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ACTS 8: 26-40 PHILIP & THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH

Shiloh Bible Chapel 10/7/07 Nigeria 2009 Westside 1/30/2011

3754 words 1/31/2011 3777 words 3/27/2011 4260 words 7/29/2012 INTRODUCTION -A very interesting story- true story which tantalizes our reasoning with all the ramifications of what this story reveals to us about the work of God in revealing Himself to sinful man. - THREE main characters in this story #1(Holy Spirit is the real main character, Acts of the Apostles- Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles) #2 Philip and the Ethiopian. Dan Loizeaux said the story of the prodigal son is better titled the story of the Loving Father. I think in many ways this is like that story. I always think of it as the story of the conversion of the Ethiopian but is it not better titled the story of the obedient servant of the Lord, Philip? In both stories we tend to focus on the recipient rather than the giver or initiator. #3 The Ethiopian -This story falls in the middle of a section of the Book of Acts where the gospel is beginning to spread out. Ac 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." The gospel is being preached in Samaria (ch. 8: 1-25) and many are getting saved and then immediately after this story, Philip goes and preaches to the relatives of Goliath, the Philistines in Azotas (Ashdod) and then to Caesarea. Caesarea was a city that Rome built from nothing because it was a good place to build a seaport. It was a very large gentile city which had a hippodrome that could seat 20,000 people. The population is estimated as high as 250,000 in the area. The reason I am taking so much time to describe the before and after is that God took the time to send Philip to preach to one man in the midst of successful preaching to many people and the way that God did it is tremendously encouraging to me! CONTEXT David Gooding divides this section into 4 major parts. He calls it Christianitys Worship and Witness. In Acts- there would be a parting of the ways between Judaism and Christianity because of the Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus. I. The Gospel and Judaisms Orthodox Worship II. The Gospel and Samarias Unorthodox Worship

III. IV.

The Gospel of the Suffering Servant The Gospel of the Son of God

More Detail: 1. Death of Stephen; Sauls persecution of the church (6:8- 8:3) 2. Philip and the conversion of Samaritans (and Gentiles) (8:4-25) 3. Philip and the conversion of an Ethiopian (8:26-40) 4. The conversion of Saul the Persecutor (9:1-31) The Connections in this Section: 1 & 4: Saul joins in on the persecution of Stephen and at the end of the section Saul joins those who are being persecuted, he becomes a follower of Jesus never to persecute the church again. The God of Glory appeared to Abraham a gentile and began Judaism. A light shone around him from heaven i.e. The Lord Jesus appeared to Saul and through one man, God began another movement, this time from Judaism back to the Gentiles! Ch. 2 & 3: The key here is this Simon was thought to be a great man from God, Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." This claim, "This man is the great power of God" would prove to be false and almost blasphemous because he did not have the credentials to back it up. But what about the claims of the Lord Jesus? The Jews thought that His claims were blasphemous, would He have anything to back up his claims? When the Ethiopian asked Philip about the section in Isaiah 53 (Ac 8:34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. ) it is no coincidence that the Spirit of God has woven this section together in the way He has to substantiate that the Lord Jesus did have the credentials to back up His claims! BODY Ac 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert.

