Do you know the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch? It’s a story that sometimes gets overlooked or skimmed over, but it exemplifies what can happen when Christians follow the Holy Spirit’s leading even when it seems counterintuitive to their circumstances. It also shows God’s role in evangelism as He works out even the smallest details so that the Gospel may spread to the uttermost parts of the earth. Let’s take a closer look at this unusual encounter on a desert road between Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch.
Who Was the Ethiopian Eunuch?
We only have a brief introduction to the Ethiopian Eunuch, but we can learn much from even a single verse:
"Behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship" (Acts 8:27).
First, we know the man was a foreigner, a man of Ethiopia in Africa, which was beyond Egypt and a long distance from Jerusalem. Matthew Henry’s commentary suggests that the Ethiopians were looked down upon as the meanest of the nations, yet God had arranged this meeting.
Second, we know he was a person of note, a great authority. He oversaw the treasury for Queen Candace, so he was a respected and trusted individual. He also had the freedom to travel as he desired since he was far from his home.
Third, he was a proselyte to the Jewish religion. He had come to worship in Jerusalem, and the great distance he traveled suggests that he was devout in his belief.
How Did Philip Encounter the Ethiopian Eunuch?
Philip was busy working in Samaria after the other apostles had returned to Jerusalem. He was probably working on plans to continue growing the church when he was interrupted:
"Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, 'Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' This is desert" (Acts 8:26).
This calling wasn’t just a nudge from the Holy Spirit. God sent an angel with a message. The message was odd enough to warrant an actual angelic messenger because he told Philip to go down a road into the desert. I am sure Philip would not have thought to go that way to look for someone to share the gospel with when he already had a thriving ministry where he was. It probably seemed like an unwanted distraction to go traipsing off into the desert, but an angelic visit was not something to be dismissed.
Philip found the Ethiopian Eunuch sitting in his chariot on the desert road and reading Isaiah. The Holy Spirit then nudged Philip to catch up with the chariot. He asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading, and the eunuch asked him a question. He invited Philip to join him in the chariot, and Philip began to explain the gospel using Isaiah 53:7-8.
This is a perfect example of evangelism:
- Follow the Holy Spirit’s leading.
- Meet people where they are.
- Share the good news of Jesus Christ.
While this is an excellent example of how to evangelize, why did God use such divine intervention to reach the Ethiopian Eunuch? Because God knew that the man’s important status in his own country would lead to the spreading of the gospel in an unreached land. Philip’s submission to the Spirit’s leading to witness to one man on a desert road would lead to a harvest of souls he would never have dreamed of on his own.
How Did the Ethiopian Eunuch Respond to the Gospel?
After Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian Eunuch, he pointed to some water on the side of the road and asked, “What hinders me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36). God had already been at work in the man’s spirit, so he was ready for salvation. The eunuch confessed his belief in Christ, so Philip baptized him immediately. The Ethiopian Eunuch did not delay. He saw his need, confessed Christ as Lord, and immediately wanted to be baptized.
This meeting and conversion story is the fulfillment of Isaiah 56:3-5, which prophesies of a foreigner and a eunuch who keeps God’s sabbaths and who will be adopted into the family of God because of his faith. Even though most did not think very highly of this people, God loved them and made a way for the Gospel to reach them through this unconventional meeting.
Psalm 68:31 also prophesies of the conversion of Ethiopia: “Envoys will come out of Egypt; Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.” The Ethiopian Eunuch’s openness to the gospel and his confession of faith opened a way into a nation that many despised. God’s plan for salvation had always been meant for “whosoever” would come.
What Can Christians Learn from the Ethiopian Eunuch’s Story?
We can learn some things about faith and obedience from both Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch:
- Philip’s obedience to follow the Spirit led to a divine appointment of enormous proportions even though he did not recognize it at the time. We, too, must be faithful and obedient to respond to our own divine appointments because we may never know the kind of impact it will make.
- The Ethiopian Eunuch was studying the Scripture even though he did not fully understand it. As Christians, we need to be diligent in studying the scripture and, like the eunuch, seek help when we don’t understand what we are reading.
- Even though the eunuch did not understand the Scripture he was reading, he was still drawn to it. The Holy Spirit had already been at work in the eunuch’s spirit so that he was ready for Philip to share Jesus Christ with him. We don’t have to be afraid to witness because we think we don’t know enough. The Scriptures and the Holy Spirit have the power; we are only the conduit. When we are willing to let God use us, He will do the work.
- Both Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch were faithful to their calling by being obedient. Neither one argued with God or procrastinated. They were immediately obedient to God’s commands. We should strive to do the same.
Why Is the Ethiopian Eunuch’s Story Significant?
If we read too quickly through this story, it is easy to miss the importance of this unusual meeting on a desert road. God worked out the timing so that the Ethiopian Eunuch would be on that particular road at the same time as Philip, reading a scripture that pointed directly to Jesus Christ. None of that was a coincidence. It was planned. As a matter of fact, the meeting was prophesied in the Old Testament.
Because of this one meeting, the gospel spread to a foreign country. God didn’t just set Philip up to meet an everyday man. He sent him to a man who had power and authority so that the word of the gospel even infiltrated the palace so that it had the greatest opportunity to spread throughout the country.
We never know what divine appointments God will call us to, but we need to be open to the Spirit’s nudges. What seems like an interruption in our daily affairs may turn out to be a divine appointment that has international repercussions. Even if it is a divine appointment with a single individual, any time a person accepts Christ as Lord it has eternal significance.
So, let’s try to keep our spiritual eyes and ears open to hearing God’s voice so that we never miss a divine appointment, no matter how small it may seem, because God uses all these little moments as part of His divine plan for mankind. God is intimately involved in all the details, but we have to be willing to submit to God’s leading if we are to reap the rewards.
Photo Credit:©GettyImages/jgroup
Linda Lyle is a writer, teacher, knitter, and unintentional collector of cats. She has written articles for the Alabama Baptist, Open Windows, Refresh, as well as multiple novels and novellas. Her newest book, 5-Minute Prayer Plan for When Life Is Overwhelming, is set to release in October. She spins yarns on her blog The End of My Yarn at lindalyle.com.
