DAY #193: Acts 8:26-9:9

An angel of the Lord appeared at various times in Scripture giving directions to people. In this instance, Philip was told to go south. In the sovereign strategy of God, Philip was sent to the side of the road, where he met the treasurer of Ethiopia traveling home from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Ethiopia is located in Africa, south of Egypt. This man was reading the scripture.

Philip asked: “Do you understand what you are reading?” The court official expressed the frustration that every Bible student throughout the ages has felt from time to time: “How can I understand this passage unless someone explains it to me?”

This perfect lead-in to the gospel was made even better considering the passage he was reading. The passage was Isaiah’s prophecy about the great suffering Servant—his rejection, his silence before his accusers, his death with wicked men, the substitutionary nature of his suffering, his burial in a rich man’s grave, and his ultimate resurrection.

Whatever Philip said to the court official, it is obvious that he came to faith. Evidently included in what Philip had taught was the fact that being baptized was the next step of obedience in this newfound faith. Philip began where the Ethiopian was, but he did not stay there. Philip gave the Ethiopian the rest of the story—maybe the rest of Isaiah 53—including the coming of Christ, his substitutionary death, his resurrection, and his offer of eternal life.

The Etehopian and Philip went down into the water. There Philip baptized him. Afterwards, Philip was suddenly transported by the Spirit of the Lord to a different city. Philip disappears from the Acts story at this point, but ultimately he ended up in Caesarea. The only other mention of Philip is in Acts 21:8-9. Twenty years later, Philip was still at Caesarea with four daughters, all of whom were prophetesses.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Be bold. Stand up. Speak out. Be His witness. Anytime, anyplace, with anyone at whatever cost.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Lord, raise up an army of people at COV who will be a witness for you.