1. Wow…if only it was always that easy; you know, for an angel to just tell us where and how to go. Sometimes I envy guys like Philip…
2. OK, so we get this important eunuch from Ethiopia (that’s in modern-day Africa, by the way). He is in charge of the queen’s money, so you know he’s got to be an impressive guy. It’s interesting that he went to Jerusalem to worship. One, I am impressed that a queen lets this guy worship something besides her. Two, I am surprised that this Ethiopian would go to Jerusalem to worship. Was he Jewish?
3. He got a souvenir to take home with him (a book of Isaiah), and he was reading it on the ride home. OK…got it…
4. The Holy Spirit is so clear to Philip here: run up to that chariot. So…Philip does, and he asks the man if he understands the passage. Now, the first thing I’m thinking is, “Is it normal for people to run up along chariots and ask questions?”
5. I love the response of the eunuch, “How can I [understand] unless someone explains it to me?” I think that response is one of the great motivations of my life. I think people are dying to know the truth, and I guess we need to be as open as Philip is to listening to God and taking advantage of those opportunities…
6. So the Isaiah passage is prophecy about Jesus’ eventual death on the cross. The eunuch justifiably asks if the passage is about Isaiah or someone else. What an awesome question for Philip to go straight into talking about Jesus!
7. And then, just like that, the eunuch wanted to be baptized. Philip did it, and it almost sounds like (after they came up from the water) Philip was swept by the Holy Spirit to another place. Imagine what an adventure Philip’s life was like if this was normal…
8. The eunuch didn’t seem to mind Philip’s early departure. He was rejoicing.
