Acts 8: The Conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch

  • Jerusalem was totally destroyed 30 years later (70 A.D.) killing > 1,000,000 people.
  • Jesus told His apostles to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all nations.” (Mark 16.15; Matt.28.19)
    • Acts 1.8: “…Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, to the ends of the earth.”
    • We see the church persecuted and scattered now (8.1).
    • Satan originated the persecution; God used it to spread the church (Rom.8.28).
    • Saul (later the apostle Paul) was behind the persecution of the church.
      • Acts 9.1, 2; 22.4,5; 26.10.
      • Saul began “ravaging” the church: Gk. Refers to the way beasts savagely tear and rip the bodies of their prey.”
      • He dragged out of their houses both men and women—spared no one!
      • He put them in prison: He had them beaten; trying to get them to blaspheme the Lord and His church, and even had them put to death. (22.4, 19; 26.10, 11).
      • V.4: “Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”
      • V.5 through 25 tells of the conversion of the Samaritans.
      • Philip (Philip of 6.5) Goes to Samaria: (V.5 thru 25) (Samaritans were part Jew and part Gentile).
        • He performed miracles and signs
        • The Jews and Samaritans hated each other (See John 4.9)
        • Philip began proclaiming Christ to them; His teaching/miracles/death on the cross/resurrection/Ascension/Promised return.
        • See V.12 also. Preaching Christ involves baptism also (V.35, 36).
        • Purpose of miracles (Mk.16.20; Heb. 2.3,4).
        • Philip cast out devils/unclean spirits/evil spirits: See 2 Peter 2.4; Matt.12.22-29).
        • The Conversion of Simon and the Samaritans: 8:9-13)
          • Simon the magician (Sorcerer).
          • Contrast Simon’s “miracles” with Philip’s real miracles.
            • Philip healed people and made them happy
            • Simon fooled people and made them afraid
            • Simon sought to buy the power that Philip demonstrated (19-22).

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Angel appeared to Philip and told him to go preach to an Ethiopian. (V.26-35).
    • The road to Gaza was a desert road (not heavily traveled).
    • No crowd was too small for Philip to preach to…lesson for us today!
    • Eunuch: typically a man who has been castrated (Matt.19.12).
      • Common practice of men holding high positions where they might be tempted ex. Charge of a harem or treasury.
  • He was returning from Jerusalem and was reading Isaiah 53.
  • Go and join the chariot: Heard him reading and asked if he understood what he was reading? How can I unless some man helps me? He was receptive to the truth! (See Jesus parable on hearts in Luke 8.15).
  • Question: “To whom does this scripture apply?”
    • The Philip opened his mouth and preached to him Jesus…”
    • “Look, here is water, what hinders me from being baptized?”
    • How did he know to even ask this question????
    • It is impossible to preach fully on Jesus without preaching about baptism!
    • Jesus said we must be “born” of water (John3.3,5)
    • Commanded baptism: (Mark 16.16).
    • Jesus disciples baptized in His name (Acts 2.38).
    • Baptism puts us in Jesus (Gal.3.26, 27).
    • Baptism puts us into His body (1 Cor.12.13).
    • He was immediately baptized: they both went down into the water
    • Baptism: immersion; burial (Rom.6.3,4; Col.2.12).
      • “They came up out of the water.
      • He went on his way rejoicing!