The Ethiopian Eunuch I. Introduction A. Acts 8:26-40 1. the narrative of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch 2. a narrative rather familiar to us because of its baptism account B. Even though it may be familiar, there is much we can gain from the story of the conversion of the eunuch C. Let us spend some time today looking at the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch II. Context: Acts 8 and the Ethiopian eunuch A. To understand the present circumstance, we must understand what has transpired in the book of Acts 1. the church was all assembled in Jerusalem, as it has since its origin in Acts 2 2. Stephen, who had been serving in the church, was killed after a lengthy speech against the Sanhedrin (Acts 7) 3. A general persecution of Christians began in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-4), leading to the dispersion of Christians into Samaria and Judea, as the Lord had foretold (Acts 1:8) 4. Previously in Acts 8, Philip the evangelist preached the Gospel in Samaria, and many converted; Peter and John came down from Jerusalem and gave many the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:5-25) 5. It is after preaching in Samaria that the Spirit advises Philip to go down to Judea, to the desert road between Jerusalem and Gaza (Acts 8:26) 6. It is there where he met the eunuch (Acts 8:27) B. The Nature of the Eunuch 1. The eunuch is described as a man of great authority under Candace the queen, the head of the treasury (Acts 8:27) a. this is the first "dignitary" recorded in Acts as being receptive to the Gospel b. a man of great responsibility-- Candace would not have wanted him gone much c. despite his stature, we will see that the eunuch remains a humble man 2. He also is said to have come to Jerusalem to worship a. Ethiopia to Jerusalem: many, many miles (approx. 1100 miles) b. Probably on some form of "official business" c. Regardless, a demonstration of strong faith to travel such a distance 3. The eunuch is either a proselyte or a member of an isolated Jewish community, but probably the latter a. he cannot be a Gentile or a "God-fearer," since the divine signs that would lead to the understanding that the Gentiles were to receive the Gospel would not come until later (Acts 10) b. the Biblical reasons for thinking of him as a member of an isolated Jewish community will be mentioned in context; there are some historical reasons for it 4. Ethiopia a. Ethiopia is an isolated country, south of Egypt and Nubia (modern-day Sudan), and across the Red Sea from the southern Arabian peninsula b. Its isolation has allowed it to flourish without interference from large empires; it was only first "colonized" by the Italians in the 20th century c. In Isaiah 18:1-2, we read of diplomatic contact between Ethiopia and Judah via the Red Sea d. In Jeremiah 38, we read of Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian eunuch, serving in the court of Zedekiah, and working to release Jeremiah from prison 5. There is a Jewish community in Ethiopia, which itself believes to originate from the time of Jeroboam, but cannot be substantiated fully 6. Seeing the dispersion of Jews after the Babylonian captivity, with Jews definitely in Egypt (Jeremiah 43), even as far as Elephantine (extreme southern Egypt) by the Persian period... 7. ...and also the presence of Jewish communities across the Red Sea in Yemen by the third century BCE, it is not unlikely for there to have been a community of Jews in Ethiopia beginning sometime between 586 BCE and the time of Christ 8. Therefore, it is entirely possible for the Ethiopian eunuch to be a part of such a community, and therefore traveled a thousand of miles to worship God in Jerusalem C. Seeing, therefore, the nature of the circumstances and of the eunuch, let us examine more fully the nature of his conversion III. The Conversion of the Eunuch A. The Ethiopian eunuch is reading in Isaiah (Acts 8:28) 1. Isaiah 53, as we will see 2. In ancient times, one "read" not by silently gazing over a page, but by reading the words to oneself 3. Not an easy endeavor while in a bumpy chariot in the desert 4. He was most probably reading in Hebrew; this is evidence that he is fairly well acquainted with Judaism, since even though the eunuch's native language would have been Semitic like Hebrew is, there would be many differences B. The Spirit commands Philip to join the chariot (Acts 8:29) 1. This would not have been the easiest thing to do 2. Nevertheless, Philip obeys C. Philip, hearing the eunuch reading Isaiah, inquires as to whether he understands what he reads (Acts 8:30) 1. The question is a good one 2. Do we understand what we read? 3. Will we have the spirit of the eunuch? D. The eunuch asked the right question, and invited Philip into the chariot (Acts 8:31) 1. Imagine the eunuch's response...some guy comes up to him while he's traveling a long highway in the middle of the desert! 