WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.360 All right. This morning's Bible study text is Acts chapter 8, verses 26 through 40. 00:00:06.440 --> 00:00:09.839 So please join us there as we turn our attention to the study of God's word. 00:00:10.439 --> 00:00:12.599 This morning I'm going to do something that I rarely do. 00:00:12.740 --> 00:00:16.600 And I'm just going to add some commentary to the text as I'm reading it. 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:21.640 I think that'll help us as we work on the main point of the text, 00:00:21.699 --> 00:00:26.080 just to fill in some of the details about the particular narrative. 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:30.939 So I try to do that in a way that's not distracting from the reading of the text. 00:00:31.079 --> 00:00:35.539 But Acts chapter 8, beginning in verse 26. 00:00:37.179 --> 00:00:39.599 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:44.579 Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. 00:00:45.099 --> 00:00:47.060 This is a desert place. 00:00:48.099 --> 00:00:50.320 Gaza was a ruined city of Babylon. 00:00:50.959 --> 00:00:54.920 The road was the road that ran from Jerusalem to Egypt. 00:00:54.920 --> 00:00:57.260 So it had a further destination. 00:00:58.060 --> 00:01:01.980 And this would have seemed like an especially strange command, 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:06.400 as this was the least traveled of the roads that left from Jerusalem. 00:01:06.780 --> 00:01:11.560 It was a desolate road and not very many people traveled it. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:12.700 The verse 27. 00:01:13.340 --> 00:01:14.920 And he rose and went. 00:01:15.579 --> 00:01:19.060 And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, 00:01:19.219 --> 00:01:23.000 queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:28.420 Now Ethiopia was a large kingdom, much larger than modern Ethiopia. 00:01:28.760 --> 00:01:31.519 And it was just south of Egypt. 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:35.340 So a significant nation that he's traveling to. 00:01:36.040 --> 00:01:39.280 And Candace here should not be understood to be a proper name, 00:01:39.460 --> 00:01:42.439 but rather a title like Caesar or Pharaoh. 00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:48.799 And Luke is simply explaining who this person is, the official of Candace. 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:53.340 And he's clarifying the queen is what he's trying to help us to understand. 00:01:53.459 --> 00:01:57.000 So what we need to know is that this was a powerful position. 00:01:57.579 --> 00:02:01.280 And the Ethiopian eunuch also served in a very powerful position. 00:02:01.659 --> 00:02:02.400 We'll reread on. 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:07.400 He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot. 00:02:07.940 --> 00:02:09.680 And he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 00:02:10.099 --> 00:02:13.879 And the spirit said to Philip, go over and join this chariot. 00:02:14.259 --> 00:02:16.960 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading. 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:19.580 And it was customary to read aloud. 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:23.200 We do much less of that in our day, but it was customary in this day. 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:26.860 And he was reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, 00:02:26.860 --> 00:02:30.140 Do you understand what you are reading? 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:34.140 And he said, How can I unless someone guides me? 00:02:34.440 --> 00:02:36.960 And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 00:02:37.600 --> 00:02:40.300 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this. 00:02:40.720 --> 00:02:45.320 Like a sheep he was led to slaughter, and like a lamb before its shear is silent, 00:02:45.540 --> 00:02:47.280 so he opens not his mouth. 00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:50.480 In his humiliation, justice was denied him. 00:02:50.480 --> 00:02:52.780 Who can describe his generation? 00:02:53.460 --> 00:02:56.400 For his life is taken away from the earth. 00:02:56.860 --> 00:03:01.520 And that is Isaiah chapter 53, verses 7 and 8. 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:02.980 Verse 34. 00:03:03.440 --> 00:03:07.100 And the eunuch said to Philip, About whom, I ask, does the prophet say this? 00:03:07.180 --> 00:03:09.780 About himself or about someone else? 00:03:10.460 --> 00:03:13.060 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with the scripture, 00:03:13.220 --> 00:03:15.420 he told him the good news about Jesus. 00:03:16.100 --> 00:03:18.580 And as they were going along the road, they came to some water, 00:03:18.660 --> 00:03:21.040 and the eunuch said, See, here is water. 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:22.860 What prevents me from being baptized? 00:03:23.540 --> 00:03:25.180 And he commanded the chariot to stop, 00:03:25.180 --> 00:03:27.980 and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, 00:03:28.280 --> 00:03:29.280 and he baptized him. 00:03:29.819 --> 00:03:33.040 When they came up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:37.340 and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 00:03:37.939 --> 00:03:40.640 But Philip found himself at Azotus, 00:03:41.060 --> 00:03:43.920 and as he passed through, he preached the gospel to all the towns 00:03:43.920 --> 00:03:45.319 until he came to Caesarea. 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:49.659 And Philip either made his home in Caesarea at this point, 00:03:49.799 --> 00:03:51.519 or it was already his home. 00:03:51.579 --> 00:03:57.239 And you can see in Acts chapter 21 and verse 8 that they go to the home of Philip. 00:03:57.579 --> 00:04:01.680 Now, the structure for our study this morning will be as follows. 