The Ethiopian Eunuch

Refresh and review -

Seed Soil Sower

Matt 13 is core text

Who are the seeds? Who are the thorns?

Vs 36-52

Philip brings out treasures new and old- fulfilment

We should be able to tell the story of the OT and NT

Just speak up pray for opportunities

Wow look what god can do if we are ready. An angel was sent.

Catalyst for African churches

Don’t worry about what will happen

Pakistan growth through persecution

Imagine the fear now. What has stopped me sharing- fear.

What drove him all the way and to then be turned away but still eager

Question time

OT scriptures pointing to Jesus?

What is the application I want to drive home?

Have you hesitated in sharing the gospel?

If you aren’t a believer what has held you back? Weird guy running alongside a chariot?

Where and how can we find these people? And what things can we do as a church to attract the community?

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Ethiopian Eunuch)

The geographical name “Ethiopian” would signal to Luke’s audience that this man was from territories south of Egypt. Since he is also identified as an official of Candace, 1st-century readers would connect him specifically with the kingdom of Meroe, the queens of which traditionally were called “Candace.”

Or “Nubia”

Greek writers had long demonstrated a curiosity about and appreciation of Ethiopians, as is evidenced in Homer’s reference to Ethiopians as the “farthermost of men” (Od. 1.22–23) and in Herodotus’ description of Ethiopians as the tallest and most handsome of all peoples (3.17–20).

Luke’s audience would have seen in the Ethiopian a positive figure, perhaps one to whom even an element of mystery would be attached because of his distant homeland.

What has puzzled interpreters is that Luke identifies this particular Ethiopian as a eunuch, which means that he cannot have been a proselyte to Judaism (cf. Deut 23:1

**There is a reason that some occurrences are picked over others- (remember that Scripture tells us - that if the apostles wrote down everything that Jesus had said and done and the insights- ‘all the books in the world couldn’t hold them’.)

since Luke later portrays Cornelius as the first gentile convert (10:1–11:18). Interestingly, Luke himself does not comment on the restrictions about converting eunuchs, which may suggest that Luke is less interested in that feature of the story than he is in some others.

the identification of this figure as a eunuch may simply reinforce the reader’s impression that he is an unusual person, a person who has come from the “end of the world”—at least from the end of Luke’s world.

intriguing, romantic, even exotic personage.

Doesn’t dwell on restrictions- he wouldn’t have been allowed to come to worship in the temple because of Deutronomy 56:1-8 guidelines

But saw incredible hope in the Prophecies of Isaiah 56:1-8

WHAT Makes him worth mentioning is the eagerness to understand and seek God… how much effort he made; and his heart even after being turned away- if this prophecy is true- what do I do now.... who is this about if it isn’t for me NOW…????

God recognises his heart and sees the kind of SOIL his heart is, and does something about it..... God recognises the heart

Our job is to sow the seed, teach and disciple.

The Eunuch would have read Isaiah 59

Then brings us to Isaiah 61.... which he reads

Reference 2 Corinthians 7

2 Corinthians 7:9–11 NIV

yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

Q: How is the experience of Philip different to Cornelius later? Peter actually questions …argues with God over eating unclean things - or mixing with unclean things… BUT

By contrast with Philip, who responds almost passively to the instructions given him by the Spirit and the questions asked him by the Ethiopian, the Ethiopian takes an active role in his own conversion. (See CONVERSION.) He invites Philip to join him in his chariot (v 31); he asks Philip for interpretation of the scroll he has been reading (v 34); he actively seeks baptism (v 36); and he goes on his way rejoicing (v 39).

Q: Why would Luke include this story- and why didn’t it get noted as the ‘first Gentile convert’ in the record?

Possibly to respect the Apostle Peter’s experience and importance of his efforts- and Luke includes this story to highlight God’s eagerness to bring in all people- and will do the miraculous to get it done.

Inclusivity of christianity

and radically Exclusive- it is both.

How DIFFERENT were these two men!!!?- Jewish men were raised to pray everyday “ Oh lord i thank you you didn’t make me a woman a slave or a Gentile.”- if you interact with them it makes you unclean as a jewish man.

Scholars think-

1) the story originated in an experience of Philip, who had prophetic and spiritual gifts like those of his daughters (see Acts 21:8–9), and who passed the story along to Luke; (2) the story did come from Philip, but originally it concerned the conversion of the first gentile, and Luke altered the story in order to preserve the role of Peter as the apostle involved in the first conversion of a gentile

Luke - may have been trying to break down the barriers that Jewish people would have in overcoming their prejudices, but also their traditional practices- and commands to keep themselves separate… but the greatest command of loving our neighbours… ALL of them has been preached by Jesus. In fact this kind of occurrence has been in the Jews teaching:

31  Nobles shall come from Egypt;

Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

32  O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;

sing praises to the Lord, Selah

33  to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;

behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.

34  Ascribe power to God,

whose majesty is over Israel,

and whose power is in the skies.

35  Awesome is God from his sanctuary;

the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.

Blessed be God!

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ps 68:31–35.

Q: Do you think there are barriers in our minds that hold us back from reaching out to any person or people group in Newcastle?

**Amazing how much God intervenes and is involved in this- Angel; runs next to; just have a conversation;

worked on the very thing the Nubian man was interested in.

Short term relationship; others long-

EG Andi Weiss

God craves breaking barriers

But WHY did he make these laws in the first place- breaking barriers of race, and geographic political barriers; sexuality....

It grieves God that people are separated from HIM - and from each other. Language of the SPIRIT - ALL through ACTS- run up to that person....

Christianity doesn’t below to just one culture.... where are there the most christians in the world now? Africa; Korea; and then China.

African theologian Lamin Sanneh- at Yale: “Whose religion is christianity?” - all the major religions - population centres are near where they started; Shinto; Buddhism; Islam.... is that all it is? Did North Eastern people just make up christianity?

96% of muslims are near where it started. 98% hindus- India and in south asia… 88% buddhists south asia

25% Carribean/central south america

12% North America

15% Asia

22%Africa

20% Europe

Korea - 0 - 50% in under 100 years!

9%- 50% of religion in Africa in 100 years

China expected to be at 50% christian in 100 years since missionaries came.

Q: Do you think there is any way we allowing differences to separate us from others? Even avoid, or ignore others?

Christianity shows much more cultural diversity- what does that say about our faith?? - inclusive of culture diversity

Sanneh says — AFricans knew about the world being supernatural- and knew from Scripture that he didn’t try to change the Ethiopian’s culture or his employment-

Q: What kind of soil was he??? Received with eagerness

How should we do this?? Eunuch- what does this mean for me?

GOOD NEWS- Jesus loves you the way you are- and wants you to be grafted into the new vine.... and come to North Lakes Church; Jesus has promised this to you for a long time...

So many different people out there in different situations- love them and get into conversations with them...

The spirit of God strongly desires racial barriers to be broken. And the way we do that with God is by showing the Gospel allowing the bible to speak.