A Eunuch Experience
Acts 8: 26 – 39
I called this sermon, “A Eunuch Experience.” And Teresa – No, I did not misspell the word “unique.” This is what we call a play on words.
I am going to be talking about Phillip the Deacon and an encounter that happened to him.
Some quick info from Acts 6, a couple chapters prior – Jesus has gone back to heaven. The apostles were scattered to begin the preaching and teaching of Jesus. During this time, Christians were being persecuted. Phillip was one of seven who was chosen to help the Apostles in serving others in the early church. Phillip, Stephen, and five others were found to be “full of the Spirit” and thus were ordained as the first deacons of the church. And when Stephen preached, he got stoned. And I don’t mean like, he took a hit and passed it on. I mean he got killed with rocks. But Philip kept preaching. Stephen and Phillip were the first “preaching deacons” of the time.
Phillip is soon sent to the villages of Samaria to preach successful city-wide crusades. Now, this is not the Philip as in the original 12 apostles. Just another guy named Philip. But Phillip is directed away from the crowds and the city to a single individual in the desert. And this is where we start with the passage.
I want to read you a passage of scripture found in Acts.
Acts 8:26-39, “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.”
This passage of scripture is possibly the clearest on soul winning and a believer’s baptism. Not only is this a manual on the why & how of baptism, but also a graduate course on “soul winning” as well. This is also the first recorded conversion of a Gentile – the first non-Jew. This also shows that God is busy spreading His word past geographical and racial boundaries.
And what I want to do is break this passage down like a preacher would. This passage has four parts. And preachers are famous for making corny subject points.
So here are mine:
I. A Baffling Breakaway
II. A Bumpy Buggy
III. A Borrowed Bible
IV. A Baptized Believer
So we begin with number 1 – A Baffling Breakaway
Philip was preaching in Samaria and had been healing the city; healing in the sense of people who were disabled, crippled, etc. He also preached the good news about Jesus. Philip healed their bodies and their souls. Verse 8 even said that “there was great joy in the city.”
Now I am thinking that Philip had a good thing going. Not that he had a cushy job. But it was pretty easy for him overall. He had 1000’s of people in his congregation. He did not have to worry about offerings being high enough to pay for stuff. He did not have to worry about sending out newsletters. He did not have to worry about making house calls. He basically preached and people believed. People turned their life over to God. And that is why I classify this as a Baffling Breakaway.
Because in verse 26 an angel basically told Philip to stop what he was doing and go take a hike.
“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out. . .” Acts 8:26-27
Now, I believe this “angel” is actually Jesus himself. I did not graduate with a Bible Major. So I don’t know for sure. It just seems like it to me because these Bible people and Jesus still had this sort of connection. At least that is my thought.
But anyway – Philip is told to leave his successful church and seek out this person in the desert. See, God does not use angels or even his own son to spread His word. God uses sinful, redeemed people to do His work. God used Philip. God can use Paul. God can use Debbie. God can use Kyle. God can use Keith. God can use Charity. God can use Krista. God can use – Insert your name here.
So this city wide campaign is changed to a single sinner in the dessert in this Baffling Breakaway. From a miracle-ministry to just one individual. Now, the message is the same for many as it is for one. The method is just a little different – a more personal touch.
Notice how much of a fight Philip put up. Basically, the angel said to go and Philip went. What about you guys? Have you ever put up a fight with God? I have. And why do we do that? I know that God knows best and that God knows all. I am sure you do too. But if God says to go, why are we so reluctant sometimes?
“Well, God, I would ask Jimmy to come to Extreme, but he sits at the table that the freaks hang out at and I am sure you don’t want them here.” “Well, God, I would ask Sally to come to church, but she sleeps around, and I am pretty sure that you don’t want those types of people in this building.” “Well, God, I would ask Matt to come to CIY, but he gets drunk on the weekends and only Christians should go to something like CIY.”
Wanna’ know what God says to those excuses? “That is a bunch of bologna!” See, God himself hung around the freaks. God himself hung around those that got around. God himself hung around the drunks. So if God says to you, “Go to that person.” You should go. Two reasons – He would not send you somewhere to fail. And He has done it also.
So when God tells Philip to leave and go seek this person in the desert, we see that Philip immediately goes. And he meets this Ethiopian.
I want to take a look at him and why he was put into scripture. And let me tell you my thoughts as to why first. I believe that God can have a greater blessing result from a single conversion than from scores of “decisions.”
This Ethiopian was an interesting guy. See, he was probably excluded from the temple because of his race and his physical condition. But, this Ethiopian was an important man. He had authority over the treasury of the Queen of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is located in Africa south of Egypt. This Ethiopian obviously was very dedicated to God because he traveled such a long distance to worship in Jerusalem.
And now, this Baffling Breakaway is no longer baffling. God needed a church and a witness in Africa. History and tradition agree that this man became the “first fruits” of Africa. Sometimes following God’s lead may seem like a demotion. At first, you may not understand His plans, but the results will prove that God’s ways are always right. God’s ways may be baffling to us and His purposes above our understanding, but the results are always blessings.
Next comes A Bumpy Buggy.
