Question
UNLESS SOMEONE EXPLAINS IT TO ME
Acts 8:26-40
Key Verse 8:31
1. Read verses 26-31. Where did the Lord send Philip? Who did Philip meet on the desert road? What was the eunuch doing? How did Philip begin a conversation with him? How was the Lord involved in this meeting? What does this show us about the Lord?
2. Read verses 32-35. What scripture was the eunuch reading? How might the eunuch have related to the man mentioned in that passage? What did he ask Philip? How did Philip respond? How does this passage from Isaiah begin to tell the good news about Jesus? How was this good news for the eunuch?
3. Read verses 36-40. How did the eunuch respond to the good news about Jesus? What happened to Philip? What did he do beginning at Azotus? What can we learn from Philip about serving the Lord?
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Message
HOW CAN I, UNLESS SOMEONE EXPLAINS IT TO ME?
Acts 8:26-40
Key Verse 8:31
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
This question that the eunuch asked was the very reason that the Lord went all the way to prepare a special Bible study session. In fact, today’s passage gives us a picture of 1) how the Lord is working today, and 2) how we can be ready and useful instruments for him to use. Let’s pray to learn of these two things.
I. The Lord Sends a Prepared Bible Teacher (26-31)
The passage begins with the Lord calling his servant Philip to go to a desert road. Look at verse 26. “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ ”
Now this Philip is not the same Philip, the human calculator, we studied about in John 1:35-51, but was a Grecian-Jewish convert in the early church under the Apostles’ leadership. He was a man known to be full of the Spirit and faith. He had been chosen along with six others to be administrators for Grecian-Jewish church members. But very soon after that a severe persecution broke out against the church and everyone, except for the Apostles, had been scattered out of Jerusalem to the surrounding areas, including Philip. He had gone to Samaria, which is the territory directly north of Jerusalem, and the Lord had been doing great things through him there. Philip preached that Jesus Christ is the Savior, and he performed many miracles of healing and brought great joy to the city he was staying in. His ministry was fruitful and growing. It was a really amazing thing to witness and be a part of, especially in light of the severe persecutions that were going on at the time.
But right as things were going so well, the Lord called Philip away. An angel of the Lord told Philip to go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza (26). Maybe most people would find it hard to leave an exciting and fruitful ministry to go to a desert road. What a contrast in places! Who would take care of all of the new converts from Samaria? What if Philip was looking for a house to buy? In fact, the Lord didn’t provide Philip any further details. He didn’t say why Philip had to leave Samaria and go to a desert road. He didn’t tell him how long he would be there. And he didn’t tell him what to do once he got there. What should Philip bring for the journey? Philip was about 30 miles away from this road. Yet, how did Philip respond? The beginning of verse 27 tells us, “So he started out…” He was free to move as the Lord directed him. When the Lord told him to go somewhere, he simply went. There was nothing hindering him from following the Lord’s leading.
The Lord had led him to a desert road to meet an Ethiopian eunuch. Let’s look at verses 27-28. “So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.” These verses tell us a lot about this man. He was an important official for Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. (Candace was a title given to Ethiopian female rulers, like Pharaoh was used by the Egyptians.) Queen Candace was in charge a lot of the administration and practical duties for the king, because the Ethiopians believed that the king was a child of the Sun and was too high-level to do menial work. This man was the head of the treasury for Queen Candace, the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of Ethiopia. He was a very important man. Also, it was common practice in ancient times for men who served queens to be emasculated or castrated, to ensure that they would not make advances at the queen. We also find out that this man was a sincere truth seeker. He had gone all the way to Jerusalem to worship. This journey was more than a 1,000 miles from the Ethiopia of that day. What a difficult journey he made through the desert lands to Jerusalem. We don’t know how he heard about Judaism. But we can see that he was serious about knowing the truth and seeking God. And on his way home was reading from the book of Isaiah. They didn’t have mass printing those days, but somehow he secured a copy of the book of Isaiah. Even though the worship was finished, he was thirsty to know about God and continued to read Isaiah on the way home. But who knew about this Ethiopian? Even though he went to Jerusalem, he had to worship outside the main area, in the court of Gentiles at the temple, because he was a foreigner and a eunuch. The Lord saw his efforts.
Look at verse 29. “The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’ ” Again, the Lord gave Philip a clear direction, and again, Philip didn’t talk back or ask questions. How could he approach this important official from Ethiopia? We can see that as Philip was ready to listen to the Spirit, the direction became clearer. The Lord spoke to Philip in this way, because he knew that Philip would listen. Again, Philip responded immediately and with great urgency. Look at the beginning of verse 30: “Then Philip ran up to the chariot…” He didn’t know what was going on yet, but when the Spirit told him to go to that chariot, he ran. Look how the Lord was able to use Philip. His willing and ready attitude as seen in this passage to follow the Lord’s direction made him into a useful servant of the Lord. Philip didn’t waste any time; he ran up to that chariot and stayed near it.