00:04:01.799 --> 00:04:04.620 Number one, the means of God's saving grace. 00:04:04.620 --> 00:04:08.939 Number two, the recipient of God's saving grace. 00:04:09.659 --> 00:04:16.319 And number three, the signs, or you could think evidences, of God's saving grace. 00:04:16.420 --> 00:04:20.840 So means, recipient, and signs of God's saving grace. 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:27.919 This morning, we have the privilege of observing the ethnic diversity of God's saving grace. 00:04:28.479 --> 00:04:31.019 Early in the heavenly ministry of Jesus Christ, 00:04:31.099 --> 00:04:34.000 this ministry that he is carrying out by the power of the Spirit, 00:04:34.519 --> 00:04:38.259 the gospel takes hold of a man traveling home to Africa. 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:40.279 What a wonderful thing. 00:04:40.359 --> 00:04:45.120 The gospel goes to Africa very early in the life of the church. 00:04:45.319 --> 00:04:49.979 And he is not just any man, but a man of position and of influence. 00:04:49.980 --> 00:04:52.120 And we don't have time for it this morning, 00:04:52.259 --> 00:04:57.379 but there is a really rich church history of the early Christian church in Ethiopia. 00:04:57.720 --> 00:05:04.160 And so, history tells us that this man returned to Ethiopia and started a church there. 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:09.120 God has always had a gracious purpose for all of mankind, 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:15.680 as all of mankind is created imago Dei, or in the image of God. 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:22.120 He has never intended to only have a saving relationship with ethnic Israel. 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:27.120 We can begin to understand this reality in Genesis, beginning with Abrahamic covenant. 00:05:27.420 --> 00:05:31.139 Genesis chapter 12, I'll read verses 1 through 3. 00:05:31.139 --> 00:05:56.860 How did God intend to bless all the families of the earth in Abraham? 00:05:56.860 --> 00:06:09.819 So, allow me to present to you a sweeping summary of Acts up to this point. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:16.020 In chapter 1, Jesus is ascended and he leaves a command with the disciples to wait in Jerusalem 00:06:16.020 --> 00:06:18.600 until they receive the Holy Spirit. 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:23.180 Chapter 2, 10 days later on the day of Pentecost, they receive the Spirit. 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:25.860 They preach in various known languages. 00:06:26.060 --> 00:06:31.900 So, they're preaching to people who, as their primary language, do not speak Hebrew. 00:06:32.660 --> 00:06:34.260 Peter preaches, many are saved. 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:38.180 The fellowship of the church and favor with all people is expressed. 00:06:38.960 --> 00:06:43.920 Chapter 3, God orchestrates another stage for Peter through the healing of a lame beggar. 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:47.320 Peter preaches and more people believe in Jesus. 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:52.000 Chapters 4 and 5, persecution begins. 00:06:52.599 --> 00:06:54.459 First, the arrest of Peter and John. 00:06:54.779 --> 00:06:57.779 Then, later, the arrest of all of the apostles. 00:06:58.599 --> 00:07:02.740 In chapter 6, we see deacons selected, one of whom is Stephen. 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:07.060 And then, also in chapter 6, we see Stephen arrested. 00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:11.120 Chapter 7 records Stephen's speech. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:16.560 This wonderful, beautiful speech in front of the religious elite of the day. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:20.160 And then, at the end of chapter 7, his martyrdom. 00:07:20.280 --> 00:07:25.100 And this is a hinging moment in Luke's narrative of the early church. 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:30.319 So, chapter 8, we see there's a broader scope. 00:07:30.579 --> 00:07:32.040 It's broadened for the persecution. 00:07:32.579 --> 00:07:37.000 At the beginning of chapter 8, the gospel goes to the Samaritans. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:41.420 As the church is scattered, we see the gospel go to the Samaritans. 00:07:41.420 --> 00:07:47.939 So, we are observing the fulfillment in part of Jesus' words in Acts 1, verse 8, where he said, 00:07:48.040 --> 00:07:52.620 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, 00:07:53.160 --> 00:07:57.319 and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. 00:07:57.319 --> 00:08:02.599 So, already, we see the gospel going to Samaria, to the Samaritans. 00:08:02.779 --> 00:08:12.920 And then, just a few verses later, we come to our text and see the beginning of the fulfillment of Jesus' witness being witnessed to the ends of the earth. 00:08:12.920 --> 00:08:18.199 And I just think it's astounding that God brought to Jerusalem an Ethiopian man, 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:26.300 and catches him on his way out of town, that the gospel could go by this man to the continent of Africa. 00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:30.860 So, just a few verses later, we begin to see that, and we still live in that time, right, 00:08:30.900 --> 00:08:34.659 where the gospel's going to the very ends of the earth. 00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:40.320 And, beloved, we ought to marvel at our great God for his saving work amongst all peoples. 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:45.580 If you are not ethnically Jewish, which I believe accounts for everyone in my hearing. 00:08:45.660 --> 00:08:47.400 I could be wrong, but I think that's all of us. 00:08:47.660 --> 00:08:51.860 None of us are ethnically Jewish that I know of, right? 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:54.260 Then we ought to be especially grateful this morning. 