The Pilgrim Path---Acts 8: 26 – 40

Now the angel of the LORD said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the pro[het and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

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.”

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 told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the LORD carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

AND THE SPIRIT SAID TO PHILIP, “GO…”

Deacon Philip was a soul conscious evangelist and teacher. What is apparent in this text is that he was extremely sensitive to the guidance of the LORD. We must remember that this was a formative time in the history of the early Church. They did not possess a complete Bible. It was necessary that the LORD directly prompt his ambassadors for authoritative mission---particularly where they would influence the affairs of an entire nation. Such would be the case with the Ethiopian official. His conversion would lay the foundation for Gospel endeavors within an entire country. Today, we have, “the whole library of the Holy Spirit” (as John Bunyan used to say). We have the finished revelation of God Almighty to direct us. My whims and wishes always must give way to the clear dictates of Holy Scripture. The LORD does prompt His people---but the final word is the Word of God on all matters. It is compelling that the Spirit of God had the Ethiopian already in His grip. Providentially, he was already reading the scroll from the Prophet Isaiah. What the Ethiopian needed was a more “clear explanation” concerning the meaning of the text of Scripture. Deacon Philip heard the dear man’s question---and “told him the good news about Jesus.” Philip would be able to tell the man about the Savior who bore the wrath of God for sinners---even though He was innocent. But Jesus became “Sin for us---that we might be made the righteousness of God---in Him!” What an opportunity Philip had to tell the story of Redemption! In telling the Ethiopian---he was paving the way for the Gospel to go to an entire Nation! Wow---and then: the baptism! What a story of Gospel Glory---and then Philip is “carried off” by the Spirit of God! Amazing and renewing!

---The Holy Spirit will get workers where they are supposed to be---for spiritually ready people to hear the truth and close with the Christ of God.

---The Holy Spirit often has people “in” Scripture in some form on the spiritual birth-line---they are waiting for someone to help them: Expound the Scriptures / Exhort the Sinner / Exalt the Savior.

---The Holy Spirit often has a rather rigorous schedule (the work is the reward---and the energy itself). Philip went from the southern desert road toward Gaza---to Azotus---preaching to all the towns till he came to Caesarea. Why the hurry? Life is short---death is sure. Sin the cause. Christ the Cure! I muse over the ministry of the early 18th century minister and revivalist William Grimshaw. He not only had his own parish---he had a circuit he preached on weekly. In his hay day---he preached 30 times every six days on a 300-hundred-mile circuit. Remarkable. He felt eternity pressing in…

FROM BROWNLOW NORTH: Do not take your Christianity from the example of those around you, however excellent they may be, but study the life of Jesus, how He acted and how He spoke, and strive to speak and act as He acted and how He spoke and strive to speak and act as He did. Above all, be constant in private prayer. Beware of the first beginnings of shortening private prayer. Be you hot, cold, or lukewarm, still pray; and going as you are to God, ask Him for Christ’s sake to make you what you should be. May the LORD make you a burning and shining light, remembering that humility is the first of the Christian graces, and may He give you to win many souls by your chaste conversation and meek and quiet spirit (See I Peter 3: 3, 4). I have written more than I intended when I commenced. May God bless it to you. And ever remember there is no truth in us in our hearts, that the only truth is in the Word of God. He that trusteth in his heart is a fool, but he that believeth in the LORD Jesus Christ shall be saved, not only from the punishment of sin, but from the power of it. So when your heart says one thing, and the LORD another, believe Him whom you have now, in the presence of God, of men, of angels, of devils, taken for better, for worse, to love, honor, and obey, as your LORD and your God.

From James Montgomery Boice: What happened to the Ethiopian? Can we fail to believe that God blessed him and his witness in his homeland? He did not even have a single Gospel---no Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. He did not have Romans. These books were not yet written. But he had Jesus. He understood that Jesus had died in his place, and he was one of Christ’s disciples. I am sure he spoke about Jesus to others and that a sound church grew up in his land.

From Charles Haddon Spurgeon: When I cannot understand a book, I write and ask the author what he means. Can we do that with the Bible? You may consult learned commentators, but that is not half so satisfactory as to go to the Author of the Book. Remember that you can also go to the Maker of your mind, and He can open it to receive the truth.

HYMN

Blessed Jesus, at your word we are gathered all to hear you;

Let our hearts and souls be stirred now to seek and love and fear you,

By your teachings, sweet and holy, drawn from earth to love you solely.

All our knowledge, sense, and sight lie in deepest darkness shrouded,

Till your Spirit breaks our night with the beams of truth unclouded.

You alone to God can win us; you must work all good within us.

Tobias Clausnitzer, 1633

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason