So all but the apostles leave Jerusalem and head out into the world.
Luke turns our attention to Philip. This Philip is one of the seven chosen by the Church to care for the poor. Isn’t it interesting that the Holy Spirit set up this meeting with Philip and the Ethiopian? Ethiopia would have been considered the ends of the world in the first century.
Philip is given specific instructions to head south out of Jerusalem where the encounter is being arranged. And so Philip, with little information and complete trust in God, immediately obeys. Can you imagine the thrill that Philip and this Ethiopian eunuch must have felt when they realized just what God was doing?
Here is a man who had come from a distant and exotic land. He is a very influential man with a high position in the queen’s court. He appears to be a godly man, a seeker, who is looking for someone to explain the scriptures to him. And in walks Philip. Since the Ethiopian is reading the text out loud, Philip (empowered by the Holy Spirit) approaches the chariot and engages the eunuch in a conversation. (Evangelism 101).
Just a side note, reading and understanding the scripture are not the same thing. Understanding the scripture is a spiritual gift. (1 Corinthians 2:6-16, also Luke 8:10).
So unlike you would have expected, the Ethiopian is very open to having Philip explain to him what the scriptures are saying. How cool is it that God provided for this seeker a first rate interpreter of scripture. Philip was you will remember one of only seven selected to a very high position within the church because of his righteousness.
Do you think it was a coincident that the eunuch was reading that particular passage of scripture? I think not. What an open door for Philip to walk through. Philip starts sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, which ends in the Ethiopian wishing to be baptized.
Luke tells us that the eunuch goes on his way rejoicing. There is much rejoicing for each person who gives their life to Christ. And this person will be able to take the gospel “to the ends of the world.”
Don’t you love how this story demonstrates that the message of salvation is for everyone… there should be no obstacles blocking our way… either to share or to hear. No geographical location, no race, no lifestyle, no sin, no physical defect… nothing should prevent a person from hearing the good news.
And no barriers should prevent us from sharing.
Sharing the message
Pastor Kathy