Acts 8:26-40
Notes
Transcript
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Intro, Last week we talked about obstacles vs opportunities.
Another way to think about that is being ON MISSION.
The Olympics just wrapped up here a week or so ago and our family really enjoys the Olympics, like a lot of people we don't watch those sports for four years and then get super invested in them for two weeks and it's just a lot of fun.
One of the things that I'm struck with as I watch them Is the dedication and focus required to get to that level of competition. It's incredible.
There are some things about it that are kind of sad to me like they've missed out on some of normal life experiences, but there's a Beauty to seeing what can be accomplished when someone puts all of their energy focus and determination into achieving something
As followers of Jesus, we have a mission that is not really any less intense or demanding than these Olympic athletes
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
“Go”
“As You Go”
Either way the mission is the same
Take the gospel to the ends of the earth
Wherever God has you, be on the mission
Philip Receives a Mission
Philip Receives a Mission
Acts 8:26–40 (ESV)
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.
Gaza was the jumping off point to go to egypt, arabia, and the african continent
27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
Who/What/Where is Ethiopia in the 1st Century World?
Who/What/Where is Ethiopia in the 1st Century World?
Ethiopia/cush/Nubia
powerful kingdom of black african people.
South of egypt. Modern day sudan, south sudan, and ethiopia
Had dealings with Egypt, Persia, Greece, Rome and old testament Israel
Candace or Kandace was a term for the female ruler of the empire. Like the term Pharaoh in Egypt
Ethiopian people are mentioned over and over and over in the Bible and play some very significant roles
Who is the Ethiopian Man?
Who is the Ethiopian Man?
what do we know about him?
Ethiopian
Eunuch - castration particularly of slaves was a common practice throughout the world until not that long ago. Made them more controllable, less ambitious, and less of a threat.
Court Official - powerful and wealthy (luxury transportation, owned his own scroll, traveling with an entourage )
In Charge of the Treasury - indicates that he is intelligent and trustworthy
Worshiped the true God, maybe as a proselyte, maybe as a God fearer, maybe he was god-shopping/collecting
He had seen Jerusalem and the temple and got himself some scrolls and God was working in his heart. He was hungry for answers
Philip Proclaims the Gospel
Philip Proclaims the Gospel
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
How random is this? Picture the Official riding along this bumpy dusty road reading a confusing scroll and this dude just runs up alongside his carriage.
(Seagull stealing snacks at the beach)
HOW PROVIDENTIAL is this?
The right time, the right road, the right passage of scripture
32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
The presentation of the gospel is a presentation and explanation of Scripture
Isaiah 53 context
52:13–53:12, which speaks of a servant of Yahweh who suffers intense humiliation (ταπείνωσις) and affliction, who is deprived of justice (κρίσις), and who is treated like an outcast. He suffers willingly, silent (ἄφωνος) like a lamb about to be slaughtered, without complaint, not opening his “mouth” (στόμα). He is killed: his life (ἡ ζωὴ αὐτοῦ) is taken away before he can have descendants (γενεά), and he is buried. However, he is eventually vindicated by God and exalted and honored even by kings.
1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
You are hungry for answers? The suffering servent is the answer
6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
“But I am a eunuch, I could not even go into the temple how can I be accepted before God?”
Isaiah 56:1–8 (ESV)
1 Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” 3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.” 4 For thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, 5 I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. 6 “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant— 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” 8 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.”
11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
The Man Believes and is Baptized
The Man Believes and is Baptized
36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
The official’s request to be baptized implies that he wants to express his faith in Jesus and become a follower of Jesus.
Go down implies immersion
39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
Joy is an indicator of real conversion. From what i have seen its often the first fruit of the Spirit
40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
As You Go, preach the gospel.
Wherever God has you, preach the gospel
So what?
Evangelism is YOUR Mission.
Evangelism is YOUR Mission.
Determine you will obey. Pray for boldness.
Opportunities may be from unexpected places
Believe that God goes before you and He is the one who draws
Answer their questions and lead them to Jesus
Presenting the gospel = presenting scripture
who might you share the gospel with this week?
Jesus is for You
Jesus is for You
No matter who you are, what you have done, where you come from, what family has done to you, what friends have done to you, what the church has done to you. Jesus is for you
