Focal Passage: Acts 8:26-39
In this week’s study, we find that Stephen has been martyred and a great persecution had broken out against the Church.
The Apostles were driven out of Jerusalem by the Jewish authorities and scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. But not all of them were forced to leave Jerusalem. It seems that many of the Jewish believers were allowed to stay, but the Hellenists Jewish believers were forced to leave the city.
Philip, being a Hellenist Jewish believer, was one of those who was driven out. He went to Samaria and began preaching about Jesus. His message was well received and many put their faith in Jesus as the Christ. In fact, the believers had grown to such a number that it caught the attention of the Church still abiding in Jerusalem.
The Church in Jerusalem then sent Peter and John to investigate. Upon arrival, they discovered a vast number of believers, but none of them had received the Holy Spirit yet. One might ask, If they had believed and ask Jesus into their hearts, why didn’t they receive the Holy Spirit at that time? God had a reason. The animosity between Jews and Samaritans was well known.
Nimmo
God’s plan of salvation was meant for all humanity. God wanted Peter and John to see confirmation of this truth firsthand so they could return to the Church in Jerusalem and share this universal truth. So, when Peter and John put their hands on them and prayed, the Holy Spirit came upon all of the Samaritans validating that the Good News is for all mankind.
God then sends an angel to Philip and instructs him to travel south toward Gaza where he encounters a high-ranking Ethiopian eunuch making his way back home from worshiping in Jerusalem. He overhears him reading from Isaiah and asks him if he understands what he is reading. The eunuch confesses his confusion and asks Philip to join him and help him understand the meaning of the passage.
Philip then explains to him that the prophet is talking about Jesus. The eunuch accepts the Good News and as they come upon some water asks Philip if there is any reason he could not be baptized. Being no reason to the contrary, they both go into the water and Philip baptizes him.
Again, one might ask why this story is so important. Once again we see the universal truth that the gospel is universal to all mankind. Now, we see a Gentile being converted by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Before we leave this passage, there is one more thing to consider. Why did the eunuch want to be baptized? The Lord’s Supper and baptism are the only two specific ordinances or orders Jesus gave the church to follow. Both have to do with identifying with Jesus Christ and identifying with the church — the body of Christ. Baptism symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus that has made possible our salvation.
Baptism also symbolizes that a person through faith in Christ has passed from death to life and that this person has identified with Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12). It also is one of our first acts of obedience as we begin to follow the commands of Christ. That is why the eunuch did it and that is why we should too. B&