-Notice- William MacDonald(BM)-angel could direct Philip but Philip would do the preaching. The privilege of preaching is given to men, not angels. This is also a big change in direction. He left the fruitful areas of Samaria and other villages and he was directed to a desert place and as we will discover, it was for the benefit on just one man. -road to Gaza is SW of Jerusalem, down from the high place of Jerusalem (spiritual and physically) > down -This is desert. This seems superfluous to the story but is part of picture 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, -arose and went-Philip does not appear to question the instructions nor does he ask for more details as to what he will be doing- he simply obeys. -man of Ethiopia- eunuch (lost ability to have children or is it almost a title?) -great authority- very high official. One conclusion, power does not totally satisfy or why would he have needed to go all the way to Jerusalem? -to Jerusalem to worship- Jerusalem was the pinnacle of worship, like going to Mecca today for the Muslim. Anything else would be second best. Judaism did have a wonderful testimony to the Gentile world. As the gentiles pursued their many gods, Israel was known for their one God and to top that off, their God did not want anyone making idols to remind them of their God! -unlikely he traveled by himself 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. -Was returning- had it been a totally fulfilling experience? Had he gone up for one of the special Jewish Festivals three times a year? For whatever reason, he was returning to Ethiopia. The Bible does not tell us if he was disappointed with his trip to Jerusalem or if it was the best experience of his life. Could it have been all his responsibilities back home that required his presence back in Ethiopia? -Sitting- I dont know that I have ever seen someone riding in a chariot sitting? Have you? Ben Hur style, that is all I have ever seen. -reading Isaiah the prophet- not 1 book, but many scrolls- how many? 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot." -the Spirit- it appears that an angel spoke to Philip in v. 26, but now the Spirit directs him and says, go and overtake- Command 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" -Philip not only obeyed but he ran! Oh for the days when you would sent your child out to the mail box to get the mail and they would run out to do it! -heard him, therefore he was reading it out loud, interesting, was it for the benefit of his caravan? It is doubtful that a man of this importance would travel alone.

Example of hearing- preaching in Nigeria, man overheard and got saved!! -the other interesting thing is the question that Philip asked, Do you understand what you are reading? I guess if I had been sent on a mission like this and then given another set of instructions, I might be as bold. NOTE: Philip not given whole set of instructions but only steps and yet obeyed. When God leads us to we go or do we expect the whole plan laid to be laid out before us first? 31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. -notice first of all the simple humility of the Ethiopian man. There is not hint of pride or pretense in the man. It is so refreshing to meet people who might have the right to act haughty and yet they do not do it. ALSO- it is very unusual that the Ethiopian would invite this perfect stranger into his presence. What broke down the wall? Was it that Philip ran as fast as horse? -unless someone guide me- Ro 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Ro 10:15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. -the place in the Scripture which he read was- the exact place was at just that time because this is the timing of God! -need to turn to Isaiah 53:7-8, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. What do you think is the very heart and soul of Isaiah 53, what two or three verses give you the main point IN A NUT SHELL? The answer that I keep hearing from people is v. 4-6. If this is the key to Isaiah 53, then why is verse 7-8 quoted and in fact not all of it? What is left out? THEN WE CAN compare and see what is similar and what is different: What is the key to what is stated in these two verses? It seems to me that Isaiah is saying that part of this tragedy is that this man whoever He is was treated so unfairly and then he is killed; He would not have time to defend himself publicly for all the false accusations that were hurled at him. Another thing that interests me about this quote is that during the process of being judged He did not say anything, but in fact He did not even open his mouth. So this only complicates the situation because if he did not

speak up for himself while He was alive, then who will speak up for Him once He is dead! 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth." -declare His generation- this is hard to understand: some take it to mean: who ... declare ... generation--who can set forth (the wickedness of) His generation? that is, of His contemporaries [ALFORD on Ac 8:33], which suits best the parallelism, "the wickedness of His generation" corresponding to "oppressive judgment." But LUTHER, "His length of life," that is, there shall be no end of His future days (Isa 53:10; Ro 6:9). -John Wesley- V. 33. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away-That is, when he was a man, he had no justice shown him. To take away a person's judgment, is a proverbial phrase for oppressing him. And who shall declare, or count his generation-That is, who can number his seed, Isa 53:10; which he hath purchased by laying down his life? -declare- 1334 dihgeomai diegeomai dee-ayg-eh-om-ahee from 1223 and 2233; ; v AV-tell 4, declare 3, show 1; 8 1) to lead or carry a narration through to the end 2) set forth, recount, relate in full, describe It is used 8 times, Luke uses it 5 times:
Lu 8:39 "Return to your own house, and tell <1334> what great things God has done for you." And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. Lu 9:10 And the apostles, when they had returned, told <1334> Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. Ac 8:33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare <1334> His generation? For His life is taken from the earth." Ac 9:27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared <1334> to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. Ac 12:17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared <1334> to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren." And he departed and went to another place.

