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MESSAGE SERIES: “CHURCH ON THE MOVE”
Acts 8:26-40

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Church on the Move, and today is the last message in the first part of our series. In our introduction to the series, we saw that there are four main movements in the book of Acts, which also make up the four parts of our outline for this series:

   1-8 > From Jerusalem to Samaria
   9-15 > From the Jews to the Gentiles
   16-20 > From Asia to Europe
   21-28 > To the ends of the Earth

Chapters 1-8 track the movement of the church from Jerusalem to Samaria. Chapters 9-15 track the movement of the church from the Jews to the Gentiles. Chapters 16-20 track the movement of the church from Asia to Europe. And chapters 21-28 track the movement of the church as it makes its way to the ends of the earth.

Today as we finish up chapter eight, we also come to the end of the church’s first movement, the movement from Jerusalem to Samaria. (Read Acts 8:26-29 and pray.)

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Last week we looked at three people in particular: Saul the persecutor, Philip the evangelist and Simon the sorcerer. Today we come to a fourth person—the Ethiopian eunuch.

Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch is an amazing story all by itself, but it is also full of practical teaching on evangelism. We have been talking about Church on the Move and how we are all called to be moving out with the gospel and sharing Christ with those around us. So, how exactly do you do that? How do you effectively share the gospel with others?

Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch teaches us seven important principles of effective evangelism. So, we will take a closer look at the story first, and then go over these seven principles together.

I. Philip is sent (26-29)

The story begins when Philip is sent to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.

   A. Instructions from God (26)

And here Philip receives very specific instructions from God. 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.” (Acts 8:26)

God sends Philip to the road south of Jerusalem leading to Gaza. This is a very specific instruction. It comes from an angel of the Lord, and so this was a direct revelation to Philip from God.

Philip was probably more than a little confused by these instructions. This was a desert road out in the middle of nowhere. Philip suddenly goes from ministering in busy cities and towns with lots of people who need to hear the gospel … to nowheresville. He is told to go but not why, similar to Abraham in the Old Testament who was told to go but not where (Gen. 12:1). The instructions didn’t make sense, but Philip went anyways—unlike Jonah in the Old Testament who ran the other way when he received his instructions from the Lord (Jonah 1:1-3).

Philip had his instructions from God, and so do we. After Jesus’ resurrection and before his ascending to heaven, Jesus gave us the Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 29:19). God told Philip to go, and Jesus tells us to go. Will we be obedient to God’s call like Abraham and Philip, or will we be disobedient like Jonah?

   B. A divine appointment (27-29)

God told Philip to go. Philip went, and he found a divine appointment waiting for him. Look at verses 27-29 next:

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, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” (Acts 8:27-29)

Now we call this eunuch the Ethiopian eunuch because that’s what they called his country in those days. But this was not the same area as modern-day Ethiopia but rather modern-day Sudan, what the Old Testament calls Cush. Ethiopia was considered “the end of the earth” by the Greeks and the Romans. So, in this story we have a preview of the gospel going out to the ends of the earth right here in chapter eight, even though the main focus of chapters 1-8 is the gospel going from Jerusalem to Samaria.

This eunuch was in charge of the treasury of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, so he was like a modern-day Minister of Finance or CFO. “Candace” was not the queen’s name but rather her title. Similar to how rulers in Egypt were called “Pharaoh” or rulers in Rome were called “Caesar,” the queens of Ethiopia were called “Candace.” The eunuch would have been castrated as a boy in order to serve in the queen’s court.

This eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, so he was an example of a Gentile who had converted to Judaism. In this way he is also a preview of the gospel going forth to the Gentiles, which is the second major movement in the book of Acts. So, we are getting closer to actual Gentiles coming to faith in Christ! The gospel went first to the Jews, then to the Samaritans, then to Gentile converts to Judaism, and eventually to the Gentiles themselves. As a eunuch, this man could visit the temple, but he could not enter beyond the court of the Gentiles.

He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning home by way of the desert road. Luke tells us he was reading from the book of Isaiah. It was unusual for someone to have their own scroll and quite costly. The Holy Spirit tells Philip to go up to the chariot and jog alongside. This is another set of very specific instructions. This was probably more than just intuition, but rather another direct revelation from God as we saw back in verse 26.

God may or may not give you direct revelation as he did to Philip, but when you ask God for opportunities to witness, he will provide you with divine appointments too. He will send you to people or people to you who are ready to hear the gospel. Like Philip we need to remain open to the Spirit’s leading. We do not want to miss out on any of the various divine appointments that God may have ready for us to share Christ.

