106. PHILIP AND THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH

"And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptised him."

Aim

To show how God directed Philip to teach the way of salvation through Jesus Christ to the Ethiopian eunuch.

Acts 8:26-40

TROUBLE FOR THE BELIEVERS

The Jews who stoned Stephen to death caused a lot of trouble for the ecclesia in Jerusalem. Many of the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ were persecuted because of their beliefs. They were dragged from their homes and thrown into prison. This made many of them flee in fear from Jerusalem to other parts of Judea and to Samaria. Wherever they went they preached the Gospel (Acts 8:1; 11:19).

PHILIP PREACHES THE GOSPEL (vv. 5-25)

Among the disciples who left Jerusalem was Philip. He was one of the seven brethren specially chosen to help care for the Jerusalem ecclesia. Like Stephen, he was not afraid to preach the Gospel. God had given him the Holy Spirit to teach His Word clearly and perform miracles among the people.

Philip journeyed to the city of Samaria where many believed his teaching and were baptised "and there was great joy in that city" (vv. 5-12). A new ecclesia was formed and when the apostles in Jerusalem heard of this they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they saw the work that Philip had done and how richly God had blessed it, they called the disciples together and gave the power of the Holy Spirit to some of them by the laying on of hands. Only the twelve apostles were able to pass on the Holy Spirit in this way. Philip could do miracles by the Holy Spirit but he could not pass it on to others (vv. 14-17).

Peter and John then returned to Jerusalem preaching in many villages of the Samaritans on the way (v. 25).

THE ANGEL SPEAKS TO PHILIP (vv. 26-29)

Soon after, the angel of the Lord appeared to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert." Philip obeyed immediately and it was not long before he learnt why God had sent him there.

An important man from Ethiopia was travelling along the road. He was a eunuch, an important officer in charge of all the treasure of Candace, Queen of Ethiopia. Although an Ethiopian, he believed in Yahweh, the God of Israel and had been to Jerusalem to worship. While journeying home in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. God said to Philip, "Go near, and join thyself to this chariot" (vv. 27-29).

PHILIP TEACHES ABOUT JESUS (vv. 30-35)

Philip ran to join the Ethiopian and asked him if he understood what he was reading. The Ethiopian replied, "How can I, except some man should guide me?" So he asked Philip to come up and sit with him in his chariot. As they travelled he eagerly listened while Philip explained the Scriptures to him. How he enjoyed being taught the truth of God's Word.

Look up Isaiah 53:7-8 and you will see the part of the Scriptures that the Ethiopian had been reading: "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth" (v.7).

When the Ethiopian read these words he asked Philip, "I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?" Then starting from that same chapter Philip preached to him about Jesus. He was the promised Messiah that Isaiah had been speaking of. Although he had done nothing to deserve it, Jesus had been put to death by wicked men. But God had raised him from the dead and he is now in heaven, alive for evermore. Soon God will send him back to the earth to raise the dead and give eternal life to all those who have believed and obeyed the Word of Life.

THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH IS BAPTISED (vv. 36-40)

The Ethiopian now understood clearly what he had been reading. He believed the things Philip taught him from the Scriptures about Jesus Christ and his kingdom. With all his heart he wanted to become a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Now that he believed in him, he must first obey God by being baptised.

Soon they came to a place where there was much water. The Ethiopian said to Philip, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptised?" (v.36) Philip replied, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." He answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (v.37) The chariot was stopped and they both went down into the water and Philip baptised him into the saving name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Ethiopian eunuch was completely immersed or covered by water, and then arose out of the water, like a new person in God's sight. When they were come up out of the water, God took Philip away, for his work there was now finished. The eunuch did not see Philip again, but he went on his way rejoicing. The Spirit of God took Philip away to Azotus, where he preached in all the cities between there and Caesarea. (v.40)

LESSON FOR US

The Ethiopian was trying to serve God in the way he thought best, but did not know the true way in which God wants His servants to walk. God sent Philip to teach him how he could be saved through belief in Jesus Christ. The Ethiopian believed and showed his faith by being baptised.

Like the Ethiopian we must eagerly search out God's Truth in the Bible. When we understand and believe it with all our heart, we must be baptised. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved." (Mark 16:16)

ADDITIONAL NOTES

WHAT IS BAPTISM?

Look at Instructor Questions 62 and 63. Here we have two questions and answers about baptism.

1. What is baptism? Burial in water.

2. What does baptism do for us? It is the act that God has appointed by which a believer puts on Christ and receives remission of his sins.

Only a person who believes the Gospel or good news about Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God can be baptised. He (or she) goes right down under the water, as if he is being buried with Christ (Romans 6:4). When he comes up out of the water, he is like a new person in God's sight (v. 4). God has forgiven his sins and he must serve God all his life. Baptism is the beginning of service to God, and God will give eternal life to those who continue to serve Him faithfully.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. What caused many of the members of the ecclesia to leave Jerusalem?

2. What happened in Samaria because of Philip's preaching?

3. What did Peter and John do when they went to Samaria?

4. What did the angel of the Lord command Philip to do?

5. Whom did Philip meet?

6. Who is the man spoken of in Isaiah chapter 53?

7. The Ethiopian eunuch believed what Philip taught him. What did he have to do then?

Detailed Answers

8. Tell the story of how Philip baptised the Ethiopian eunuch.

9. This lesson teaches us the importance of baptism,

   1. What is baptism?

   2. What does baptism do for us?

Additional Answers

10. The Ethiopian eunuch believed in God

    1. What more did he have to do to be saved?

    2. What do we learn from this lesson?

11. a) Tell what happens when a person is baptized?

11. 2. What must a person do after he is baptised?