The Road Less Traveled
(Acts 8:26-40)
The History of Judaism in Ethiopia is fascinating, but uncertain. Ethiopia is different from every other country in Africa. Ethiopian Jews, Beta Israel, aka Falasha Jews, lived in Ethiopia for centuries. Where did they come from?
Nearly 85% of the Ethiopian Beta Israel community, comprising more than 130,000 people, have emigrated to Israel under its Law of Return, which gives Jews and those with Jewish parents or grandparents, and all of their spouses, the right to settle in Israel and obtain citizenship.
The related Falasha Mura are the descendants of Beta Israel who converted to Christianity. The Israeli government has allowed some of these to return to Israel, but this is a constant matter of debate and a problem for them. But where did all these Ethiopian Jews come from?
The Ethiopian legend described in the "Book of the Glory of Kings," relates that Ethiopians are descendants of Israelite tribes who came to Ethiopia with Menelik I, alleged to be the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba …The legend relates that Menelik, as an adult, returned to his father in Jerusalem, and then resettled in Ethiopia, and that he took with him the Ark of the Covenant. [source: Wikipedia]
We do know that, in the first century, there were many, many Ethiopian Jews.
The Ethiopian Eunuch in our text today was probably not a gentile convert to Judaism, as you will typically hear; he was more than likely born a Jew. In ancient times, high palace officials were sometimes made eunuchs. It is thought that Daniel the prophet was also a eunuch.
Because of this, the Ethiopian Eunuch would not have been allowed in the courts of the temple, based on the restrictions in the Torah (Leviticus 22:4).
Philip had been preaching to crowds throughout Samaria, yet the Holy Spirit interrupted his ministry to call him to reach one solitary man, the Ethiopian Eunuch, in on the most remote spots in the entire region.
Main Idea: Although evangelism can be a group event, sharing the Gospel with one person at a time is as ancient as the early church.
I. God Can Lead Us to Go to Great LENGTHS to Reach Just One Person (8:26-40)
A. Philip is Led to an ETHIOPIAN Jew in a Remote Place (26-29)
2 roads from Jerusalem to Gaza; the desert road was the road "less traveled."
B. The Ethiopian is Puzzled While Reading Isaiah 53 ALOUD (30-34)
Isaiah 53
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied ; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
C. Philip Explained and the Ethiopian BELIEVED (35-37)
1. Some rabbis thought Isaiah 53 applied to Jeremiah, or the nation of Israel, while others understood this to refer to the Messiah.
2. “Behold, My Servant the Messiah shall prosper.”
-- Targum ("Targum Jonathan") to Isaiah 52:13, various editions (such as Samson H. Levey, The Messiah: An Aramaic Interpretation; the Messianic Exegesis of the Targum." Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College, 1974, p. 63).
3. “The Rabbis said: His name is "the leper scholar," as it is written, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him a leper, smitten of God, and afflicted. [Isaiah 53:4].” -- Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 98b
4. Philip probably explained Isaiah 53 in great detail, because later they walked so far that they noted a stream. Could have been nearby when they started, but probably not.
5. It is important to note that this passage address propitiation, substitution, the One to whom the sacrifice was offered, the fact that God caused this to happen, and even the resurrection.
6. Also worth noting: the Eunuch would have no children; Christ died childless (a eunuch for the sake of the Kingdom), but, at His resurrection, he was given spiritual heirs.
D. The Ethiopian did not have to be PUSHED to be baptized (38)
1. Sometimes people need to be encouraged to take steps for God, but we need to be careful about trying to push them: God is very interested in our sincerity.
2. Note that baptism comes after receiving the Gospel- it is a response of faith
3. Note also that baptism is by immersion: they came up out of the water. Otherwise, the Ethiopian could have just opened his canteen (goatskin) and said, "sprinkle me." They needed a body of water.
4. Some manuscripts add verse 37, "Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
5. Probably an interpretative note that was written on the side and then added to the text by a copyist. Still, it demonstrates the early belief of Christians: faith first.
E. God WHISKED Philip away (39-40)
1. Some [e.g., Witherington] see a parallel to the meeting of Jesus and 2 disciples on the Road to Emmaus…remote location, begins by asking a question, ends with a sacred event [breaking bread/baptism], then a disappearance.
2. Was Philip literally carried away? Maybe, maybe not.
Although evangelism can be a group event, sharing the Gospel with one person at a time is as ancient as the early church
II. Considerations We Often Do Not CONSIDER
A. The Ethiopian had lots of Old Testament BACKGROUND
Gentiles began with a large spiritual deficit. Christian values not in culture…
B. He was already drawn and into the SCRIPTURES
Now, the veil would be taken away. Retroactive knowledge.
2 Corinthians 3:12-18, "Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
C. He ASKED for help
The Christian faith is a social faith; when people are not an active part of a church body, they can develop all kinds of weird beliefs because they are not open to challenge.
I am constantly learning from the insights of others. God’s Word is so deep that there is always so much more to learn, and we can learn from one another.
D. Philip was CAPABLE of giving him help
E. God lead and opened the door, Philip WALKED through it
F. We must never forget that evangelism is about the INDIVIDUAL
G. One SOLID disciple can make more difference than scores of hesitating Christians
This man would have returned to Ethiopia and would have been the only witness to the Jews of Ethiopia.
We also see the sovereignty of God: when God has determined to reach someone, He can do it.
Although evangelism can be a group event, sharing the Gospel with one person at a time is as ancient as the early church
III. APPLICATIONS for Us
A. God is OFTEN working around us, but we must take initiative
B. When the Holy Spirit brings conviction, we do not have to FIGHT
C. One line of continuity between Covenants is absorption with SCRIPTURE
D. The Testaments INTERLOCK
Although evangelism can be a group event, sharing the Gospel with one person at a time is as ancient as the early church