The Ethiopian was sitting in his “Rolls Royce” of the time while his chauffeur drove along slowly. I remember when I was 12 or so and we were in Arizona. We took a stage coach ride. Guys, I am so thankful for our cars nowadays with shocks. That stagecoach hit every single rock, every single rut. I was jarred. I was bounced. Guys, my pancreas even got bruised.
And we read that Philip was told to go to this chariot. Acts 8:29 and 30 says, “The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet.”
Again, notice Philip’s reaction. He RAN. Philip is excited about this. When I get home from work, Caleb and Sierra RUN to me. They call my name and say that Daddy’s home and run to me. They are excited. This is how I picture Philip. He is excited. He is running to this Ethiopian.
God brought a lost soul and a soul-winner together. When a hungry heart and an eager servant meet, results are guaranteed. I wish we had more hungry hearts today!
Next is A Borrowed Bible.
Philip used the Ethiopian’s bible to help him understand. Acts 8:30-31 says, “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.”
Remember, this Ethiopian had been excluded from worship by men in the temple because of his race and physical condition. This Ethiopian recognized the need for understanding. We have all read things that we did not understand – computer directions, IRS forms, children’s toys, any time a girl gives you directions to a house or restaurant. (Go down the road for awhile and turn at the stump. So after 5 miles of being lost we call. “Oh, yeah, that stump got removed 6 months ago.” Huh?)
Let’s look at what the Ethiopian was reading. This is actually from Isaiah written some 700 or so years prior. But in our passage, it is Acts 8:32-33. “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
I don’t think that the Ethiopian just happened to flip to this passage and read it. I believe that it was all God directed. To this Ethiopian, it was just words. He did not understand it. He had to have Philip interpret it for him.
And it is not a bad thing if you can’t understand something. I have trouble even understanding my own kids. Charity is with them 24/7. And when they started talking, it took awhile for me to understand them.
For instance –
Caleb said, “Dockey Melk” – What does that mean? Chocolate Milk.
How about “Deice”? Stairs.
How about “Sha-She”? Shower.
Phillip started teaching where the eunuch did not understand. He did not go back to the very beginning – Gen 1:1 – Phillip explained how Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. We, like the Ethiopian, should learn to ask for help when we do not understand something. We must never let our pride or insecurity get in the way of understanding God’s Word.
With out Charity’s help, I would have no idea what Caleb was trying to tell me. With out Philip’s help, the Ethiopian would have had no idea what God was trying to tell him. With out you, God’s work can’t continue. And that blows my mind. With as awesome as God is. As powerful as He is. He still needs me. He still needs you.
This leads up to A Baptized Believer.
The Ethiopian believed that Jesus is the Son of God. The Ethiopian accepted Christ as his savior. And he wanted to follow Jesus’ example and be baptized.
“As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:36-38
You don’t have to meet in a church to have church. Growing up we spent our Christmas break in Florida every year. And since we drove, we always hit the Florida welcome center on Sunday around 9:00 am. Dad always led a family church service under one of the palm trees. After a couple of years, we called where we met, “The Church of the Living Palm.” It was almost like a tradition.
You don’t have to be in a church to be baptized. I remember my dad baptizing my cousin one weekend in our swimming pool. Now, don’t get me wrong. I do believe that church attendance is very important. I believe that it is important to meet collectively with other believers. But there may be times that you physically can’t.
And when I read about this Ethiopian, I can see us in the same boat. The Ethiopian could not go to church. The Ethiopian had questions. The Ethiopian knew he was a sinner and wanted to get his life right.
See, this Ethiopian
1. Was a gentile – just like us.
2. Was saved by grace – just like us.
3. Put his faith in Christ – just like us.
Homer Rodenheaver was the song leader for the famous evangelist Billy Sunday. During one campaign, an extremely retarded boy came every night to sing in the choir. They felt sorry for him so they let him sit with the choir even though he could not sing well.
In Homer’s own words, he said, “Joey was not very bright. But he never missed any of the meetings and he would not leave until he shook my hand. Sometimes I was embarrassed by the way he followed me.”
One evening a man came to Homer and said, “Thank you for being so kind to my son. He is not right mentally but he has enjoyed your singing. He is a changed boy. He works hard at simple chores. Through his pleading we all came to the crusade and we each received Christ, and now we see what singing does to a person.”
Joey was not an excellent singer, but he was an excellent witness to what he felt in his heart.
We all need to be witnesses. Our lives serve as testimonials. We may be the only Bible some people ever read. We may be the only Jesus some people ever see. It is important that we use our talents and resources in such a manner that will glorify God.
Next time you feel God directing you to go talk to someone. Or to go sit with someone. Or to invite them to church or Extreme – Listen to Him. You may be the reason that a lost person gets to church. You may be the reason that a lost person gets saved and has a relationship with God.
Maybe right now, you are like that Ethiopian. Maybe you are needing some help with understanding the Bible. Maybe you are ready to accept Christ and be baptized.
You have all seen and heard me do this before. It is as easy as A B C
Do you admit that you need Jesus?
Do you believe that Jesus is God’s son?
Do you want to confess your sins?
If you said yes, then come on up here during our song. Or maybe you just need to talk to someone. This is your time. Use it.
