Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

After the stoning of Stephen at the end of the Acts 7, the church in Jerusalem faced fierce persecution and fled throughout the surrounding regions. While the opponents of the church were seeking to destroy it, their intense persecution actually helped spread the word. Those who fled Jerusalem did not cease preaching “the word wherever they went” (Acts 8:4). One such example of this occurs with Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. After bringing the gospel to Samaria, an angel instructed Philip to head toward Gaza where the Spirit of the Lord would lead him to an encounter he would never forget. Let’s see how the Lord used Philip to bring the gospel to the eunuch from Ethiopia.

This post is an excerpt from Warren W. Wiersbe’s BE Series. To learn more about this chapter-by-chapter commentary series on the whole Bible, visit our store.  

Philip and the Angel

Philip was not only a faithful preacher, he was also an obedient personal worker. Like his Master, he was willing to leave the crowds and deal with one lost soul. The angel could have told this Ethiopian official how to be saved, but God has not given the commission to angels: He has given it to His people. Angels have never personally experienced God’s grace; therefore, they can never bear witness of what it means to be saved.

D. L. Moody once asked a man about his soul, and the man replied, “It’s none of your business!” “Oh, yes, it is my business!” Moody said, and the man immediately exclaimed, “Then you must be D. L. Moody!” It is every Christian’s business to share the gospel with others, and to do it without fear or apology.

Philip’s experience encourages us in our own personal witness for the Lord. To begin with, God directed Philip to the right person at the right time. You and I are not likely to have angels instruct us, but we can know the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our witnessing if we are walking in the Spirit and praying for God’s direction.

Late one afternoon, I was completing my pastoral calling and I felt impressed to make one more visit to see a woman who was faithfully attending church but was not a professed Christian. At first, I told myself that it was foolish to visit her that late in the day, since she was probably preparing a meal for her family. But I went anyway and discovered that she had been burdened about her sins all that day! Within minutes, she opened her heart to Christ and was born again. Believe me, I was glad I obeyed the leading of the Spirit!

The Ethiopian Eunuch was Far from Home

This court official did not come from what we know today as Ethiopia; his home was in ancient Nubia, located south of Egypt. Since he was a eunuch, he could not become a full Jewish proselyte (Deut. 23:1), but he was permitted to become a “God fearer” or “a proselyte of the gate.” He was concerned enough about his spiritual life to travel over two hundred miles to Jerusalem to worship God, but his heart was still not satisfied.

This Ethiopian represents many people today who are religious, read the Scriptures, and seek the truth, yet do not have saving faith in Jesus Christ. They are sincere, but they are lost! They need someone to show them the way.

The Eunuch’s Confusion Over Isaiah’s Suffering Servant

As Philip drew near to the chariot, he heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah (a custom for students in those days). God had already prepared the man’s heart to receive Philip’s witness! If we obey the Lord’s leading, we can be sure that God will go before us and open the way for our witness.

Isaiah 53 was the passage he was reading, the prophecy of God’s Suffering Servant. Isaiah 53 describes our Lord Jesus Christ in His birth (vv. 1-2), life and ministry (v. 3), substitutionary death (vv. 4-9), and victorious resurrection (vv. 10-12). Isaiah 53:4 should be connected with 1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:7 with Matthew 26:62-63, Isaiah 53:9 with Matthew 27:57-60, and Isaiah 53:12 with Luke 23:34, 37.

The Ethiopian focused on Isaiah 53:7-8, which describes our Lord as the willing Sacrifice for sinners, even to the point of losing His human rights. As Philip explained the verses to him, the Ethiopian began to understand the gospel because the Spirit of God was opening his mind to God’s truth. It is not enough for the lost sinner to desire salvation; he must also understand God’s plan of salvation. It is the heart that understands the Word that eventually bears fruit (Matt. 13:23).

The idea of substitutionary sacrifice is one that is found from the beginning of the Bible to the end. God killed animals so that He might clothe Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:21). He provided a ram to die in the place of Isaac (Gen. 22:13). At Passover, innocent lambs died for the people of Israel (Ex. 12), and the entire Jewish religious system was based on the shedding of blood (Lev. 17, especially v. 11). Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of both the Old Testament types and the prophecies (John 1:29; Rev. 5).

Philip Baptizes the Ethiopian Eunuch

“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). The Ethiopian believed on Jesus Christ and was born again! So real was his experience that he insisted on stopping the caravan and being baptized immediately! He was no “closet Christian”; he wanted everybody to know what the Lord had done for him.

How did he know that believers were supposed to be baptized? Perhaps Philip had included this in his witness to him, or perhaps he had even seen people baptized while he was in Jerusalem. We know that Gentiles were baptized when they became Jewish proselytes. Throughout the book of Acts, baptism is an important part of the believer’s commitment to Christ and witness for Christ.

While Acts 8:37 is not found in all the New Testament manuscripts, there is certainly nothing in it that is unbiblical (Rom. 10:9-10). In the days of the early church, converts were not baptized unless they first gave a clear testimony of their faith in Jesus Christ. And keep in mind that the Ethiopian was speaking not only to Philip but also to those in the caravan who were near his chariot. He was an important man, and you can be sure that his attendants were paying close attention.

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch Part Ways

Philip was caught away to minister elsewhere (compare 1 Kings 18:12), but the treasurer “went on his way rejoicing” (see Acts 8:39). God did not permit Philip to do the necessary discipling of this new believer, but surely He provided for it when the man arrived home. Even though he was a eunuch, the Ethiopian was accepted by God (see Isa. 56:3-5)!

Philip ended up at Azotus, about twenty miles from Gaza, and then made his way to Caesarea, a journey of about sixty miles. Like Peter and John, Philip preached his way home (Acts 8:25) as he told others about the Savior. Twenty years later, we find Philip living in Caesarea and still serving God as an evangelist (Acts 21:8ff.).

The Gospel Continues to Spread

As you trace the expansion of the gospel during this transition period (Acts 2–10), you see how the Holy Spirit reaches out to the whole world. In Acts 8, the Ethiopian who was converted was a descendant of Ham (Gen. 10:6, where “Cush” refers to Ethiopia). In Acts 9, Saul of Tarsus will be saved, a Jew and therefore a descendant of Shem (Gen. 10:21ff.). In Acts 10, the Gentiles find Christ, and they are the descendants of Japheth (Gen. 10:2-5). The whole world was peopled by Shem, Ham, and Japheth (v. 1), and God wants the whole world–all of their descendants–to hear the message of the gospel (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15).

In October 1857, J. Hudson Taylor began to minister in Ningpo, China, and he led a Mr. Nyi to Christ. The man was overjoyed and wanted to share his faith with others.

“How long have you had the good tidings in England?” Mr. Nyi asked Hudson Taylor one day. Taylor acknowledged that England had known the gospel for many centuries.

“My father died seeking the truth,” said Mr. Nyi. “Why didn’t you come sooner?”

Taylor had no answer to that penetrating question.

How long have you known the gospel?

How far have you shared it personally?

Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion

1. How was the gospel sown in your life before you became a believer?
2. Read Acts 8:4–40. How did God use Philip? Why do you suppose He worked this way in this case?
3. How can you incorporate Philip’s example into your own witnessing?
4. What is the importance of baptism in the Christian’s life?
5. How can you witness more in your daily routine this week?

The BE Series by Warren W. Wiersbe

The BE Series by Warren W. Wiersbe is a welcome addition to anyone’s Olive Tree library. It is great for devotional purposes, group Bible studies, or sermon preparation. You can look inside this series to learn more or visit our store to purchase at the link below.