00:08:54.540 --> 00:09:00.580 These stories ought to just touch our hearts, that the gospel has come to us. 00:09:01.220 --> 00:09:05.740 And we ought to be spurred on for a continual love for all peoples, 00:09:05.940 --> 00:09:09.900 because our God loves diversity in his kingdom. 00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:14.819 There is not a people outside of his saving grace. 00:09:15.459 --> 00:09:20.439 So, let's look first, number one, at the means of God's saving grace. 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:27.259 So, how is it that God works his purpose in the world to bring about the salvation of his people from all peoples? 00:09:27.639 --> 00:09:32.899 He uses means, and we can see all of those at play in this text. 00:09:32.899 --> 00:09:35.179 So, first, the spirit. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:42.159 We can see in this text God's divine orchestration in the saving of the Ethiopian eunuch, right? 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:49.439 The Lord intends to save this man, and he is going to work means to see this come to pass. 00:09:49.879 --> 00:09:54.259 We see in verse 28 that Philip is sent by the spirit to an odd place, right? 00:09:54.259 --> 00:09:56.960 He's sent out to a road, a desolate road. 00:09:57.159 --> 00:10:03.319 It's called a desert place to catch this man as he goes passing by, right? 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:07.240 Just astoundingly unlikely of a place to go. 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:12.159 God has Philip catch up to the strategic individual as he is headed home. 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:14.080 And I kind of picture him running up. 00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:16.399 Hey, what is it that you're reading? 00:10:16.539 --> 00:10:17.299 Do you understand that? 00:10:17.299 --> 00:10:21.500 And he invites them on board, and they travel together, and he shares the gospel. 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:30.979 God is the grand orchestrator of the saving work, and he does this work in part, one of the means, by the spirit, right? 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:38.000 He works direction, guidance, and, of course, the power to believe in people by his spirit. 00:10:38.539 --> 00:10:46.799 So, our part in seeing God's saving grace come to pass is not to plot and plan but to obey. 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:51.459 And so, we see, secondly, as a means of God's saving grace, a servant. 00:10:52.859 --> 00:10:58.259 God employs the obedience of his servants in the salvation of his people, right? 00:10:58.299 --> 00:11:01.159 He does this because he loves us. 00:11:01.339 --> 00:11:06.779 He invites us into his saving work for our joy and experience in him. 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:12.419 I love Luke's record of Philip's obedience, the very beginning of verse 27, right? 00:11:12.479 --> 00:11:16.299 Again, think of it as an audacious thing for this angel to ask him to go do. 00:11:16.299 --> 00:11:17.740 It's a strange request. 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:23.459 And Luke records the beginning of verse 27, and he rose and went. 00:11:24.659 --> 00:11:26.639 I want to be obedient like that. 00:11:26.819 --> 00:11:29.039 Luke doesn't record that he asks any questions. 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:32.339 He doesn't go, why in the world would you have me go there? 00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:34.959 He rose and he went. 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:37.659 I want the record of my life to record. 00:11:37.659 --> 00:11:42.659 God asked Nathan to do such and such, and he did it. 00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:48.639 No caveats, no passing of time, just and he did it. 00:11:48.719 --> 00:11:51.339 He rose and he went. 00:11:52.100 --> 00:12:00.659 We witness this immediate obedience again in verse 30, when Philip is told by the Spirit to go over and join this chariot. 00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:03.259 So Philip ran to him. 00:12:03.259 --> 00:12:11.360 That's what Luke tells us at the beginning of verse 30, and then has this response to a hearing of him reading the book of Isaiah. 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:13.000 So Philip ran to him, right? 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:18.439 Note that Philip doesn't waste a breath, but he gets right to the point, right? 00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:23.919 He's reading from Isaiah, and Philip asks him, do you understand what you are reading? 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:26.099 Again, I picture it. 00:12:26.199 --> 00:12:32.479 There's a little bit of imagination here, but that he's yelling that out as this chariot goes rumbling by. 00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:33.979 He gets straight to the point. 00:12:34.339 --> 00:12:40.879 He sees opportunity to engage in the things of God with this man who is reading the Scripture, and he snatches it. 00:12:40.979 --> 00:12:43.019 He takes every advantage of it. 00:12:43.579 --> 00:12:49.199 Notice further that when Philip is taken away from the eunuch, he continues in obedience. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:53.820 Verse 40 records, but Philip found himself at Azotus. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:57.440 I think he's transported, right, magically by the Spirit. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:00.600 And as he passed through, what's he doing? 00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:06.360 He preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. 00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:10.220 And I don't think that Luke means he stopped preaching the gospel in Caesarea. 00:13:10.400 --> 00:13:16.879 I think he means his traveling preaching ceased when he stopped in that particular place. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:24.700 I want to be used of God like Philip is used of God in his saving work, and I hope that you do too. 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:31.500 So we see a servant, and now in our day, servants as means of God's saving grace. 00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:34.500 The third mean of God's saving grace, the Scripture. 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:42.679 We see that the eunuch is reading the Scripture, and it is the Scripture that Philip employs in sharing the gospel with his man. 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:54.419 So verse 35, Luke records, then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture, that text in Isaiah, he told him the good news about Jesus. 00:13:54.979 --> 00:13:59.519 The eunuch asks him the question, to whom does this text speak of? 00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:01.059 Who is he talking about? 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:07.079 And Philip uses it as a wonderful opportunity to say it's talking about the Christ. 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:14.780 Paul says in Romans chapter 10 and verse 17, so faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:23.860 In your gospel proclamation, you have the upper hand because God employs his word as a means of saving grace. 00:14:24.040 --> 00:14:28.480 And, beloved, I think we are too often shy with God's word. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:35.600 We don't believe that it's powerful to work the way we ought to believe that it's powerful to work, right? 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:44.740 A story like this ought to encourage us to go, yes, God's word works, and we just have to proclaim it. 00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:46.899 We are just messengers. 00:14:47.680 --> 00:14:52.379 I think this should encourage us on Paul writes Romans 1.16, 00:14:52.379 --> 00:15:08.320 So we see these means of God's saving grace at work. 00:15:08.419 --> 00:15:11.679 The spirit, a servant in the Scripture. 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:16.720 Second, let's observe the recipient of God's saving grace. 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:24.840 So the last part of verse 27, again, there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:27.620 who was in charge of all her treasure. 00:15:28.160 --> 00:15:30.560 He had come to Jerusalem to worship. 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:34.259 And the eunuch said, verse 34, to Philip, 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:37.720 About whom I ask, does the prophet say this? 00:15:38.180 --> 00:15:41.360 About himself or about someone else? 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:45.620 I thought it was fitting, this text for this week, 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:48.720 and I'm really grateful that our reading plan covered over it. 00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:52.740 As we find ourselves in the midst of great ethnic fracture in our country, 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:57.480 I believe it's really good for us to consider God's loving kindness to all peoples 00:15:57.480 --> 00:16:03.799 and to remember that the gospel shatters all divides, real or imagined. 00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:10.700 It tears down dividing walls of ethnicity, culture, gender, and skin color. 00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:14.200 It has accomplished this, and I think that's a thing that we miss. 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:16.000 Like, it's going to accomplish it. 00:16:16.040 --> 00:16:19.259 No, it has accomplished this work. 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:27.480 And we just have to pick up the reality of what is as we work within the diversity of the church. 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:32.379 What a time this is to see the gospel at work. 00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:38.320 Beloved, we need to be so much more than salt and light on social media. 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:40.300 Make your posts. 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:41.080 That's fine. 00:16:41.160 --> 00:16:43.220 But that is not enough. 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:48.060 You're not really letting your voice be heard by blacking out your screen. 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:50.600 It's something, but it is not enough. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:56.200 We need to see that God has made the church for a time such as this 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:59.680 to be voices of clarity and voices of reconciliation. 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:03.740 And first and foremost, reconciliation with our God. 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:12.900 We want to be concerned about gospel implications, but we have to be firstly concerned with the gospel itself. 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:19.620 We want to be such clarion voices in a time such as this. 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:22.920 I'm not sure we can do that on social media. 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:26.339 You may pick that up in my tone as I make comments about it. 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:33.720 I don't know that it's the place to make that happen, but rather the place is loving relationship with others. 