-taken from the earth- play on words- death & risen from dead Isa 53:10 When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.

-taken- 142 airw airo ah-ee-ro a primary root; TDNT-1:185,28; v AV-take up 32, take away 25, take 25, away with 5, lift up 4, bear 3, misc 8; 102 1) to raise up, elevate, lift up 1a) to raise from the ground, take up: stones 1b) to raise upwards, elevate, lift up: the hand 1c) to draw up: a fish 2) to take upon ones self and carry what has been raised up, to bear 3) to bear away what has been raised, carry off 3a) to move from its place 3b) to take off or away what is attached to anything 3c) to remove 3d) to carry off, carry away with one
Ac 8:33

In His humiliation His justice was taken away <142>, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken <142> from the earth."

34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" Eunuch- only referred to as eunuch not Ethiopian- does this point to his need like Naaman? 2 Kings 5 -great question!! Eunuch respects the prophet as of God, sees it referring to a man, not a nation, uses phrase some other man. What an understatement!!! The Lord Jesus is not just some other man- He is the God Man!!! 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Philip opened his mouth- this I believe is the key to the whole passage, v.32 opened not his mouth v.32, opened his mouth v.35. This is why I believe the Holy Spirit has focused on this portion of Is. 53. Philip is standing up for Jesus, he is defending Jesus. - opened his mouth- open- 455 anoigw anoigo an-oy-go from 303 and oigo (to open); ; v AV-open 77; 77 1) to open
Ac 10:34

Then Peter opened <455> his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

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Ac 18:14

And when Paul was about to open <455> his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you.

-beginning at this Scripture- Oh! I wish I could have been there. Have you ever wondered if the two on the road to Emmaus had shared with the disciples the wonderful teachings that the Lord had shared with them? -beginning- this means that he started with Isaiah 53 and went to other places at least in Isaiah and probably other books of the OT. -Philip systematically went through the OT and showed the Ethiopian Jesus in the OT! There was no NT yet. What did he preach about Jesus? -Messiah -Savior -Suffering Servant -death, burial and resurrection -Son of God- Joh 20:31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" He must have included some teaching on baptism in there discussion. We have no idea how long they were traveling together, Emmaus was 7 miles in Luke 24. It is safe to assume that Philip must have talked about other related subjects based on the fact that the Ethiopian raised the subject of baptism. 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Not in most manuscripts- but the principle is true, one must believe first, otherwise, baptism is a waste of time, it is a ritual without meaning. 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Immersion NOTICE the passage begins with desert (v.26) and now they have come to water. Desert death, brown Waterlife, green 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

Most unusual- Lord caught him away- disappeared into thin air is a strong possibility -Caught away- 726 arpazw harpazo har-pad-zo from a derivative of 138; TDNT-1:472,80; v AV-catch up 4, take by force 3, catch away 2, pluck 2, catch 1, pull 1; 13 1) to seize, carry off by force 2) to seize on, claim for ones self eagerly 3) to snatch out or away -Used 13 times in NT: 3 places it was used:
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years agowhether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knowssuch a one was caught up <726> to the third heaven. 2Co 12:4 how he was caught up <726> into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up <726> together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
2Co 12:2

-he went rejoicing- He had two things: Word of God and the Spirit to guide: Joh 7:37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 1Co 2:10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Joh 16:13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. Philip cont. his preaching campaign to Gentiles! THE WONDERFUL GRACE OF GOD- Philip goes and preaches to the relatives of Goliath, the Philistines in Azotas (Ashdod) and then to the Romans in Caesarea!!!!

-Clark- The Azotus of the New Testament is the Ashdod of the old. It was given by Joshua to the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:47. It was one of the five lordships which belonged to the Philistines, and is a seaport town on the Mediterranean Sea, between Gaza on the south, and Joppa or Jaffa on the north.

