To set the stage for what is happening in these verses, we need to read Acts 8:26-27, “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship.”  What we see in this portion is the amazing work of God in sending someone to share the Gospel with someone who was searching for truth.

If you’ll go back and read Acts 8:5-8, you’ll see that Philip was preaching in Samaria and many people were being saved.  Yet, in spite of this, we saw in Acts 8:26-27 that the Lord called him out of Samaria and told Philip to go out into the desert.  Without hesitation, this servant of the Lord followed the Lord’s direction.  While in the desert, he observed a caravan going through the desert.  A man of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians was traveling in this caravan and had gone to Jerusalem to worship.  They were now returning.

In verses 29-34, we see that the Lord told Philip to go to the chariot where this eunuch was riding.  As Philip was approaching this chariot he heard the eunuch reading from the book of Isaiah.  Boldly, Philip asked the man in verse 30, “Understandest thou what thou readest?”  This was an excellent question.  It was obvious that this man was reading the book of Isaiah, but did he know what it meant?  The eunuch acknowledged that he could not understand and needed someone to teach him.  Philip, upon hearing the words the man was reading, realized that he was reading from Isaiah 53, a chapter that is prophetic of the Lord Jesus.  So, we read verse 35, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”  Philip used the Old Testament to preach about Christ.  The Lord Jesus said in John 5:39, “Search the scriptures…they are they which testify of me.”  When the Lord said this, the New Testament had not been written so He obviously was speaking of the Old Testament.  Philip used this portion to tell the Eunuch all about the birth, the life, the death, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  What a compelling story he must have told this man.  Philip obviously told this man how to be saved.  And he did become saved!

As they went along, they spotted water so the Eunuch asked Philip, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Verse 36)  Philip had obviously taught the man about the Lord’s desire that we get baptized after we are saved.  His desire was to be obedient to the Lord’s Word, so Philip baptized him that day.  In a short course of time, this man learned about the Lord Jesus who had died for his sins so that, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he could be saved.  He heard and believed.  We read in Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Although Philip had walked to this place, the Lord decided to expedite his return.  We read in Acts 8:39-40, “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.”

How gracious is our loving Lord.  He knew this man’s heart and knew of his desire to learn about Him.  This was just one man, not a great crowd.  Just one man, yet he was so important to the Lord that He made sure he was able to hear the Gospel so he could be saved.  Christ had said in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  Christ was looking for this man, and this man was looking for Christ.  A SEEKING SAVIOR AND A SEEKING SINNER WILL SOON MEET.  Have you met the Lord Jesus yet?  Do you know Him as your Lord and savior?  (207.6)