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Acts 8       English Standard Version (ESV)

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

²⁶ Now an 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. ²⁷ 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 ²⁸ and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹ And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” ³⁰ So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹ And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. ³² 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.
³³ In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”

³⁴ And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. ³⁶ 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?” ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. ³⁹ 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. ⁴⁰ But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea

REFLECTION:

• After Stephen was martyred, persecution of the Church increased and Christians scattered. The Spirit led Philip to the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch.  The eunuch believed quickly and wanted to be baptized.
• Philip’s experience reminds us that when we share the gospel with others, we come in the love of the Holy Spirit to those who honestly seek God, trusting that the Spirit began the work before we did and will carry it on after us.
• In what ways has God led you to speak to someone who is already spiritually hungry? Who can you begin to pray for his/her salvation? Write the name down and pray regularly, taking note of the Holy Spirit’s work and asking for wisdom to share the gospel with him/her.
• Lord, I pray that you draw ___________ to yourself.
• I ask you, Lord, to prevent Satan from blinding ___________ to the truth.
• Holy Spirit, I ask you to convict ___________ of sin and the need for Christ’s redemption.
• I ask that you send someone who will share the gospel with ___________.
• Lord, I pray that ___________ will confess Jesus as Lord, grow in faith, and bear fruit for your glory. Amen.

PRAYER:

Father in Heaven, thank You and praise You! You have placed the hope of eternal life in the hearts of people, so that those who believe in You may bear the mark of Your love. May Your anointing continue to water my life like the spring rain and autumn rain, so that my life may grow daily like a fruit tree in the garden, blooming with beautiful and pure flowers, and bearing abundant, sweet and fragrant fruits. The fragrant aroma and sweet taste are the hope of eternal life and the mark of Your love. Holy Spirit, You are like the gentle autumn wind that spreads the fragrance of fruits and scatters seeds far and wide. May You blow according to Your will and quietly carry the fragrance and seeds of my small fruit tree to the surrounding areas, even to distant places, to comfort those who are troubled in the world, drawing them to Your garden, so that You may fill their hearts with Your peace, joy, eternal hope, and Your love, so that they no longer walk in darkness, no longer wander, and their hearts become sweet as honey. Lord Jesus, You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Life is in You, and resurrection is in You! Whoever lives and believes in You will never die! May You work through my life to bring Your precious redemption to more people who are destined to die, and together enter into the glory of eternal life. Amen!

HYMN:

Let Your Kingdom Come – youtu.be/Rt3jPCZcfX4