ACTS LESSON 18
We will begin this lesson in Acts 8:25 "And they, when they had
testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem,
and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans."
In the last lesson, we had seen Peter and John come to Samaria to
help Philip. They had laid hands on the believers and they had
received the Holy Ghost. Now that the church is established here in
the city of Samaria, Peter and John go back to Jerusalem. It appears
from the Scripture above, that on the way back they preached in many
of the Samaritan cities.
Acts 8:26 "And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying,
Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from
Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert."
It is so strange today, if you tell someone the Lord has spoken to
you, they look at you as if there is something wrong with you. All
through the Bible the Lord spoke to people. He spoke to Noah to build
an ark, He spoke to Jonah to go to Nineveh, He spoke to Moses to
deliver His people, He spoke to Abraham to leave Ur of the Chaldees,
and many more too numerous to mention. The problem today is, the Lord
still speaks, but few are listening. We see, here, that Philip is
told to go toward the south. He was not told why, just to go.
Acts 8:27 "And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia,
an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians,
who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for
to worship," Acts 8:28 "Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read
Esaias the prophet."
This man was interested in knowing the truth about God. While no
one was looking out in the desert, he was studying God's Word in
Isaiah.
Acts 8:29 "Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join
thyself to this chariot."
Notice in this that God is interested in individuals. God has
sent Philip a long way to just this one man. My own opinion is that
God is doing this type of work today. The people who are truly
interested in studying God's Word and knowing God's will are just a
few. Our theme song at Church In The Wildwood is "LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN
GOD IS IN IT". God is interested in individuals who truly love Him
and want to follow Him. That is the case in the verse above. God has
sent Philip to save this one man. Notice that in this verse, the Holy
Spirit told Philip to go to this chariot.
Acts 8:30 "And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him read the
prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?"
Notice, the eunuch was trying to understand. He was still
reading, hoping the meaning would be opened to him. This man is not
only one seeking God, but a truthful man, as well. He is not puffed
up with pride, but admits he does not understand.
Acts 8:31 "And he said, How can I, except some man should guide
me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him."
Help is here! This help was sent from God to one who earnestly
desired to know the truth.
Acts 8:32 "The place of the scripture which he read was this, He
was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his
shearer, so opened he not his mouth:" Acts 8:33 "In his humiliation
his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for
his life is taken from the earth."
We know that the leaders in the temple in Jerusalem did not even
know themselves what this meant, so how could they teach someone else?
You see, this was a prophetic Scripture about how Jesus (the Lamb of
God) would be brought before the council, and how He would stand in
silence as they accused Him. It tells of His humiliation of the
cross, and then being taken up from the earth.
Acts 8:34 "And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee,
of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?"
This eunuch had no one to turn to for the truth. God has sent him
help in Philip. Notice one more time, that this valuable disciple of
God was sent to the desert to minister to one man.
Acts 8:35 "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same
scripture, and preached unto him Jesus."
There are several important things to notice in this. One thing
is, that Philip took up the man's Bible and taught from Isaiah. This
is a New Testament man preaching from the Old Testament. Another very
important thing to note, is that Philip showed him Jesus in the Old
Testament. Jesus is from Genesis to Revelation. The whole Bible
revolves around Jesus. Notice the most important thing: Philip,
without hesitation, preached to this total stranger. Be instant in
and out of season, where the Word of God is concerned.
Acts 8:36 "And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a
certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth
hinder me to be baptized?"
This eunuch knew the Scriptures (written Word) and readily
accepted the spoken Word. We see here, that it is not necessary to be
baptized in any particular place, or even on any day. Notice in the
next verse, how Philip answers him. It is great to be baptized, but
we must have something happen in our heart first.
Acts 8:37 "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine
heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God."
You see, new birth really occurs first in our heart. We must
truly love God more than we love the world around us. We must destroy
the desires of the flesh and live to the Spirit. In Romans 10:9-10,
we read the qualifications for being saved, Romans 10:9 "That if thou
shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved." Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
We see the eunuch has done just this, and now he is ready to be
baptized.
Acts 8:38 "And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they
went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he
baptized him."
We see here, that they went into the water. This baptism was to
the death of self and burial (water) and being raised to new life in
Christ. Now this eunuch is a brand new spirit man in the Lord Jesus
Christ. He will no longer live for the flesh, but will walk in the
spirit.
Acts 8:39 "And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit
of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and
he went on his way rejoicing."
Mission accomplished. Philip was no longer needed here, so the
Spirit carried him away. He did not have to walk back.
Acts 8:40 "But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he
preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea."
This was a miraculous transportation of Philip. God's power is
unlimited. How Philip got to Azotus, I will allow you to guess. We
see, here, that Philip knew no fear, he preached everywhere he went.
I believe the transportation Philip used to get from the desert to
Azotus was similar to the trip Elijah took in the whirlwind, and the
trip the Lord Jesus took to heaven on a cloud. All I can say is, it
was a miracle ride.
Notes
Acts 18 Questions
1. In verse 25, we find that they preached in many ____ of the
______.
2. After what was completed in the city of Samaria, Peter and John
went to Jerusalem?
3. Where did the angel of the Lord tell Philip to go?
4. Name several specific people God spoke to in the Bible.
5. Do you believe God speaks to people now?
6. What is wrong with our not receiving more from God?
7. When God spoke to Philip, what did Philip do (in one word)?
8. The eunuch, Philip was sent to, was from what country?
9. What does eunuch mean?
10. Who did he work for?
11. What book of the Old Testament was he reading?
12. In verse 29, who told Philip what to do?
13. What question did Philip ask the eunuch?
14. In verse 31, what good character trait do we see in the eunuch?
15. What was he reading about in Isaiah?
16. Why had not the temple rulers told him what this Scripture meant?
17. What question did the eunuch ask Philip in verse 34?
18. What did Philip preach to him?
19. Which books in the Bible are about Jesus?
20. What did the eunuch ask Philip in verse 36?
21. What must we do before we are baptized?
22. Quote Romans 10:9.
23. What type of baptism did Philip do to the eunuch?
24. What happened to Philip immediately after the baptism?
25. Where did Philip preach after he was found at Azotus?
Notes
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