Look again at verse 30. “…and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.” When Philip heard the man reading from the book of Isaiah, he suddenly realized what the Lord was calling him to do. Then he began to take action on his own to fulfill the task the Lord brought him there for. So he found a way to open up a conversation with him: “Do you understand what you are reading?” (30). Philip sets a good example of what it means to be found useful to the Lord by being led by the Spirit. Philip went the Lord led him. He did what the Spirit told him to do. But he didn’t stop there. In serving the Lord, he tried to understand God’s will and actively found ways to carry out the Lord’s purpose. The Lord didn’t tell Philip all of the details for a reason: he didn’t need to. He could rely on Philip. Philip was mindful of the Lord and obviously was actively trying to do the Lord’s will and understand the situation. When the Lord said, “Go south to a desert road,” he went. When he met an Ethiopian eunuch, he was not intimated by his high position, or hindered by cultural differences. Because of this, he was useful to the Lord, and the Lord led him to the right person at the right time. His example shows us that being led by the Spirit means not to be led by anything else, but ready to listen to the Spirit’s direction at any time. To do this, we have to empty ourselves of anything that will hinder the Spirit’s leading—everything of ourselves—so that there is nothing to get in the way of listening to the Lord. We are the Lord’s servants and must be ready to do his will. As we keep the Lord’s will in mind, we pray that we may understand God’s will and be ready to act in every situation accordingly.
How did the eunuch respond to Philip’s question? Look at verse 31. “ ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” He humbly confessed his ignorance and need, and invited Philip to have Bible study with him. So it was made clear why the Lord led Philip to this man. It was for this very purpose of having a Bible study together. It is very encouraging to see that it was the Lord who fully prepared this special meeting. It gives us a good and joyful reason to be his ready servants. As we ready ourselves, we should pray that God will lead us to the right person. In this case, even, it was not Philip who hooked the Ethiopian or even invited him to Bible study. But the Lord had prepared the Ethiopian who invited Philip to teach him. One really good modern day example is the testimony we heard a couple of weeks ago from Antwan Alameen, a disciple at UC Davis. When he shared his testimony, he shared that God had prepared him through many events, and as he was standing in front of the library he asked the Lord for help. Right then a man named Philip came up to him and invited him to Bible study. Antwan accepted and from the first study was hooked. He was so happy to learn about God who created him, who gives him life and meaning, and he has been making honorable efforts to study the Bible more to learn about Jesus and grow spiritually. Thank God for sending us a Bible teacher at just the right time! And thank God for calling us to join in his salvation work. May God help us to be his ready servants and lead us to the right person. And may God help us to follow the Spirit’s example of going out to find the those who are looking for a Bible teacher.
II. The Bible Study (32-35)
Let’s see how the Bible study went between Philip and the Ethiopian. Look at verses 32-33. “32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: ‘He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.’ ”
The eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53:7,8. The eunuch had been hooked by Isaiah 53. Maybe the eunuch could relate to the suffering servant Isaiah mentions in many ways. Especially the word, “In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants?” (33), rung out to him. He could never have a family and descendants. He may have felt that his life would finish empty and he felt wronged and humiliated. In reading Isaiah 53, the eunuch could identify and make a personal connection with the suffering servant. But something was missing and he just focused on reading these sad words of humiliation and injustice. And he asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” (34). (Maybe, he’s talking about me?)
How did Philip answer his question? Look at verse 35. “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. The eunuch had just focused on the sad parts. But Isaiah 53 tells the gospel message—there’s good news in Isaiah. Yes, Jesus suffered much, but that wasn’t the end. The good news is that God raised him from the dead to give us eternal life, forgiveness of sin, and hope in the kingdom of God. [The Bible is difficult to understand. It is a spiritual book with spiritual meanings that require spiritual discernment which is revelation from God.] In fact, Jesus’ sufferings are hard to understand. So many people rejected Jesus because they did not understand why he had to suffer. Even Jesus’ disciples didn’t understand his sufferings, until after Jesus rose from the dead. But Jesus spent much time explaining to them why he had to suffer. At first, they said, “Never, Lord!” And we don’t like to hear about sufferings. But Jesus explained it well to them over and over again through the Scripture. And Philip is the fruit of Jesus’ explaining. He’s doing the necessary work of explaining Jesus’ suffering now to this Ethiopian eunuch. And it was good news.