00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:38.879 There are people desperately seeking for some truth to hang on to right now. 00:17:39.179 --> 00:17:42.480 The world is so topsy-turvy and upside down. 00:17:43.379 --> 00:17:49.299 Will we be people standing by a desert roadside to speak to them words of life? 00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:55.259 Will we be people who are going to run alongside somebody on a journey and say to them, 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:59.759 do you understand and then to help them to understand? 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:00.859 I hope so. 00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:03.960 I believe that's true of people in our church. 00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:09.359 Notice that the Ethiopian was a seeker, and he's an overt seeker. 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.819 I mean, we can see these signs. 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:13.859 He's very concerned about the things of God. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:16.240 And so this should be an encouragement to us, 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:19.980 but also we find a lot of people in our day that are not overt seekers. 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:26.460 And I just want to say that people are seeking for God whether or not they know they're seeking for God. 00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:27.940 So we see him. 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:30.599 The evidence is that he's reading the scripture. 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:34.059 He's got a scroll of Isaiah with him that he's reading from, 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:37.259 and he has made a thousand-plus-mile journey. 00:18:37.360 --> 00:18:41.120 It would have taken more than a week to travel from Ethiopia to Jerusalem, 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:43.660 the text tells us, in order to worship. 00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:47.980 And we also notice of him that he was a eunuch, 00:18:48.080 --> 00:18:53.900 which means that his male genitalia were removed due to an accident or intentionally. 00:18:54.540 --> 00:18:59.440 Did you notice that Luke repeatedly calls the Ethiopian the eunuch? 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:01.279 Why not call him the Ethiopian? 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:05.440 That seems like a significant identifier in the text. 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:09.880 But rather, he calls him again and again and again the eunuch. 00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:17.260 He repeats this word in verse 27, 34, 36, 38, and 39. 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.200 Why? 00:19:19.380 --> 00:19:21.900 Why do you suppose that he did that? 00:19:22.620 --> 00:19:24.160 This is another one of those places. 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:26.780 If we were more familiar with our Bibles, 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:32.480 this story would leap, or this detail of the story would leap off of the page to us. 00:19:32.520 --> 00:19:37.600 It would be so significant in our thinking that this man was a eunuch. 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:44.619 Luke, Philip, and this eunuch would have been familiar with the Old Testament law concerning eunuchs. 00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:47.119 Deuteronomy 23 in verse 1 says, 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:54.539 No one whose testicles are crushed or whose male organ is cut off shall enter the assembly of the Lord. 00:19:55.480 --> 00:20:02.179 So he's a seeker who would have believed himself outside the graces of God. 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:05.019 He would have seen himself as an outsider. 00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:07.220 Yet all the same, he's reading the scripture. 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:09.759 He's traveling to Jerusalem in order to worship. 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:14.740 But he would have seen himself outside the assembly of God's people. 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:21.700 However, he's reading significantly from Isaiah chapter 53. 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:29.339 Luke records him reading Isaiah 53 verse 7 and 8, but the context here matters greatly. 00:20:29.339 --> 00:20:37.179 If you're looking in your Bibles at Isaiah chapter 53, your subtitle will say something like salvation for the nations. 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:41.059 Let me read to you a little bit more of Isaiah chapter 53. 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:42.779 This is 56, excuse me. 00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:44.500 Man, Isaiah 56. 00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:45.740 Boy, I confused that. 00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:46.599 Isaiah 56. 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:47.599 My apologies. 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:50.599 Isaiah 56 verses 3 through 5. 00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:54.939 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, 00:20:55.439 --> 00:20:57.740 The Lord will surely separate me from his people. 00:20:58.379 --> 00:21:00.240 And let not the eunuch say, 00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:02.599 Behold, I am a dry tree. 00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:04.219 For thus says the Lord, 00:21:04.699 --> 00:21:06.539 To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:09.539 Who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, 00:21:10.179 --> 00:21:16.079 I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters. 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:21.179 I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:28.839 And the text in Isaiah goes on to talk about the Christ and how it is that this will be accomplished. 