An Outline Of Acts 8:26-40

Introduction: One disciple met one man on a deserted road. What happened after the disciple shared the gospel with the other man?

The disciple, Philip

Text, Acts 8:26, KJV: 26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

--Philip, one of the original seven men chosen as deacons (Acts 6), was preaching the Gospel in Samaria (see the first part of this chapter). How long he wanted to stay there is never given.

--He had also performed other miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit; casting out demons, healing those who were lame and had the “palsies (specific disease uncertain)” per 8:5-8.

--But now, in the midst of what seems to be non-stop activity, an (“the”, KJV) instructs Philip to go from Jerusalem to Gaza. Jerusalem was south of Samaria and Gaza was a good ways south-west of Jerusalem near the Mediterranean Sea (according to various maps). This might take anywhere from 3-5 days traveling on foot.

--“Desert” could mean the road went through desert-type land, This was close to, if not identical, to the land called the “south” or the “Negev” per various translations; apparently this area didn’t have as much fresh water as other parts of Israel. Abraham and Isaac both dug wells in this part of the world to find fresh water as recorded in Genesis.

--Some think “desert” meant that Gaza was deserted at the time. No matter, Philip heard the message and obeyed it. This is one mark of a true disciple.

The devotee, the Ethiopian eunuch

Text, Acts 8:27-28, KJV: 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

--Philip was a believer, a preacher, and a disciple. There is no indication of his social status or career before he became a deacon, first, and then a messenger of the Gospel.

--Contrast Philip with this unnamed Ethiopian official. This man had great authority, and had charge of all-of the queen’s treasure. He’s called a eunuch (a man not capable of being a father) but whether this is the case or not is of no significance here.

--The Ethiopian had gone to Jerusalem to worship but we are not given the reason why he came nor if there was a feast/festival he was celebrating.

--Was this man a Jew of the dispersion? Or was he a non-Hebrew native of Ethiopia who had become a convert to the God of Israel? In the days of Esther, the Persian Empire extended “from India to Ethiopia (compare Est. 1:1 with 8:9-17)” and many peoples from many parts of the Empire became Jews according to the passage cited.

--The Ethiopian was also a student of the Scriptures. Notice that he’s reading a scroll containing the Book of Isaiah (“Esaias”, KJV). Isaiah is a very long book and contains mixtures of prose and vivid language. Imagine how much time it would require to make an accurate copy by hand!

--But apparently this man didn’t understand everything he was reading.

The discussion between the two

Text, Acts 8:29-35, KJV: 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

--First, an angel of the Lord had told Philip to go from Jerusalem to near Gaza. Did Philip have any doubts or misgivings?

--Now the Holy Spirit Himself says (tersely—God never wastes words!), “Go near and (get in the chariot)”. Philip did exactly that.

--It seems the Ethiopian was reading from Isaiah, aloud. Philip “heard him read” from the scroll.

--Philip asks an interesting question: “Do you understand what you’re reading?” Was there any uncertainty in the Ethiopian’s voice or non-verbal, facial expressions, which led Philip to this conclusion? How did Philip sense this?