch was reading from
Isaiahchapter fifty-three, which is one of the greatchapters of the Old
Testamentthat goes into detail about the sufferings of the Messiah. The exact
parallel betweenIsaiahchapter fifty-three and what happened to Jesus at
Calvary are obvious. But of course, the parallels are only obvious to those who
have the spirit of understanding because they have been enlightened through
the new birth that comes by faith in Christ. As wonderful as the Bible is, it can
only be understood by those who have spiritual understanding. That is why
the cults use the Bible and come up with false doctrines. And that is why the
Bible is a hidden book even to those like the Ethiopian eunuch who would
open its pages and desire to understand what they read. First Corinthians
2:14 says, “But the natural man receivethnot the things of the Spirit of God;
for they are foolishness unto him: neither canhe know them, because theyare
spiritually discerned.”

If individuals like the Ethiopian eunuch cannotunderstand the Bible on their
own, how are they going to get the understanding that they need? The eunuch
knew what he needed. His answerwhen he was questioned about his
understanding of what he was reading was, “How can I, except some man
should guide me?” That is exactly the method that God uses. Every Christian
is given one or more gifts to use in the service of Christ. Some Christians are
given the gift to understand and to teachGod’s Word for the benefit of those
who would hear. Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “And he gave some apostles, and
some prophets, and some evangelists, andsome pastors and teachers;For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ.” People who have hungry hearts need to hear goodteachings
from God’s Word. Without these teachings they will not grow. Woe to those
who have starved God’s people or who have fed them the wrong things. The
judgment will be a terrible time for those who have neglectedthis important
responsibility and calling.
Returning to the Ethiopian eunuch the Bible says in Acts 8:32-35, “The place
of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheepto the slaughter;
and like a lamb dumb to his shearer, so openedhe not his mouth: In his
humiliation his judgment was takenaway:and who shall declare his
generation? Forhis life is takenfrom the earth. And the eunuch answered
Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speakeththe prophet this? Of himself,
or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and beganat the same
scripture, and preachedunto him Jesus.”Isaiahchapterfifty-three, the
suffering Messiah, is a description of what Jesus suffered when he died on the
cross for the sins of the world.
The first thing said in this passagewas that“He was led as a sheepto the
slaughter.” In the time of Moses one of the plagues brought upon the
Egyptians was the death of the firstborn, but Godsaid that for those who
would sacrifice a lamb and put its blood on the door-posts, there would be
salvation. God said, when I see the blood I will pass overyou. An innocent one

died, and others benefited from its death. That is the story of God’s salvation.
One must die so that others might live. In the Old Testamentsheepwere
sacrificedin the temple ritual, and these sacrificeswere for the remission of
sin. But the blood of animals was not sufficient to pay the price for man’s sins,
and so God sent His sent Jesus into the world in the fullness of times. When
John the Baptistsaw Jesus, Johnsaid, “Beholdthe lamb of God who taketh
awaythe sins of the world.”
On that fateful day when Jesus died for the sins of the world, he was as a
sheepled to the slaughter;and “openedhe not his mouth.” Jesus had been
falselyaccusedbefore Pilate the Roman governor, and Pilate knew it. The
Bible records in Mark 15:4-5, “And Pilate askedhim again, saying, Answerest
thou nothing? Behold how many things they witness againstthee. But Jesus
yet answerednothing; so that Pilate marveled.” One of the reasons that Jesus
did not answerthese false accusationswas becauseJesusknew that for this
reasonHe had come into the world. Jesus could have done far more than
answerthe accusations againstHim. He could have called ten thousand angels
to destroy the world and sethim free. Instead, He died alone for you and for
me.
Finally the Ethiopian eunuch understood, and the Bible says in Acts 8:36-38,
“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the
eunuch said, here is water, what does hinder me to be baptized? And Philip
said, If thou believestwith all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answeredand
said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the
chariot to stand still; and they went down both into the water, both Philip and
the eunuch, and he baptized them.” Once againthis is a goodillustration of
just how baptism was practicedin the first century. First one became a true
believer in Jesus Christ, and then after believing and making a professionof
faith, one is eligible to be baptized. Salvationcomes by faith in Christ.
Baptism is not a part of salvation. It comes afterwards. This Ethiopian eunuch

was baptized maybe five minutes, maybe fifteen minutes, and maybe an hour
or more after believing in Christ.
Notice that the eunuch gave testimony to the divinity of Christ. He said, “I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” This is similar to the statement of
faith that Petermade about Jesus. Petersaidto Jesus in Matthew 16:16,
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The Apostle Thomas said to
Jesus, “MyLord and my God.” Do you see the common theme here in these
three statements of faith: Christ the divine Son of God. “In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Anyone who
truly believes that Jesus is the Son of God is saved, and anyone who does not
believe is not saved. The Apostle John wrote in First John 4:2-3, “Hereby
know ye the Spirit of God; every spirit that confesseththat Jesus Christis
come in the flesh is of God. And every spirit that confessethnot that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is that spirit of antichrist,
whereofye have heard that it should come; and even so now already is it in
the world.”
In Acts 10:39-40 the Bible says, “And when they were come up out of the
water, the Spirit of the Lord caughtaway Philip, that the eunuch saw him no
more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus; and
passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.”It is a
wonderful thing how God brings people into our lives to help us on our
journey with Christ. Some of them are used to bring us to Christ, as Philip
was used in the life of the Ethiopian eunuch. Some of them are there just at
the right time when an important spiritual lessonneeds to be learned. Some of
them are there for just a short period of time, maybe to teach us something
from the Scriptures that we really needed to know to put another piece of the
puzzle together, and to be a blessing that we would never forget. Philip was
not with the eunuch very long: just long enoughto presenthim the gospeland
to teachhim about Jesus the Savior. Philip left the eunuch, but the eunuch
was not alone. He would never be alone again. He now had Jesus as his Savior