00:21:29.179 --> 00:21:33.119 And so this is why Luke continues to say the eunuch, the eunuch, the eunuch, the eunuch, 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:37.659 one who saw himself outside of God's covenant people, 00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:40.879 reading a text that seemed to say there's a way, 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:46.340 There's a way for me to be inside of God's covenant people, to be restored to him. 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:49.220 Who is this prophet talking about? 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:52.160 Is it about himself or someone else? 00:21:53.080 --> 00:21:58.080 Philip was able to say it's Jesus, the Christ, that he's talking about. 00:21:58.900 --> 00:22:05.620 So Luke is working to draw our attention to God's saving grace, 00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:11.699 His saving of a man who thought that he could not be saved, but was saved all the same. 00:22:11.979 --> 00:22:15.399 It's astounding little detail found in this text. 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:19.219 So that's the recipient of God's saving grace. 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:23.299 So the means of God's saving grace, the recipient of God's saving grace. 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:27.299 This man who thought he could not be saved, but was saved all the same. 00:22:28.379 --> 00:22:32.559 Thirdly, we can observe some signs of God's saving grace. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:36.740 So then what is the response to God saving this man? 00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:40.599 First, there is a response to the gospel. 00:22:41.139 --> 00:22:42.519 We read in verse 36, 00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.720 And the eunuch said, 00:22:43.919 --> 00:22:45.279 See, here is water. 00:22:45.899 --> 00:22:48.379 What prevents me from being baptized? 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:52.299 Now, if you were awake enough to be astute this morning, 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:55.659 you may have noticed an oddity in our text 00:22:55.660 --> 00:23:01.100 that verse 37 is omitted from the main text in your Bible. 00:23:01.820 --> 00:23:03.740 Or at least it should be, I would argue. 00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:06.540 There is no verse 37. 00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:09.240 It jumps from 36 to 38. 00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:11.960 And you may have further employed your astuteness 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:14.220 by consulting your footnotes. 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:18.380 I hope, again, that this exists in the copy that you're looking at this morning. 00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:22.820 to see a verse 37 in your footnotes that say, 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:23.820 And Philip said, 00:23:24.260 --> 00:23:26.380 If you believe with all your heart, you may. 00:23:26.760 --> 00:23:27.920 And he answered and said, 00:23:28.060 --> 00:23:31.780 I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 00:23:32.560 --> 00:23:39.620 So this is the kind of response we would expect to see to a gospel proclamation. 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:41.820 So why the omission? 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:45.319 Why is it left out there in your copy of God's Word? 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:48.819 This is done because the earliest and most reliable transcripts 00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:51.859 do not include verse 37. 00:23:52.179 --> 00:23:55.220 There are some later transcripts that add that detail. 00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:57.779 And it could be that somewhere in history, 00:23:58.119 --> 00:24:01.579 someone added that detail because they thought there was a disconnect 00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:06.460 between gospel proclamation and then the eunuch asking to be baptized. 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:09.019 We need to fill in a little detail. 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:11.460 It's most likely that something like this. 00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.559 was said. 00:24:12.639 --> 00:24:17.159 Or maybe somebody did know for a fact that this was the conversation that took place. 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:19.539 Philip may have reported it. 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:24.399 However, the earliest and most reliable transcripts do not include verse 37. 00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:26.359 So a brief aside at this point, 00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:29.179 it ought not shake your confidence in God's Word 00:24:29.179 --> 00:24:34.059 that there's an occasional inconsistency in those early transcripts. 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:36.599 They are very, very few. 00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:37.939 And when they do exist, 00:24:38.399 --> 00:24:42.299 the translators of good translations make careful note of them. 00:24:42.939 --> 00:24:44.199 I'm using an ESV. 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.659 I think most of you are. 00:24:45.959 --> 00:24:49.899 But this is a really great spot where the translators, 00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:53.259 all of the people who do the difficult work have said, 00:24:53.379 --> 00:24:53.559 look, 00:24:53.659 --> 00:24:57.879 we can't be sure verse 37 belongs in the text. 00:24:57.880 --> 00:25:01.500 So we're going to exclude it and we're going to put it as a note at the bottom. 00:25:02.020 --> 00:25:05.900 So I hope us have greater confidence that all the things they do include 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:09.880 are very consistent in those early manuscripts. 