
Acts 8:26-40
8:26-27 | Philip, the first evangelist, was seeing incredible fruit from his ministry in Samaria, yet when an angel told him to go elsewhere, Philip obeyed the Lord in Abraham-like fashion – he set out not knowing where or why. Such is the nature of true obedience to God.
8:27-29 | God arranged for Philip to present the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch. His title and the passage indicate that he was both an important official and a true eunuch.
8:27 | The Ethiopian had traveled about 1,200 miles to reach Jerusalem – although we know nothing of his spiritual background except that he apparently wanted to worship the God of Israel. The irony is that Jewish law would prohibit a eunuch from participating fully in the life of the temple, even if he truly desired to convert (Deut. 23:1). Here we see yet another example of the message of hope being for all people, not just faithful Israel.
8:30-35 | The Ethiopian was reading the classic passage from Isaiah on the Suffering Servant of Israel, the Messiah (Isa. 53:6-7). Philip explained the prophet was talking about Jesus, whose work of redemption is the thread that runs throughout the Bible. There is no better passage in the OT with which to introduce someone to Jesus Christ.
8:36-37 | This scene and Philip’s answer (If you believe with all your heart, you may be baptized) confirm the NT pattern for baptism: it is for those who have professed faith in Christ.
8:38 | The immersion (Grk. baptizo) of baptism symbolizes being buried in death with Christ; coming up out of the water is a picture of being raised to life with Christ (Rom. 6). Baptism illustrates the new life that comes only by faith.
8:39-40 | The Ethiopian’s joy (a manifestation of the Spirit; Gal. 5:22) was a sign of his new spiritual state.