2. He is, however, willing to look into the Scriptures with eunuch 3. The question is excellent a. we remember that prophecy is not of the prophet's interpretation, but the message of God (2 Peter 1:19-21) b. to that end, we all require assistance in understanding God's message, and who better than those inspired of God in the New Testament? c. We all require guidance in our understanding of the Scriptures-- we must make sure, however, that the guidance is truly based on the Scriptures and not the opinions of men (2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Timothy 2:15) E. The eunuch reads from Isaiah 53:7-8, and asks an insightful question (Acts 8:32-34) 1. Isaiah 53, of course, is the passage detailing the suffering that Jesus went through 2. The eunuch's question is interesting a. his question reveals that he is thinking independently of Jewish traditions and contextually in Isaiah b. had he been a proselyte of the Essene or Pharisaical sects, he would know the passage to refer to someone else, a Messiah figure c. within Isaiah, however, the prophet has used the first person in chapters 49 and 50 d. more evidence that he was a Jew from an isolated community and not a proselyte...and also that he is doing well at trying to understand the text F. Philip begins with this Scripture and preaches Jesus to him (Acts 8:35) 1. While we may not know the particular words Philip spoke, we do know the substance of the message 2. Using Isaiah 53, Philip would speak of the suffering of Jesus for our sins, that He was the Christ, the Son of God, predicted throughout the Old Testament 3. The message would be similar to what Peter preached in Acts 2 G. While traveling, they come upon a pool of water, and the eunuch is baptized (Acts 8:36-38) 1. It is by necessity that the Gospel of Jesus which Philip preached included the need for baptism, else why would the eunuch request it at seeing water? 2. The confession of the eunuch is textually disputed, with some manuscripts not having the verse, yet it is attested by authors of the late second century 3. The confession is assuredly very similar to that which the eunuch would have pronounced to Philip 4. Baptism is manifestly not a public act, since Philip and the eunuch were far from civilization and anyone else 5. Baptism is also immersion, since both Philip and the eunuch "went down" into the water IV. The Aftermath of the Conversion A. The Spirit carries Philip away to Azotus (OT Ashdod), and he preaches up the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea, where he is found in Acts 21:8-9 (Acts 8:39-40) B. In Acts 8:39, the eunuch goes on his way rejoicing after obeying the Gospel 1. salvation was a source of joy for him 2. do we rejoice in our salvation? 3. 1 Peter 1:3-9 4. When not all is well with our lives, we should always look to the great joy that we should have in Christ, having received the forgiveness of sin and looking forward to the salvation of our souls... 5. ...let alone the association we have with God and one another C. We can wonder regarding whatever happened to the eunuch 1. ostensibly he returned to Ethiopia 2. he would not have received the Holy Spirit from Philip, since he could not give it (cf. Acts 8:14-17) 3. he would not have a "New Testament," for such did not exist yet 4. Whatever his trials and struggles-- and joy and success-- we may learn of them in Heaven V. Conclusion A. Thus we see the conversion of the eunuch B. The narrative is interesting-- it is related to us perhaps to show us how the Gospel goes from Judea to Ethiopia C. Regardless, there is much we can learn from the narrative of the eunuch and his conversion D. We see that he needed to understand the Scriptures, and understand about Jesus the Christ, how He died for our sins and is now exalted in Heaven E. Songbook F. We must, as the eunuch, hear the Gospel, and seek the water in which we may be immersed for the remission of our sin G. If you have not done this, we urge you to obey as the eunuch did H. Perhaps you obeyed at one point but require encouragement-- let us help you I. Come to the front as we stand and sing