Who was this person that got saved?
1. An Ethiopian
The description in Acts indicates that this man was from the Kingdom of Meroe, South of Egypt. Most likely, he was from what is now known as Sudan. This place is a far cry from Jerusalem, so he must have traveled a long way to worship in the temple.
2. A court official
Obviously, this man was of high rank. This is known because he is a eunuch (see next) and because he was trusted by the queen to oversee all her treasure.
3. A eunuch
A eunuch is a castrated man that, in this case, is employed as a chamberlain in the queen's court. Though it may seem to be a sign of punishment in our culture, in the eunuch's culture castration is an honourable duty. Only high ranking officials would be so devoted and respected to be allowed castration for their government.
4. A proselyte
A proselyte is a Jewish convert. Though Deuteronomy 23:1 explicitly says that eunuchs cannot enter Judaism, he was probably allowed to be a convert because of Isaiah 56:3-5.
Acts 8:36-39 suggests that this man got saved in Christ Jesus. He got saved in spite of his devotion to: his culture; his governmental duties; his rank in the government; his faith in Judaism.
What does this teach us? That salvation through Jesus Christ is sovereign over all these things. Not only that, but the eunuch's rejoicing in verse 39 means that this supremacy of Christ is something to be joyful about (Ephesians 1:18-23).
How was he saved?
Verse 30: So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
Acts 8:36-39 suggests that this man got saved in Christ Jesus. He got saved in spite of his devotion to: his culture; his governmental duties; his rank in the government; his faith in Judaism.
What does this teach us? That salvation through Jesus Christ is sovereign over all these things. Not only that, but the eunuch's rejoicing in verse 39 means that this supremacy of Christ is something to be joyful about (Ephesians 1:18-23).
How was he saved?
Verse 30: So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
What is not readily apparent in the English is the play on words in Greek. Here Philip is questioning emphatically: Do you really know what you are reading?
Verse 31: And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
This eunuch, court official to the queen, a devoted proselyte, obviously high in stature and power, confesses that he is unable to understand without help. If there is anything consistent about how all Christians come to Christ, it's when they realize that their worth is incomparable to the glory of God. This man, led by the spirit, understood humility before knowing Matthew 23:12 and Matthew 5:3.
Verses 33 and 34: Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent. so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth."
Verse 31: And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
This eunuch, court official to the queen, a devoted proselyte, obviously high in stature and power, confesses that he is unable to understand without help. If there is anything consistent about how all Christians come to Christ, it's when they realize that their worth is incomparable to the glory of God. This man, led by the spirit, understood humility before knowing Matthew 23:12 and Matthew 5:3.
Verses 33 and 34: Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent. so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth."
This reference to Isaiah 53:7-8 describes a person who:
1. Experienced physical pain and death.
"Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter."
"For his life was taken away from the earth."
2. Experienced the pain of injustice.
"Like a lamb before its shearers is silent, so he opens not his mouth."
3. Experienced abandonment.
"In his humiliation..."
4. Experienced the pain of judgment.
"...justice was denied him."
1. Experienced physical pain and death.
"Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter."
"For his life was taken away from the earth."
2. Experienced the pain of injustice.
"Like a lamb before its shearers is silent, so he opens not his mouth."
3. Experienced abandonment.
"In his humiliation..."
4. Experienced the pain of judgment.
"...justice was denied him."
Verses 34 and 35: And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
Jesus is the one who:
1. Experienced physical pain and death
Mark 15:24
2. Experienced the pain of injustice... through the pain of bearing sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Romans 4:24
3. Experienced abandonment
Matthew 27:46
3. Experienced the pain of judgment... by bearing the wrath of God.
Romans 3:25
1 John 4:10
1. Experienced physical pain and death
Mark 15:24
2. Experienced the pain of injustice... through the pain of bearing sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Romans 4:24
3. Experienced abandonment
Matthew 27:46
3. Experienced the pain of judgment... by bearing the wrath of God.
Romans 3:25
1 John 4:10
This points to the doctrine of substitutionary atonement: "Erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set it aside, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:14
This doctrine is the gift of grace that God gives us that is different from any other false belief. From Islam to Oprahism, all other religions are wrong. Jesus is the the only way... period.
So, as Philip spoke about "the good news about Jesus", let us do so as well. Like the eunuch let's "go on our way rejoicing" in the Lord, our saviour.
This doctrine is the gift of grace that God gives us that is different from any other false belief. From Islam to Oprahism, all other religions are wrong. Jesus is the the only way... period.
So, as Philip spoke about "the good news about Jesus", let us do so as well. Like the eunuch let's "go on our way rejoicing" in the Lord, our saviour.
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