DAY SEVENTY-FOUR: 

Sharing the Word 

Acts 8:26-40

Yesterday we saw Philip ministering to the Samaritans. This was the early church's first attempt at reaching non-Jews. It really wasn't much of a reach. The Samaritans lived in their area and spoke the same language. Despite the enmity between the Jews and the Samaritans, Jesus spent time there and many believed in Him. Now Philip followed up and many Samaritans became Christians. Philip sent word to the apostles and Peter and John came to see for themselves what God was doing. They laid hands on the Samaritan believers and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. A man named Simon, a magician, believed and was baptized. But old sins die hard sometimes. He was so impressed that he asked peter to give him the ability to impart the Holy Spirit. Simon even offered to pay handsomely. Peter responded, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!" Literally translated Peter said "May you and your silver both go to hell." Wow! The apostles were plain-spoken men! Simon asked for Peter to pray for him so that this wouldn't happen to him.

Right at the point of this incredible success among the Samaritans the Holy Spirit spoke to Philip: "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." Philip could have argued with God. There was much to do to equip and disciple the new believers in Samaria. Besides, there's literally nothing between Jerusalem and Gaza- it's a barren desert where no one lives. But Philip obeyed without question and set out toward Gaza.

Along the road he met a chariot carrying an important foreign official. He was from Ethiopia, an African nation south and east of Egypt. He was a "eunuch," a man who had been castrated so that the king could trust him around his wives. This eunuch was the royal treasurer, a job that carried lots of responsibility. He was returning from Jerusalem, where he had gone to worship. He was a "God-fearer," someone who came to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but either couldn't or wouldn't go the full route of conversion to Judaism. We see many such people in the Bible. We'll meet another God-fearer in tomorrow's passage.

The eunuch was reading from the Book of Isaiah as he was riding in the chariot. The Spirit told Philip to run and catch up with him. "Do you understand what you're reading?" Philip asked. The Ethiopian replied, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" and invited Philip to hop up into his chariot. The eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53, which we looked at a few weeks ago. He was reading how the Lord's servant went like a sheep to the slaughter. "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" Philip used this passage as a starting point to share the Gospel with this man. The eunuch believed. As they continued to travel he saw some water and asked Philip, "What prevents me from being baptized?" Philip couldn't think of a reason not to baptize the Ethiopian, so he did just that. After the baptism, the Holy Spirit carried Philip off. But the eunuch got back into his chariot and continued his journey home, rejoicing in Christ. The Spirit dropped Philip on the road to Azotus (the Old Testament Philistine city of Ashdod), along the Mediterranean coast. He took his time, preaching in every town along the way until he reached Caesarea.

This Ethiopian official was the early church's first Gentile convert (not counting the Samaritans, who were sort of half-Jewish). God promised Abraham that He would use him to bless all the nations of the world (Genesis 12:3). Isaiah 56:6-7 says, "And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant- these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." Jesus quoted this passage as He cleansed the Temple of the moneychangers and merchants who had set up shop in the Court of the Gentiles, the only part of the Temple that non-Jews could enter. God's plan for our redemption began with one man and his family, but was never intended to exclude anyone else who seeks Him.

The eunuch went back to Ethiopia and shared the Gospel message. Ethiopia is perhaps the oldest Christian nation in the world (the Armenians would debate that, though). It has a rich heritage of faith, and we share in the growth of the church there through our missionaries (the Presbyterian work at Dembi Dollo, where the Stelles are serving, began in 1919). Christian missions have seen great success in some places. The Pew Forum published a report entitled "Global Christianity – A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Christian Population." Take a look at some of the charts, and you'll see just how our Christian faith has spread around the world in the last century!

Tomorrow we'll look at another story of the Gospel spreading outside of the people of Israel. Here's a great worship song that speaks of our role as a shining light to the nations. I love this video, as it has both Chinese and English lyrics onscreen. It reminds us that Jesus loves all the peoples of the earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjNs4gxlho4