This man was serious about serving God!
- Acts 8:26-28 – This man was likely a proselyte. He was a treasurer for the queen of Ethiopia, who held the title Candace (it was a title like Pharaoh, not a name). This man traveled possibly 1,000 miles, a journey that could have taken six months.
- In today’s money, it would have cost several thousand dollars to have a personal copy of the book of Isaiah.
- Luke 8:11-15 – This Ethiopian seemed to have a good heart.
The Old Testament mysteries are revealed in the New Testament.
- Acts 8:29-35 – This is a quote from Isaiah 53:7-8.
- Isaiah contains four “servant songs.” Once of these is in Isaiah 53.
- Isaiah 53:1-2, 5-7 – We understand this is Jesus, but the Ethiopian didn’t know that yet.
- I Corinthians 2:6-13
- Deuteronomy 23:1 – If this man was physically emasculated, he would have been under restriction under the Law of Moses.
Philip preached Jesus and the man wanted to be baptized.
- Acts 8:35-40 – Acts 8:37 may not have been in the original manuscripts. It was likely a marginal note that got included in the text. Having it in the text or not does not change any doctrinal points, though.
- How did the Ethiopian know he needed to be baptized?
- Acts 8:4-5 (“preaching the word”) Acts 8:12 (baptism)
- Acts 8:35 (“he preached Jesus to Him”) Acts 8:36 (baptism)
The Holy Spirit was involved, but the man still had to make his own decision.
- Acts 6:6
- Acts 8:6 – Philip was doing miracles.
- Acts 8:26, 29 – The Holy Spirit was highly involved in Philip meeting the Ethiopian. The Holy Spirit connected the eunuch to a man who could answer his questions. Then it was up to the Ethiopian to decide what he wanted to do. We don’t see any Calvinist ideas of God overriding man’s free will here.