II. Philip shares (30-35)

So, first, Philip is sent. Next, Philip shares.

   A. Initiating conversation (30-31)

Sensing the Spirit’s leading, Philip initiates conversation with the eunuch. Look at verses 30-31 next:

Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. (Acts 8:30-31)

As Philip runs up to the chariot, he hears the man reading from the book of Isaiah. Most people read out loud in those days. Silent reading didn’t come about until later when you had improved reading materials and typography.

Philip asks him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” What a great opening for evangelism! “Do you understand what Christianity is all about? Do you understand what the Bible really teaches? Do you understand who Jesus is and why he came?” These are great ways to initiate conversations about the gospel. Philip asks the eunuch if he understands, and the eunuch responds, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?” And he invites Philip to join him in the chariot.

If we want to be obedient to God’s call to evangelism, we also need to be ready to initiate conversations with people. You can’t share the gospel with someone unless you are first having a conversation with them. Not all conversations lead to the gospel, but all gospel conversations begin with some type of conversation. If you want to share the gospel with people, you need to get out of your comfort zone and start initiating conversations, especially when you sense the Spirit’s leading.

   B. Sharing the gospel (32-35)

And then Philip shares the gospel with him. Look at verses 32-35:

The 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. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8:32-35)

Folks, this has got to be one of the easiest lead-ins to the gospel in history. The man was reading from Isaiah 53, one of the clearest prophecies of Christ in the Old Testament. Not only is Isaiah 53 one of the clearest prophecies of Christ, but it also specifically has to do with the good news that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Not only that, but the eunuch asked Philip who Isaiah was talking about. Was he talking about himself or someone else?

It is a perfect segue into the gospel. If Philip missed this one, he would have missed big time! But Philip doesn’t miss it. He is called Philip the evangelist for a reason, and starting with that very passage of Scripture, he shares the good news of Jesus with the eunuch.

When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone? When was the last time you had the opportunity? When was the last time you were looking for the opportunity? When was the last time you prayed and asked God for the opportunity?

We are all called to be evangelists, but it starts with prayer and asking God for opportunities, then looking for those opportunities throughout the day, then recognizing the opportunities when they come, and then taking advantage of those opportunities by sharing the good news of Jesus with people who so desperately need him.

III. The eunuch begins his new life (36-40)

Philip is sent by God to the desert road leading from Jerusalem to Gaza. Philip takes advantage of the divine appointment God has for him there by sharing the gospel with the Ethiopian eunuch. So, what was the result of all this? God saved the eunuch! The eunuch believed and began his new life in Christ.

   A. Faith and baptism (36-38)

We know the eunuch believed because when they come to some water, he asks Philip about baptism. Look at verses 36-38 next:

As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. (Acts 8:36-38)

Philip must have already explained about faith and baptism, because when they pass the water, the Ethiopian asks him, “Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” Now, if he hadn’t put his faith in Christ, Philip would have told him, “Here’s why you shouldn’t be baptized. You haven’t believed in Christ yet!”

In fact, some Bible translations have an extra verse inserted here that wasn’t part of the original text. It is the “missing” verse 37 in your Bible, and you can probably find it as a footnote at the bottom of the page. It reads as follows: “Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ The eunuch answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’”

Apparently, some scribe was bothered that the text didn’t specifically say that the eunuch believed, so they added it in themselves! But we’re not supposed to add to Scripture, and it wasn’t necessary anyway, because it is clear that the eunuch believed. Otherwise, Philip would never have baptized him. The eunuch asks, “Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” Philip has no objections, so he orders the chariot to stop. They go down into the water, and Philip baptizes him, initiating him into his new life in Christ.

   B. New life in Christ (39-40)

The eunuch has received new life in Christ—the forgiveness of sins and restored relationship with God. Filled with joy, he continues his journey home. Look at verses 39-40 now:

When 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. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. (Acts 8:39-40)

Philip’s job was now done, so the Lord took him away. The phrasing is mysterious here: “The Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away.” I take it that the Spirit physically took him away, similar to Elijah in the Old Testament (1 Kings 18:12, 2 Kings 2:16), or possibly Paul in the New Testament (2 Cor. 12:2), or the taking away of believers at the return of Christ (1 Thess. 4:17).

Meanwhile, the eunuch goes on his way rejoicing in his salvation. He is the first Gentile convert and the first African convert. His conversion is a preview both of the gospel going to the Gentiles and to the ends of the earth.