Appendix -overtake2853 kollao kol-lah-o

from kolla ("glue"); TDNT-3:822,452; v AV-join (ones) self 4, cleave 3, be joined 2, keep company 1, vr reach 1; 11 1) to glue, to glue together, cement, fasten together 2) to join or fasten firmly together 3) to join ones self to, cleave to Luke 10:11 The very dust of your city which clings <2853> to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you. Luke 15:15 "Then he went and joined himself <2853> to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. Acts 5:13 Yet none of the rest dared join <2853> them, but the people esteemed them highly. Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake <2853> this chariot." Acts 9:26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join <2853> the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. Acts 10:28 Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company <2853> with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Acts 17:34 However, some men joined <2853> him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling <2853> to what is good. 1 Corinthians 6:16 Or do you not know that he who is joined <2853> to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." 1 Corinthians 6:17 But he who is joined <2853> to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Revelation 18:5 "For her sins have reached <2853> to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

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These are all the times the expression opened his mouth are used in the NKJV: Job 3:1 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. NKJV Isa 10:14 My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people, And as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; And there was no one who moved his wing, Nor opened his mouth with even a peep. NKJV Matt 5:2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: NKJV Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. NKJV Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. NKJV Rev 13:6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. NKJV
(one should look at other places were 455 is used)

CONCLUSION See belowWHAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM THIS PASSAGE ABOUT THE REVELATION OF GOD TO MANKIND? WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE? 1. LUKE BELIEVED THAT THE LORD JESUS WAS THE MAN IN ISA. 53 2. GOD SENT A SPECIAL MESSENGER TO A MAN WHO WAS SEEKING GOD 3. MONEY DOES NOT SATISFY ALL OF MANS NEEDS 4. GOD HAS CALLED US TO DECLARE HIS GENERATION 5. THE ETHIOPIAN WENT AWAY REJOICING BECAUSE HE HAD FOUND THE TRUTH 6. THE ETHIOPIAN NOW HAD TWO VERY IMPORTANT ESSENTIALS OF THE CHRISTIAN WALK: THE WRITTEN WORD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT (NOTICE THAT THIS IS DIFFERENT THAT MATT. 28 MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS 7. THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT SEPERATION OF TIME BETWEEN SALVATION AND BAPTISM AND IT WAS IMMERSION AS THE METHOD 8. GOD INTERVENED IN SOME VERY UNIQUE WAYS (MIRACLES) FOR THE SAKE OF THIS ONE MAN: HE SENT PHILIP TO HIM, PHILIP MAY HAVE RUN AS FAST AS THE CHARIOT WAS GOING, PHILIP DISAPPEARED (THIS COULD BE THE AN ANSWER TO THE

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QUESTION, WHAT ABOUT THE MAN WHO NEVER HEARD ABOUT JESUS??) THERE IS AN INTERESTING COINCIDENCE (GOD-INCIDENCE) THAT THE ETHIOPIAN HAPPENED TO BE READING THE SCROLL OF ISAIAH AND THAT HE JUST HAPPENED TO BE READING CHAP. 53. WHAT AN ENCOURAGEMENT THIS SHOULD BE TO US THAT WE SERVE THE SOVEREIGN LORD OF THE UNIVERSE WHO HAS HAD ALL OF ETERNITY PAST TO PREPARE FOR THE PRESENT MOMENT. PHILIP IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF ONE WHO IS OBEDIENT TO THE LORD. DO I REJOICE IN MY SALVATION? THERE ARE COUNTLESS PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO HAVE FOUND A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SATISFACTION IN THE RELIGION BUT HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE WONDERFUL BLESSING OF HAVING A REATIONSHIP WITH THEIR REDEEMER, THE LOVER OF THEIR SOULS, THE GOOD SHEPHERD. CAN WE BE LIKE PHILIP AND GO BRING THE GOOD NEWS, THE FULL NEWS TO OTHERS?

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