HOW CAN I, UNLESS SOMEONE EXPLAINS IT TO ME? 

Acts 8:26-40

Key Verse 8:31 

“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.  

This question that the eunuch asked was the very reason that the Lord went all the way to prepare a special Bible study session. In fact, today’s passage gives us a picture of 1) how the Lord is working today, and 2) how we can be ready and useful instruments for him to use. Let’s pray to learn of these two things. 

I.  The Lord Sends a Prepared Bible Teacher (26-31) 

The passage begins with the Lord calling his servant Philip to go to a desert road. 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.’ ” 

Now this Philip is not the same Philip, the human calculator, we studied about in John 1:35-51, but was a Grecian-Jewish convert in the early church under the Apostles’ leadership. He was a man known to be full of the Spirit and faith. He had been chosen along with six others to be administrators for Grecian-Jewish church members. But very soon after that a severe persecution broke out against the church and everyone, except for the Apostles, had been scattered out of Jerusalem to the surrounding areas, including Philip. He had gone to Samaria, which is the territory directly north of Jerusalem, and the Lord had been doing great things through him there. Philip preached that Jesus Christ is the Savior, and he performed many miracles of healing and brought great joy to the city he was staying in. His ministry was fruitful and growing. It was a really amazing thing to witness and be a part of, especially in light of the severe persecutions that were going on at the time. 

But right as things were going so well, the Lord called Philip away. An angel of the Lord told Philip to go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza (26). Maybe most people would find it hard to leave an exciting and fruitful ministry to go to a desert road. What a contrast in places! Who would take care of all of the new converts from Samaria? What if Philip was looking for a house to buy? In fact, the Lord didn’t provide Philip any further details. He didn’t say why Philip had to leave Samaria and go to a desert road. He didn’t tell him how long he would be there. And he didn’t tell him what to do once he got there. What should Philip bring for the journey? Philip was about 30 miles away from this road. Yet, how did Philip respond? The beginning of verse 27 tells us, “So he started out…” He was free to move as the Lord directed him. When the Lord told him to go somewhere, he simply went. There was nothing hindering him from following the Lord’s leading. 

The Lord had led him to a desert road to meet an Ethiopian eunuch. Let’s look at verses 27-28. “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, 28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.” These verses tell us a lot about this man. He was an important official for Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. (Candace was a title given to Ethiopian female rulers, like Pharaoh was used by the Egyptians.) Queen Candace was in charge a lot of the administration and practical duties for the king, because the Ethiopians believed that the king was a child of the Sun and was too high-level to do menial work. This man was the head of the treasury for Queen Candace, the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of Ethiopia. He was a very important man. Also, it was common practice in ancient times for men who served queens to be emasculated or castrated, to ensure that they would not make advances at the queen. We also find out that this man was a sincere truth seeker. He had gone all the way to Jerusalem to worship. This journey was more than a 1,000 miles from the Ethiopia of that day. What a difficult journey he made through the desert lands to Jerusalem. We don’t know how he heard about Judaism. But we can see that he was serious about knowing the truth and seeking God. And on his way home was reading from the book of Isaiah. They didn’t have mass printing those days, but somehow he secured a copy of the book of Isaiah. Even though the worship was finished, he was thirsty to know about God and continued to read Isaiah on the way home. But who knew about this Ethiopian? Even though he went to Jerusalem, he had to worship outside the main area, in the court of Gentiles at the temple, because he was a foreigner and a eunuch. The Lord saw his efforts. 

Look at verse 29. “The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’ ” Again, the Lord gave Philip a clear direction, and again, Philip didn’t talk back or ask questions. How could he approach this important official from Ethiopia? We can see that as Philip was ready to listen to the Spirit, the direction became clearer. The Lord spoke to Philip in this way, because he knew that Philip would listen. Again, Philip responded immediately and with great urgency. Look at the beginning of verse 30: “Then Philip ran up to the chariot…” He didn’t know what was going on yet, but when the Spirit told him to go to that chariot, he ran. Look how the Lord was able to use Philip. His willing and ready attitude as seen in this passage to follow the Lord’s direction made him into a useful servant of the Lord. Philip didn’t waste any time; he ran up to that chariot and stayed near it. 

