Good morning,
Acts 8 showcases how God can use even persecution to spread His word. It reminds us of the transformative power of the Gospel, its availability to everyone, and the importance of genuine belief. Philip’s unwavering obedience, the openness of the Ethiopian eunuch, and the striking correction of Simon the sorcerer all serve to underscore the extraordinary growth and challenges of the early church.
Acts 8:5-40
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. (Acts 8:35)
Philip witnesses to the Ethiopian Eunuch (v26-40)
Philip sent (v26-27)
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Philip’s witness (v28-40)
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?31 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.32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
The Ethiopian eunuch was reading Isaiah 53:7-8 but did not understand who it was speaking about. He asks Philip to interpret.
Tomorrow we find out who Isaiah was speaking.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
Was Phillip a martyr, that went to heaven and came back to earth.?
What is a eunuch?
Was it a Samaritan that helped Jesus carry His cross on the way to Calvary?
The bible does not indicate Philip as a martyr. Stephen was.
A eunuch is a man who has been castrated, or had their testes removed or mutilated.
The Bible does not indicate whether the person who carried Jesus cross was a Samaritan.