What stands out is that Philip was a prepared Bible teacher. He didn’t just teach historical things or good lessons, but he was able to tell the good news about Jesus from any passage. The eunuch was hooked when reading Isaiah 53. And he could identify with the suffering servant, but that wasn’t enough. Philip “began with that very passage of Scripture” (35), and told him the good news about Jesus Christ. That is what made the difference.
This is the second point from Philip’s example that tells us how to be useful servants in the Lord’s ministry, that is, by being prepared Bible teachers who can share the gospel through any Scripture, and who can meet the needs of Bible students in Bible study. Philip even knew how to ask the right questions and give the right answers. We need to follow in his example and go deep into the word of God and learn how to serve the Lord’s flock through Bible study so that they are led to Jesus Christ. One thing that has always amazed me about Missionary Isaac Kim that I noticed while traveling together with him many times was his ability to ask other people lots of good questions that get them to open up and even lead them to Jesus. I also noticed that through asking the right questions, he could give the appropriate word of God at the right time. I think I learned just a little bit from him, but I want to learn much more. May God help us to have a deep and spiritual understanding of the Bible and the good news about Jesus so that people may be led to Jesus. Through one Bible study the eunuch found out that God understood him fully and sent Jesus who suffered to take away the eunuch’s burdens and give him eternal life. He could have hope and meaning in life in Jesus. For once, he could be truly thankful to God about his life and have vision. His life was not just going to pass away from the earth, empty and humiliated. He was going to live forever in the kingdom of God, have fellowship with God, and do the work of God with remaining life on earth.
III. The Fruit of the Bible Study (36-40)
What happened after their Bible study? Let’s look at verses 36 and 38 (please look at the footnote in the NIV translation regarding verse 37). “36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?’ 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” The eunuch made a decision. He accepted Jesus' love and grace. He put his faith in Jesus Christ. He wanted to announce his faith and commitment to the world, so he asked to be baptized.
What then did the Lord do? Look at verses 39-40: “39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.” When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. Philip had done just what the Lord had wanted him to do, then the Lord took him away. He didn’t ask about the Ethiopian, or say that he had raise him as a disciple or take care of him. He was a servant following the Spirit’s leading. He was sent to Azotus and then settled in Caesarea and he preached the gospel everywhere he went. In Caesarea he raised a family of 4 daughters who all became prophetesses. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing, and he didn’t see Philip again. To know Jesus, have faith in him, and commit to Jesus gave him great joy. Tradition says that he became an evangelist in his own home town and that he bore many spiritual descendants in bringing the gospel to Africa. It is said that the Ethiopian church was born from his life of faith.
This passage greatly encourages us to see the Lord’s work in his ministry and be ready, prepared servants and Bible teachers. This ministry is the Lord's. When we are ready to listen to the Lord and follow his leading, he will surely lead us to do his work of salvation and bless us richly. The Lord is making great efforts. We are participants in the Lord’s ministry. He is not a participant in our ministry.
Today's passage shows us a good example of how to be useful servants of the Lord in his ministry: 1) Being led by the Spirit—not having anything in us that hinders us from listening to the Lord, and 2) Being prepared Bible teachers who can share the gospel and meet sheep’s needs. Let’s pray that the Lord may send us to right person at the right time.
One Word: A useful servant of the Lord
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Biblenote
UNLESS SOMEONE EXPLAINS IT TO ME
Acts 8:26-40
Key Verse 8:31
1. Read verses 26-31. Where did the Lord send Philip? Who did Philip meet on the desert road? What was the eunuch doing? How did Philip begin a conversation with him? How was the Lord involved in this meeting? What does this show us about the Lord?
*The Lord told Philip through his angel to "Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza" (26).
*He met an Ethiopian eunuch. Ethiopia was located near the northern tip of Africa, south east of Egypt. A eunuch is a castrated man. It is most likely that this man was castrated as a boy and employed for service in the royal palace (to protect the women in the palace from any advances). But verses 27-28 tell us two important things about him. 1) He was an "important official" and in charge of all the treasury of the queen of the Ethiopians. 2) He was on his way to Jerusalem to worship and read the Bible on his own. He was making a long journey to worship God according to God's direction to go to Jerusalem, the place where God put his name.
*He was reading the Bible on his way to Jerusalem. He had gained much in this world and was very successful, but he was looking for God. Attending worship services and feasts was not enough. This man also read the Scriptures to know God.
*The Spirit told Philip to go to the chariot and stand near it. Philip obeyed and understood the Lord's purpose in the situation. He immediately opened a conversation with the official by saying, "Do you understand what you are reading?" (30). He opened up a way of discussion between them. The eunuch replied, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" Then he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
*The Lord was directly involved in all of the steps of this meeting. He began by sending Philip to the desert road. Then he told Philip to stand near the chariot of the eunuch.