Look again at verse 30. “…and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.” When Philip heard the man reading from the book of Isaiah, he suddenly realized what the Lord was calling him to do. Then he began to take action on his own to fulfill the task the Lord brought him there for. So he found a way to open up a conversation with him: “Do you understand what you are reading?” (30). Philip sets a good example of what it means to be found useful to the Lord by being led by the Spirit. Philip went the Lord led him. He did what the Spirit told him to do. But he didn’t stop there. In serving the Lord, he tried to understand God’s will and actively found ways to carry out the Lord’s purpose. The Lord didn’t tell Philip all of the details for a reason: he didn’t need to. He could rely on Philip. Philip was mindful of the Lord and obviously was actively trying to do the Lord’s will and understand the situation. When the Lord said, “Go south to a desert road,” he went. When he met an Ethiopian eunuch, he was not intimated by his high position, or hindered by cultural differences. Because of this, he was useful to the Lord, and the Lord led him to the right person at the right time. His example shows us that being led by the Spirit means not to be led by anything else, but ready to listen to the Spirit’s direction at any time. To do this, we have to empty ourselves of anything that will hinder the Spirit’s leading—everything of ourselves—so that there is nothing to get in the way of listening to the Lord. We are the Lord’s servants and must be ready to do his will. As we keep the Lord’s will in mind, we pray that we may understand God’s will and be ready to act in every situation accordingly. 

How did the eunuch respond to Philip’s question? Look at verse 31. “ ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” He humbly confessed his ignorance and need, and invited Philip to have Bible study with him. So it was made clear why the Lord led Philip to this man. It was for this very purpose of having a Bible study together. It is very encouraging to see that it was the Lord who fully prepared this special meeting. It gives us a good and joyful reason to be his ready servants. As we ready ourselves, we should pray that God will lead us to the right person. In this case, even, it was not Philip who hooked the Ethiopian or even invited him to Bible study. But the Lord had prepared the Ethiopian who invited Philip to teach him. One really good modern day example is the testimony we heard a couple of weeks ago from Antwan Alameen, a disciple at UC Davis. When he shared his testimony, he shared that God had prepared him through many events, and as he was standing in front of the library he asked the Lord for help. Right then a man named Philip came up to him and invited him to Bible study. Antwan accepted and from the first study was hooked. He was so happy to learn about God who created him, who gives him life and meaning, and he has been making honorable efforts to study the Bible more to learn about Jesus and grow spiritually. Thank God for sending us a Bible teacher at just the right time! And thank God for calling us to join in his salvation work. May God help us to be his ready servants and lead us to the right person. And may God help us to follow the Spirit’s example of going out to find the those who are looking for a Bible teacher.

II.  The Bible Study (32-35) 

Let’s see how the Bible study went between Philip and the Ethiopian. Look at verses 32-33. “32The 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. 33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.’ ”

The eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53:7,8. The eunuch had been hooked by Isaiah 53. Maybe the eunuch could relate to the suffering servant Isaiah mentions in many ways. Especially the word, “In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants?” (33), rung out to him. He could never have a family and descendants. He may have felt that his life would finish empty and he felt wronged and humiliated. In reading Isaiah 53, the eunuch could identify and make a personal connection with the suffering servant. But something was missing and he just focused on reading these sad words of humiliation and injustice. And he asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” (34). (Maybe, he’s talking about me?) 