00:25:10.300 --> 00:25:15.580 So I hope that it then elevates that your confidence that the text you have in your hand 00:25:15.580 --> 00:25:17.800 this morning is in fact God's Word. 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:18.040 Okay. 00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:19.120 In the side. 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:21.859 So verse 37 is omitted, 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:26.599 but he must have made some profession of faith, right? 00:25:26.679 --> 00:25:32.279 We know of the doctrine of baptism that it is not salvific, right? 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:37.159 We come to faith in Christ by grace alone. 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:38.959 Romans chapter 10, verse 9 and 10, 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:39.579 Paul says, 00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:58.559 Paul there mentions nothing about baptism being salvific, right? 00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:03.319 It's a sign we'll talk a bit more about in just a moment, right? 00:26:03.399 --> 00:26:05.879 So there must have been some profession of faith. 00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:10.780 He must have believed otherwise Philip would not have baptized him. 00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:14.460 So we see as a sign of God's saving grace, number one, 00:26:14.560 --> 00:26:17.140 a response to the gospel, right? 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:21.200 Secondly, we see obedience to the gospel, right? 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:24.020 A life that is found in Christ, right? 00:26:24.060 --> 00:26:26.580 Will be a life that not perfectly, right? 00:26:26.620 --> 00:26:31.400 But in ever increasing degrees is obedient, right? 00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:33.240 This is the doctrine of sanctification. 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:36.599 We have been set apart for obedience to Christ for his glory, 00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:40.460 and we grow in this obedience across time. 00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:41.980 So right here, right? 00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:44.920 Immediately the eunuch says, right? 00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:47.740 What prevents me from being baptized, right? 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:49.839 They see water and he says, 00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:54.359 Hey, I should be obedient in baptism, right? 00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:55.279 Verse 38 says, 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:56.859 And he commanded the chariot to stop, 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:59.480 and they both went down into the water, 00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:00.740 Philip and the eunuch, 00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:02.039 and he baptized him. 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:04.339 And they came up out of the water. 00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:06.680 Philip is transported away. 00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:09.899 So we see first obedience on Philip's part. 00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:12.139 Matthew chapter 28, 00:27:12.299 --> 00:27:14.059 Jesus gives the great commission, 00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:15.220 verse 18 and following, 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:17.799 All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:21.220 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:23.740 This is what Philip is doing in this moment, 00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:26.700 making a disciple of the Ethiopian eunuch, 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:31.740 baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:36.700 So Philip is obedient as a follower of Christ 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:39.519 to make disciples and to baptize them. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:44.640 We also see this obedience on the eunuch's part as well. 00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:47.880 Matthew records of Jesus chapter 3, 00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:49.299 verse 13 through 15, 00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:52.399 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John 00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:53.940 to be baptized by him. 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.759 John would have prevented him saying, 00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:57.259 I need to be baptized by you, 00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.599 and do you come to me? 00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:00.200 But Jesus answered him, 00:28:00.399 --> 00:28:02.079 Let it be so now. 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:06.259 For thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:08.099 Then he consented. 00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:11.639 So Jesus himself modeled this for us, 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:14.279 that we are to be baptized. 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:16.619 And I suggest to you, 00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:19.259 it doesn't have to be a major point of contention, 00:28:19.479 --> 00:28:23.079 but that they were also obedient to the method. 00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:27.579 I suggest to you that the Ethiopian was baptized by immersion. 