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The Conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch
The eighth chapter of Acts begins with the persecution of the church in Jerusalem forcing all but the apostles to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. I think it’s important to note that those who had been forced to scatter did so while still proclaiming the good news of the word (Acts 8:4). This led Philip to the main city of Samaria where he began proclaiming Christ to the local citizens. The preaching of Philip was well received as we read that the crowds were paying attention with one mind as they heard and saw the miraculous signs he was performing and there was great joy in the city.
The story takes a turn for Philip when an angel of the Lord instructed him to “Get up and go south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This was a paved road that had been built by the Romans between these cities which stretched a distance of 50 to 60 miles. It was described as a desert road but the area was not known to be dry, barren, or wasteland; instead, here it refers to an unpopulated area. Try to put yourself in Philips situation. He fled from persecution in Jerusalem and went to Samaria where he continued to preach Christ with great success only to be told to leave and travel down an unpopulated road. Without hesitation he did as he was instructed.
At some point along this road he met the Ethiopian eunuch who was returning home from Jerusalem where he had been to worship. Ethiopia was a kingdom of Africa located south of Egypt. He had traveled a distance of 1000 to 1500 miles, which is an indication of his great desire for the Lord. The scriptures tell us that he was a man of great importance as he served in the court of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, serving as head of the treasury. He was sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip realized that an opportunity to teach had presented itself. Upon hearing this, Philip ran to him and asked a simple question, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” The eunuch seeing in the words of Philip an invitation to learning, immediately spoke of his own inability and asked Philip to come up and ride with him that he might instruct him. The man replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him (Acts 8: 31-32).
The request for help tells us a lot about the character of the Ethiopian. He was obviously a man of intelligence and trustworthiness. He was not too proud to admit the need for help by inviting Philip into his chariot to teach. The Ethiopian is an example of one who was willing to listen and learn with an open mind and heart. His desire to learn more shows his humble attitude and his thirst for truth.
The reading of Isaiah led the Ethiopian to say, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” Philip, without hesitation, opened his mouth and preached Jesus to him just as he had done with the people of Samaria earlier in the eighth chapter of Acts. He explained that Christ was sent to the earth to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. He must have explained the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Also, he obviously taught the eunuch the need for baptism just as he had taught the people in Samaria. The eunuch understood that baptism was the means by which the blood of Christ is reached for the remission of sins. “Now as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, Look, there is water! What is to stop me from being baptized? So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him” (Acts 8: 36-38).
This is where the account of Philip and the eunuch comes to an end. The scriptures tell us that as they came up out of the water, the Spirit caught Philip away and that eunuch never saw him again but he went on his way rejoicing. So what lessons can we learn? What the scriptures tell us about the life of the eunuch, we can assume that by his position in the Queens court, all of his physical needs would have been taken care of and he was very likely well compensated. Even with the physical needs met, there was obviously something missing in his spiritual life. He travelled a great distance in search of knowledge and when presented to him, he realized what he needed to do and responded to the call immediately. This just confirms that the Gospel Is For All!
