If we closely listen to the small voice of the Holy Spirit within believers He will guide us in the way to Christ. God wants that all of creation recognize Him as their Father and to accept the sacrifice that He provides in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus.
All glory and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
This desert road was a major trade highway connecting Israel and the key Mediterranean ports of the area (including Caesarea, Joppa, and Gaza). Travel without protection was risky in first-century Palestine, even on major trade highways. The Ethiopian Eunch was an official employed by the queen of a kingdom in Africa south of Egypt. It suggests that the eunuch is a convert to Judaism. His humbleness and willingness to seek answers creates an opportunity for Philip to guide him into the knowledge of Jesus’ identity as the promised Messiah.
Philip used the fourth Suffering Servant song to explain the gospel of Jesus’ sacrificial death, victorious resurrection, and the significance of Jesus’ actions for all people. In answer to the eunuch’s question, Philip would have explained that the prophet is speaking about an individual suffering servant, who takes on the sin of all of humanity. He would have then connected the suffering servant prophecy (Isaiah 52:13–53:12) to Jesus. After Philip’s message, the necessary element (water) is presented for the eunuch to demonstrate his allegiance to Christ. Faithlife Bible.
Technically a eunuch is a man who has been emasculated. However, by the first century the term had become a government title used for important military or political officials. The ancient kingdom of Ethiopia was ruled by a queen mother or Candace, who ruled on behalf of her son the king. Because the king was considered the child of the sun, he was too holy to become involved in secular affairs. Therefore, his mother took over the responsibility. The eunuch in this passage was the minister of finance, a prominent position in the Ethiopian regime. He was responsible for distributing the funds of the treasury based on the desires of the queen mother.
Many Gentiles in the first century had grown weary of the multiple gods and loose morals of their nations. They were searching in Judaism for the truth. If they accepted Judaism as their faith, they would obey all the rules and regulations of the Law of Moses. This would include being circumcised and baptized. This type of convert was called a proselyte. Gentiles who did not become proselytes but did attend the Jewish synagogues to listen to the Scriptures were called God-fearers. We cannot be sure which the Ethiopian eunuch was.
Most likely the eunuch was part of a caravan journeying in the same direction, moving slowly down the road. As was the practice of the day, the man was reading aloud. Philip, prompted by the Spirit, spoke to the man about the prophecy of Isaiah, explaining the prophetic words about Christ. NKJ Bible.
Acts 8:26–37 (NKJV)
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”
34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
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.”
Mark 16:16 (NKJV)
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
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