Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
Bible Text: Acts 8:26-40 | Preacher: Andrew Love | Series: Acts | Introduction
The song is especially for those going overseas
[We have heard a Joyful Sound]
The Church is always to be an outward looking missionary church
Looking at 1:1 evangelism
Consider two rivers – two different beginnings but converge to become one mighty flowing river
This evening tracing the paths of two men
Map – explanation
Jerusalem to Samaria
v26 – to travel South to Gaza
The Ethiopian Eunuch traveling from Jerusalem back home
God had planned a great meeting in the desert
Considering
God’s love for the individual
The Good Shepherd who goes after the one lost sheep
Psalm 68:31
This was to be the first convert from Ethiopia
Surely he would be a great influence on others
Overview:
Philip – the Evangelist
Eunuch – the Ethiopian
The Encounter
The Evangelist (Philip)
He had been instrumental in a great awakening
They needed a pastor, someone to look after and train them
God had purposes to move him on
God sent an angel
God speaks through providence
God speaks through an angel
God speaks via the Holy Spirit
Each time the servant of God was ready to move
He was a married man
He had four daughters who were prophetesses
Yet he was always willing to move on as God led him
God instructs Philip to go without explaining why
Philip arose and went
Similar to Abraham who rose early in the morning
Faith – is obedience to the word of God, even when we don’t understand everything
We ought to be planning and thinking – but we ought to be ready for our plans to be changed by God
God’s word speaking to Philip through an angel
We ought to always obey the word of God – what is written in the Bible
To look after widowers
Be concerned for the prisoner
Pray for those in authority and government
There are other areas where there is no particular instruction
God may place a particular burden on your heart
Always we should say – ‘Lord, Your will’
Example of lady missionary
Philip was ready to do what God wanted him to do
Are we willing to do what God wants us to do
“Behold” (v27)
God has a purpose
Sometimes there are many unknowns but God fills in the details
Example of the Norwegian Ffords
We are often led step by step
Do we get stuck at the beginning because we want everything mapped out for us?
Many Christians don’t get past the first step
Philip runs
He runs in the hot desert
He seizes the opportunity
A ‘chariot’
He had an entourage
He was an important person
He had a scroll
Philip could have been intimidated but he seized the opportunity
In Tabor we have seized the opportunity
Do we seize opportunity?
Example from Warren Weirsbe
May it be that we obey the Spirit’s prompting
Not audible voices but constraints upon our hearts
Philip is very wise
He simply asks a question
He is very respectful
He sees the scroll and asks if he understands
He was a wise evangelist
He loved, respected and helped
Philip preaches about Jesus Christ
Not about other matters
Application:
A good witness and evangelist is someone who understands God’s word
A person who will listen, answer questions and be patient
A wise evangelist
Not quoting our own thoughts but quoting Scripture
The Ethiopian Eunuch
He was an important official
A black Jewish Man
Probably not a gentile, probably a Jew
He worshiped the God of the Jews
He was zealous – he had come to Jerusalem to worship
God had put eternity in his heart
He wants to understand the Bible
He wants someone to teach it to him
He is reading the scroll before he gets home
Perhaps he had heard something of Jesus
The apostles had filled all of Jerusalem with their doctrines
Maybe he had heard of Jesus
Maybe he had seen baptisms
Maybe he was prejudiced or suspicious of Christians
Through 1:1 evangelism he was to be saved
This can be more powerful than preaching
The apostles preached publicly and from house to house
Philip allowed this sole convert to return to Ethiopia
Example of the Demoniac
God can work mightily through one person
Isa 56:3-5
The Encounter
Not just Philip and the Ethiopian – the Lord Jesus Christ was there
This man is so persuaded he asks what hinders him from baptism
Something divine has happened
He has had an encounter with Jesus Christ
He has believed
He wants to be baptised (and is)
He goes on his way rejoicing
A divine appointment – an instantaneous conversion
May the Lord use us in the work of evangelism
Example of John Eglan & Charles Spurgeon