How did Philip answer his question? Look at verse 35. “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. The eunuch had just focused on the sad parts. But Isaiah 53 tells the gospel message—there’s good news in Isaiah. Yes, Jesus suffered much, but that wasn’t the end. The good news is that God raised him from the dead to give us eternal life, forgiveness of sin, and hope in the kingdom of God. [The Bible is difficult to understand. It is a spiritual book with spiritual meanings that require spiritual discernment which is revelation from God.] In fact, Jesus’ sufferings are hard to understand. So many people rejected Jesus because they did not understand why he had to suffer. Even Jesus’ disciples didn’t understand his sufferings, until after Jesus rose from the dead. But Jesus spent much time explaining to them why he had to suffer. At first, they said, “Never, Lord!” And we don’t like to hear about sufferings. But Jesus explained it well to them over and over again through the Scripture. And Philip is the fruit of Jesus’ explaining. He’s doing the necessary work of explaining Jesus’ suffering now to this Ethiopian eunuch. And it was good news. 

What stands out is that Philip was a prepared Bible teacher. He didn’t just teach historical things or good lessons, but he was able to tell the good news about Jesus from any passage. The eunuch was hooked when reading Isaiah 53. And he could identify with the suffering servant, but that wasn’t enough. Philip “began with that very passage of Scripture” (35), and told him the good news about Jesus Christ. That is what made the difference. 

This is the second point from Philip’s example that tells us how to be useful servants in the Lord’s ministry, that is, by being prepared Bible teachers who can share the gospel through any Scripture, and who can meet the needs of Bible students in Bible study. Philip even knew how to ask the right questions and give the right answers. We need to follow in his example and go deep into the word of God and learn how to serve the Lord’s flock through Bible study so that they are led to Jesus Christ. One thing that has always amazed me about Missionary Isaac Kim that I noticed while traveling together with him many times was his ability to ask other people lots of good questions that get them to open up and even lead them to Jesus. I also noticed that through asking the right questions, he could give the appropriate word of God at the right time. I think I learned just a little bit from him, but I want to learn much more. May God help us to have a deep and spiritual understanding of the Bible and the good news about Jesus so that people may be led to Jesus. Through one Bible study the eunuch found out that God understood him fully and sent Jesus who suffered to take away the eunuch’s burdens and give him eternal life. He could have hope and meaning in life in Jesus. For once, he could be truly thankful to God about his life and have vision. His life was not just going to pass away from the earth, empty and humiliated. He was going to live forever in the kingdom of God, have fellowship with God, and do the work of God with remaining life on earth. 

III. The Fruit of the Bible Study (36-40) 

What happened after their Bible study? Let’s look at verses 36 and 38 (please look at the footnote in the NIV translation regarding verse 37). “36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?’ 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” The eunuch made a decision. He accepted Jesus' love and grace. He put his faith in Jesus Christ. He wanted to announce his faith and commitment to the world, so he asked to be baptized. 

What then did the Lord do? Look at verses 39-40: “39When 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. 40Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.” When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. Philip had done just what the Lord had wanted him to do, then the Lord took him away. He didn’t ask about the Ethiopian, or say that he had raise him as a disciple or take care of him. He was a servant following the Spirit’s leading. He was sent to Azotus and then settled in Caesarea and he preached the gospel everywhere he went. In Caesarea he raised a family of 4 daughters who all became prophetesses. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing, and he didn’t see Philip again. To know Jesus, have faith in him, and commit to Jesus gave him great joy. Tradition says that he became an evangelist in his own home town and that he bore many spiritual descendants in bringing the gospel to Africa. It is said that the Ethiopian church was born from his life of faith. 

This passage greatly encourages us to see the Lord’s work in his ministry and be ready, prepared servants and Bible teachers. This ministry is the Lord's. When we are ready to listen to the Lord and follow his leading, he will surely lead us to do his work of salvation and bless us richly. The Lord is making great efforts. We are participants in the Lord’s ministry. He is not a participant in our ministry.  

Today's passage shows us a good example of how to be useful servants of the Lord in his ministry: 1) Being led by the Spirit—not having anything in us that hinders us from listening to the Lord, and 2) Being prepared Bible teachers who can share the gospel and meet sheep’s needs. Let’s pray that the Lord may send us to right person at the right time. 

One Word: A useful servant of the Lord