Philip - A Study of Witnessing
Acts 8:26-40
1. Philip was led by an angel of the Lord (v.26)
An angel of the Lord appeared at various times in Scripture giving directions to people. In this instance, Philip was told to go south. In the sovereign strategy of God, Philip was sent to the side of the road, where he met the treasurer of Ethiopia traveling home from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Philip was having a successful preaching ministry to great crowds in Samaria (Acts 8:5-8), but he obediently left that ministry to travel on a desert road. He was the first Billy Graham. He could have easily questioned the angel of the Lord I am being used here, what are you doing, don’t you see what’s happening.
Jonah had a different attitude than Philip when the Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach the gospel of Christ. We see Jonah try to runaway, but Philip went right away. For him wherever and whenever. The lesson that I see here is that is that we make sure that when God tells you to go somewhere (job, school, others) make sure that it’s his voice that you here. Philip went where God sent him, Follow God’s leading, even if it seems like a demotion. At first you may not understand his plans, but the results will prove that God’s way is right.
2. What Philip found (v.27-28)
A. A Man of Ethiopia, a foreigner (v.27a)
He saw a man riding in a chariot returning from Jerusalem. Why was he returning so quickly and why was he in Jerusalem in the first place. He wanted to see what worship is all about and all he saw was the hypocritical worship of the Pharisees and the Saducees. He saw them worship with their lips, but their heart was far away from Christ.
He found a foreigner, a man from Ethiopia. Ethiopia is located in Africa, south of Egypt. It was hundreds of miles from Jerusalem. The eunuch had been to Jerusalem to attend a religious feast.
B. A High Ranking Government Officer (v.27b)
A high ranking government official who served under the Queen of Ethiopia. Candace is not the name of a particular queen, but the title of a dynasty of queens . He was the Secretary of Treasurer or the Ministry of Finance.
C. A Eunuch, a Man of Commitment (v.27c)
Being a eunuch shows that he was a man of extreme commitment and dedication.
D.A Worshipper, a Seeker (v.27d)
This definitely shows he was seeking after the truth and after God. Note: he was a
convert to Judaism and had travelled hundreds of miles to Jerusalem to worship in the temple.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Despite the power and wealth that he possessed he had a vast emptiness in his soul.
E. A Reader of Scripture (v.28)
He had a copy of the book of the prophet Isaiah points to that probability. To own a scroll of the Scriptures (handwritten and thus rare) likewise indicated wealth. Two things we know about this eunuch is that He had a desire to know God and was aware that he was to be known only through the Scriptures. In addition price did not matter to him, he would pay for the scroll no matter how much it cost. Remember he was a Gentile, only the Jews were allowed to own scrolls.
3. What Philip sensed (v.29)
The Holy Spirit directed Philip to go over and walk along beside the carriage. Again, Philip immediately obeyed. He heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. After observing for a moment, Philip asked: “Do you understand what you are reading?”
In so doing, Philip shows us two of the most important characteristics of an effective evangelist:
The first is Patience. He waited to find out where the man was in his understanding before diving in with the gospel.
A second characteristic is the Power of Observation. Philip looked for an opportunity to engage the man at a meaningful level.
John 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.
4. What Philip did – He Properly Presented the Gospel (v.31-34)
The court official expressed the frustration that every Bible student throughout the ages has felt from time to time: “How can I understand this passage unless someone explains it to me?”
As Philip was invited to join the eunuch in the chariot, he discovered which passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading—Isaiah 53. Here God continued his sovereign work. There is no better place to be reading in the Old Testament for a picture of Jesus Christ than Isaiah 53, which is a prediction of the coming Messiah...
• Of His Death: His being led as a sheep to the slaughter.
• Of His Willingness to Die: His not opening His mouth in opposition.
• Of His Humiliation in Death: His judgment—the justice due Him was taken away and denied Him.
• Of His Generation, His Seed or Followers: His generation of followers are innumerable. Who can number them since Jesus’ life was taken from the earth (since He died)? (Cp. Psalm 22:30.)
The man just did not understand the Scripture. He did not understand that Jesus of Nazareth had fulfilled the prophecy, that the Savior had already come and died for the sins of men.
5. What Philip said and proclaimed: He preached Jesus (v.35)
Philip began with this same Scripture, added to it many others, and told the eunuch the Good News about Jesus. It is important to note that Philip began where the man was; only then did he directly and clearly take him to where he needed to go. Every one of us should go all-out to be proficient in the Scriptures so that we, too, can meet people at the point of their confusion and lead them to the Savior. In the words of the apostle Peter
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
This means he listened, thought, adapted the message to his audience, and then explained the Good News. Philip began where the Ethiopian was, but he did not stay there. Philip gave the Ethiopian the rest of the story—maybe the rest of Isaiah 53—including the coming of Christ, his substitutionary death, his resurrection, and his offer of eternal life. Most of the earlier Greek manuscripts do not include verse 37.
Some think that the Old Testament is not relevant today, but Philip led this man to faith in Jesus Christ by using the Old Testament. Jesus Christ is found in the pages of both the Old and New Testaments. God’s entire Word is applicable to all people in all ages. Don’t avoid or neglect to use the Old Testament. It too is God’s Word. When we have trouble understanding the Bible, we should ask others to help us. We must never let our insecurity or pride get in the way of understanding God’s Word.
6. What Philip saw happen (v.36-38)
Whatever Philip said to the court official, it is obvious that he came to faith. The next we see is a confession through baptism. The eunuch not only confess Jesus Christ is the Son of God personally to Philip but openly in front of his entire entourage. Lastly, we know that he was truly saved because He went on his way home rejoicing. Joy is a mark of a true believer.
Conclusion:
Philip found himself at Azotus, 20 miles north of Gaza. Guess what he was doing “he kept preaching the gospel.” No matter where he was, Philip had only one thing on his mind the gospel.