and he inherited all of the promises that Jesus gives to every believer: the
same promises that you and I have. And Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor
forsake you.”
Notice the condition of the eunuch after he believed in Christ. The Bible says
that “he went on his way rejoicing.” There is no greaterjoy in the world than
the joy of salvation. Is the salvationof the Lord your joy? It can be. Those
who understand what it means to be in darkness and what it means to be
under the guilt of sin, easily find great joy in the salvationthat Christ brings
to them. No wonderthat Paul wrote to Christians and said, “Rejoicein the
Lord always, and againI say rejoice.” There may be sorrow and pain for a
short while, but none of them can stealyour joy if you draw close to the Lord
and remember His greatsalvation.
In Acts chapter nine we come to the great story of the conversionof Saul of
Tarsus. It says in Acts 9:1-4, “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and
slaughteragainstthe disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And
desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, thatif he found any of
this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto
Jerusalem. And as he journeyed he came near to Damascus:and suddenly
there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth,
and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutestthou me?”
Once againwe are reminded of how greatwere the sins of Saul of Tarsus. No
wonder that he calledhimself the greatestofsinners. If your sins or mine were
written down here in graphic detail, we would say the same about you and me.
Saul had already been involved in sending these good, dear Christian people
to prison in Jerusalem;and now he was going to Damascus to do the same
thing there. But God had other plans for Saul. This revelation of Jesus to Saul
on the road to Damascus is a perfect picture of the way that salvationhappens
to every true believer.

Until this event Saul of Tarsus did not know Jesus the Savior. Undoubtedly
Saul thought that Jesus was a man like any other man and that the death of
Jesus was the end of Jesus. ButJesus rose from the dead and Jesus is alive.
Jesus is alive today, and Jesus was alive when Saul was on the dusty road to
Damascus. Being alive and being the Son of God, Jesus canappearto anyone
at any time and revealHimself. Normally Jesus reveals Himself spiritually
and lets His presence be knownto a lost soul. But in the case ofthe Apostle
Paul Jesus revealedHimself bodily as well as spiritually. Perhaps the main
reasonfor this was that Paul was called to be an apostle, and one of the main
requirements for an apostle was to see the Christ and to talk with Him and to
learn from Him. Paul was an apostle born out of due season, but he was an
apostle in every sense of the word just like the other eleven.
What does a lost person need? They need to be stopped in their tracks by a
visit from Jesus. Saulof Tarsus was a great enemy of Christians. He was a
greatproblem for Christians. What happened to Saul was the best solution
possible to the problem: Saul became a believer in Jesus the Savior. As
believers we should always hope and pray for just such a solution for those
whom we regardas the enemies of the gospel. We should not pray that they
receive vengeance fortheir sins againstus, but that they receive mercy. Once
they come to know Christ, the same effort and energy that they used to oppose
the gospel, they will then use to help spread the gospeland honor the name of
Christ. That is what Paul did. The greatestsinners oftenmake the best saints.
“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” God likes to prove that
it all happened only because of Him and His grace through Christ.
The reasonthat Saul of Tarsus did the horrible things that he did againstthe
believers was because ofSaul’s ownspiritual blindness. He could not perceive
the truth. He was blind. That is the spiritual significance behind the factthat
the first thing that Saul saw in this experience on the road to Damascus was a
light from heaven. If you are in spiritual darkness, then you need light: light

from heaven. Jesus is the Light of the world. Through Jesus you will finally be
able to see. Hank Williams wrote a greatgospelsong on this theme. It goes
something like this: “I see the Light, I see the Light. No more darkness, no
more night. Since Jesus found me; took awaymy sin. Praise the Lord, I see
the Light.”
___________________________________________________
Copyright; 2003 by Charles F. (Rick)Creech
All Rights Reserved
The Spirit Speaking
Acts 8:29
Verse Concepts
Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."
Acts 9:10
Verse Concepts
Now there was a disciple at Damascus namedAnanias; and the Lord said to
him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
Acts 10:19
Verse Concepts

While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit saidto him, "Behold, three
men are looking for you.
Acts 11:12
Verse Concepts
"The Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings These six brethren
also went with me and we entered the man's house.
Acts 13:2
Verse Concepts
While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set
apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

The holy spirit talks to philip

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