*The Lord sent a Bible teacher specifically for this man. The eunuch was searching for God, but God already saw the Ethiopian and prepared a way for him to know God through his servant Philip. The Lord wants all people to hear the good news about Jesus Christ and he is working actively through his servants to accomplish this. It is the Lord's work to bring us to Jesus. So the Lord operated as the director, Philip his agent, and the Eunuch the recipient. Thank God for sending us Bible teachers at just the right time!
2. Read verses 32-35. What scripture was the eunuch reading? How might the eunuch have related to the man mentioned in that passage? What did he ask Philip? How did Philip respond? How does this passage from Isaiah begin to tell the good news about Jesus? How was this good news for the eunuch?
*Isaiah 53:7-8. This passage speaks about a suffering servant of the Lord.
*This man probably felt a personal connection with the servant described in Isaiah. In service to his country Ethiopia, this man had been emasculated. Despite his “important official” status, respect, or wealth, surely, he felt humiliated and wronged. He could not have any descendants and his life would pass away from the earth. He probably thought about having a family and felt empty. But the eunuch had read this passage the wrong way, thinking that Isaiah was talking about him. He only focused on the sad parts of this passage, although the rest of the passage has many good things to say.
*Verse 34: "The eunuch asked Philip, 'Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?' "
*Verse 35: "Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus."
*Isaiah prophesied about Jesus' sufferings. Jesus is the Lamb of God who shed his blood for the sins of the world. He suffered injustice at the hands of sinful men, falsely accused, beaten, mocked, and then crucified. But the good news is that God raised him from the dead on the third day. He suffered for our sins and opened the way of eternal life for all who believe in him. In Jesus we have forgiveness, hope, and a new life in fellowship with God and look forward to his kingdom.
*No one could understand the eunuch's frustration in life. He had no hope or meaning. He tried to find something for his life in worship. But he wasn't sure what he was doing. But through Bible study he found out that God understood him fully and sent Jesus to give him eternal life. He could have hope and meaning in life. In Jesus, the eunuch can have the hope of glory and many spiritual descendants. For once he could be thankful about his life and have vision.
People need Bible teachers. There are so many people out there looking for someone who understands them. They're really looking for Jesus. But they don't know unless someone explains it to them.
>>So the Lord sent a Bible teacher to this man. What sticks out is that Philip was a prepared Bible teacher. He could speak about the good news of Jesus from this passage just as the eunuch pointed out. He “began with that very passage of Scripture.” He was an excellent Bible teacher. And he spoke about Jesus in just the way that the eunuch needed to hear. His example was to go out to sheep, to know how to speak to them to give the right answers, and, especially, how to tell the good news of Jesus from any passage.
>>Jesus’ sufferings are indeed difficult to understand. Even Jesus’ disciples didn’t understand the meaning of his sufferings until Jesus rose from the dead. Once, Peter even said to Jesus, “Never, Lord! You shall never suffer like this.” But Jesus explained to his disciples the meaning of his sufferings as the good news of the gospel over and over again. Eventually, they got it. And now Philip is the fruit of Jesus’ explaining the meaning of his sufferings so that Philip could now do it for someone else with clarity and effectiveness. It is hard to understand Jesus’ sufferings today, because we don’t like to suffer. But it is the good news of Jesus that he suffered, died, but was raised from the dead to bring forgiveness of sin and hope for eternal life for all who believe in him!
3. Read verses 36-40. How did the eunuch respond to the good news about Jesus? What happened to Philip? What did he do beginning at Azotus? What can we learn from Philip about serving the Lord?
*1) He asked to be baptized when he saw some water along the road. It meant that he decided to accept the good news about Jesus personally, repent, and make a public confession before God. 2) Rejoicing. He had great joy when he received the good news about Jesus.
*The Spirit took him away after the baptism and sent him Azotus.
*He preached the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
*Philip displays very clearly the importance of being a ready servant of the Lord who is useful to the Master.
1) Philip was ready to listen to the Spirit’s leading and the Lord’s direction at any time and in any capacity. He was free to do what the Lord wanted. Philip did not serve his own interest at all. He served his ministry according to God's leading, and not his own desires, preferences, or agenda.
2) Philip was also a prepared Bible teacher who could teach the good news about Jesus from the Scriptures, in just the right way to the person who’s listening.
The Lord sends Bible teachers out into the world and into peoples lives. Those who serve the Lord with a pure heart and are willing and ready to obey all his directions can be used as the Lord's instrument of salvation for many lost people. May the Lord send you to his lost flock—to the right person at the right time—to tell them the good news about Jesus through the word of God. May God help us to go deep into his word and know Jesus.