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:31.419 They would have been traveling for quite some time across a desert, 00:28:31.419 --> 00:28:34.639 and they would have had water with them, right? 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:36.559 So he doesn't say, 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:39.779 Look, I have here water in the chariot. 00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:41.459 What prevents me from being baptized? 00:28:41.460 --> 00:29:11.460 He says, 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:13.620 Second sign of God's saving grace, 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.880 we saw the response to the gospel, 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.700 obedience to the gospel, 00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:18.920 and then thirdly, 00:29:19.860 --> 00:29:21.180 rejoicing in the gospel. 00:29:23.340 --> 00:29:25.620 Verse 39, the last part says, 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:27.660 And the eunuch saw him no more, 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:29.100 Philip saw him no more, 00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:32.319 and he went on his way rejoicing. 00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:35.720 Baptism was the outer symbol, 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:38.360 picture of an inner reality. 00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:42.059 This man's life had been changed fundamentally. 00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:44.479 This encounter on this road 00:29:44.479 --> 00:29:47.659 had absolutely transformed him. 00:29:48.439 --> 00:29:50.179 He and this encounter on the road 00:29:50.179 --> 00:29:52.379 had gone from being an enemy of God 00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:54.479 to being called his friend. 00:29:54.899 --> 00:29:55.979 He had been an orphan, 00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:58.799 but now he was called son. 00:29:59.419 --> 00:30:03.259 The guilt of his sin had been washed away. 00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:07.740 What wonderful reasons for great rejoicing. 00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:10.799 Many of you know that I battle 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:14.639 with a fight for joy in my own life. 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:18.039 And anytime I take my mind 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:19.399 to the gospel of Jesus Christ, 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:21.539 remember who I was apart from him 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:23.479 and what he has done for me, 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:25.759 this becomes the impetus 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:27.879 to continue fighting, right? 00:30:27.939 --> 00:30:30.399 The very reason that I should be able 00:30:30.399 --> 00:30:32.559 to take hold of joy. 00:30:33.139 --> 00:30:35.299 I think at times like this, right, 00:30:35.399 --> 00:30:37.919 the trouble that we experience in this world 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:40.400 we should all the more 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:42.259 be meditating on the good news 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:44.420 of Jesus Christ for us. 00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:47.580 If it weren't but for the grace of God, 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:49.700 where would I be today? 00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:53.300 What would I be doing right now? 00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:55.860 What kind of signs would I be holding up? 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:57.160 I don't know where I would be. 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:58.779 Would I be alive at this moment? 00:30:58.779 --> 00:31:02.740 God has been so incredibly gracious to me 00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:06.200 and he's been so incredibly gracious to you. 00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:07.920 And I just think we should never, 00:31:08.420 --> 00:31:10.059 ever forget this. 00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:12.200 Romans chapter six, 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:13.460 beginning in verse three, 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:14.139 Paul says, 00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:16.480 do you not know that all of us 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:18.640 who've been baptized into Christ Jesus 00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:20.680 were baptized into his death? 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:23.080 We were buried therefore with him 00:31:23.080 --> 00:31:24.540 by baptism into death 00:31:24.540 --> 00:31:28.020 in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead 00:31:28.020 --> 00:31:29.540 by the glory of the father, 00:31:29.540 --> 00:31:33.960 we too might walk in newness of life. 00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:38.340 And so you are experiencing that newness of life 00:31:38.340 --> 00:31:39.120 this morning, 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:43.699 recognizing the reality that is yours in Christ. 00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:47.639 And so in this little story in Acts chapter eight, 00:31:47.879 --> 00:31:48.979 we can observe, 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:51.679 and I hope revel in and appreciate 00:31:51.679 --> 00:31:54.019 the means of God's saving grace, 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:56.059 the recipient here, 00:31:56.199 --> 00:31:58.219 the eunuch as well as ourselves 00:31:58.219 --> 00:32:00.279 of God's saving grace 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:04.059 and the signs of God's saving grace.