Acts 8:26-40(Specifically)
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter.
And as a lamb is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
He was humiliated and received no justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.
I find this chapter interesting, it has Philip's faithful obedience to the Massager of The Lord, and without hesitation he obeyed and did what he was asked. Philip trusted the lord, even though he walked down a desolate road in the middle of the Syrian Dessert, he knew the lord had something to accomplish.
My curiosity was, why a Eunuch from Ethiopia? Imagine your given a order from G-d, you obey and you are in the middle of no where trying to escape a zealot who wants to throw you in prison because your religious and political view don't fit his box (Hmmm? Its beginning to sound familiar)? You follow him and this foreigner is reading the Book of Isaiah? Wait? Why Isaiah? Specifically Isaiah 53:7?
Ok no coincidence right, a good evangelist would jump at the chance to talk about Jesus and Philip being filled with spirit and knowledgeable in scripture did just that. He spoke of the good news, the Eunuch happy to hear it wants baptism immediately and Philip obliged. The end. One more for the kingdom? Right?
No. this is much more than a story of blind obedience and sonship, this is deeper?
Why Isaiah? He could have read any other book of the Prophets that foretell the coming of the messiah and his punishment. This was again prophesy fulfilled. The same scroll contained this prophesy.
Isaiah 56:3-8
“Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say,
‘The Lord will never let me be part of his people.’ And don’t let the eunuchs say 'I’m a dried-up tree with no children and no future.’
For this is what the Lord says: I will bless those eunuchs
who keep my Sabbath days holy and who choose to do what pleases me and commit their lives to me.
I will give them—within the walls of my house—a memorial and a name far greater than sons and daughters could give.
For the name I give them is an everlasting one. It will never disappear.
“I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord, who serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my covenant. I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer.
I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices,
because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
For the Sovereign Lord, who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says: I will bring others, too, besides my people Israel.”
This is the first appeal of inclusion, specifically a Eunuch who by his snipping, is rendered a servant and unable to fulfill the importance of G-d's first decree, be Fruitful and multiply. Infertility was seen as a curse in those days and forced infertility was just as bad. This is a prophesy fulfilled and then later taught by Paul.
Philip listened and obeyed, the Eunuch believed and was baptized, he went home a son of the kingdom, he had the royals ear. There is no doubt that he spoke and planted seeds that saw his nation blessed. He might have been infertile physically but he had spiritual fertility now. There is no coincidences in Scriptures, just G-d mighty plans reveled, by those who seek deeper.
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