What about Philip? Philip appears in Azotus, a city about twenty miles north, three miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea. There he evangelizes the northern coastal cities and eventually settles in Caesarea where we find him twenty years later, now with four daughters—and still called an evangelist (Acts 21:8-9).

It’s an amazing story. Perhaps a modern parallel would be meeting a person reading their Bible in the airport, stopping to ask them questions which then leads into sharing the gospel and the person beginning their new life in Christ because of your witness. Who wouldn’t want something like that to happen?

Seven principles for effective evangelism:

It’s a wonderful story, but it is so much more than a story. It is a true-life event that serves as a paradigm for us and our gospel witness. So in closing, I would like to share with you seven principles for effective evangelism that we find in this story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.

1) Be open to the Spirit’s leading
First of all, be open to the Spirit’s leading. Philip was open to the Spirit’s leading—first when he went south to the Gaza Road in the desert, and then again when he went up beside the chariot and stayed near it. God used both of these leadings to bring Philip into contact with the eunuch so he could share the gospel with him.

Once again, you may not receive a direct revelation as Philip did, but if you sense the Spirit leading you, then step out in faith and follow. Who knows what God may have in mind?

2) Be willing to go where God sends you
Secondly, be willing to go where God sends you. Philip was actively ministering in a busy city when God told him to go to the desert. I’m sure Philip didn’t understand why God would do this, but God knew why. God had his purposes, and he has his purposes for you, too.

Are you willing to go where God sends you, even if you don’t understand why? That is part of our commitment as followers of Jesus Christ.

3) God cares about individual people
Thirdly, God cares about individual people. God had Philip leave the crowds in Samaria in order to minister to this one individual person. We see Jesus do the same thing in the gospels, when he stops in the middle of the crowd to minister to the woman who suffered from bleeding (Mark 5:30).

Don’t lose sight of the individual people around you. God could be calling you to share the gospel with any one of the people you meet today.

4) Look for openings to share the gospel
Fourthly, look for openings to share the gospel. That’s what Philip did. He heard the eunuch reading from the Bible and asked him, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” And from there he had the opportunity to share the gospel.

I remember catching up with an old friend and asking him how things had been going. “Bad news,” he replied. “My life has been nothing but bad news.” Well, there’s an opening you can’t possibly miss! I asked him, “How would you like to hear some good news?” He said, “Ray, I would love to hear some good news.” And starting from there I shared the good news of Jesus with him, and he gladly prayed to receive Christ.

Look for openings to share the gospel. You may not always get such clear openings as these, but if you are praying and looking for opportunities, God will give you many such openings to share Christ with others.

5) Begin where they are
Fifthly, begin where they are. That’s what Philip did. Philip began with the very passage of Scripture that the eunuch was reading. Be sensitive to where various people are in their lives. Are they going through a difficult time? You can offer to pray for them. Are they struggling? Are they self-satisfied? Are they seeking? Begin where they are, and trust God to lead the conversation from there.

6) Tell them the good news about Jesus
Sixthly, tell them the good news about Jesus. Once again, that’s what Philip did. Starting with that very passage of Scripture, Philip told him the good news about Jesus.

Sure, you can tell people about the church or your family or your testimony, but what they really need to hear is the gospel. The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16). So, be sure to tell them about Jesus. Tell them the good news that everyone who comes to Jesus for salvation receives forgiveness of sins and new life in Christ.

7) Bring them to a point of commitment
And then, finally, bring them to a point of commitment. Philip told the eunuch about faith and baptism, and so the eunuch was ready to be baptized and profess his faith in Christ.

Too often when we share the gospel, we never ask the person for a commitment. We should never be afraid to ask someone for a commitment to Christ. The worst that can happen is they say no. But what if they are ready to say yes, and we fail to ask them?

Asking a person if they would like to put their faith in Christ does two positive things. First, it gives them the opportunity to trust Christ right then and there. And then secondly, even if they are not ready to commit to Christ yet, it places the question of commitment before them for the future. By asking for a commitment now, you may plant the seed for commitment to Christ later.

CONCLUSION: We are all called to share the gospel with others. People all around you need Jesus. They will die in their sins if no one shares Christ with them. We need to learn and apply these seven principles, so we can be effective in sharing the good news of Jesus with others around us.

How do you effectively share the gospel with others? 1) Be open to the Spirit’s leading. 2) Be willing to go where God sends you. 3) Remember that God cares about individual people. 4) Look for openings to share the gospel. 5) Begin where they are. 6) Tell them the good news about Jesus. 7) Bring them to a point of commitment.

Let’s be a church on the move with the gospel together.

© Ray Fowler

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