Christ Leads The Way

“Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.” – Acts 8:5

Watch back before a few lessons to the one about the deacons who were appointed! We’re still in Acts 8. I know I’m a bit slow when it comes to picking up on things and writing. But, I love it! That’s why I always come back for more, and very often. It’s nice to have a place to write that’s all mine. And I’m not letting it go! Thank you for your continued support in reading. I appreciate YOU and all that YOU do and have done to show your love! Much love to you from my heart to yours.

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Philip was a deacon and he, like other Christians, had to leave his home in Jerusalem and went about preaching Jesus. The text says that an angel spoke to Philip and told him to go down the road toward Gaza.

The Ethiopian man had gone to Jerusalem to worship and was returning (Acts 8:25-26). Philip found an Ethiopian eunuch (Matt. 19:12) studying his bible – from the book of Isaiah and joined him in his chariot ride. 

“So Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning from that Scripture. As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, ‘Look, there’s water! What would keep me from being baptized?’” (Acts 8:35-36).

Notice that the text says that Philip told the Ethiopian the good news about Jesus. It doesn’t say that he taught him about baptism. Yet, the Ethiopian man wanted to be baptized after Philip preached Jesus. So preaching Jesus must include preaching about the necessity of baptism.

“Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” – Acts 8:38

Also note that they both went down in the water for the baptism. There was no sprinkling going on, otherwise they wouldn’t go down into the water. Baptism is a submersion. We see the example here. We also see how the Ethiopian man obeyed the gospel:

1. He heard the Word being taught by Philip. Rom. 10:17
2. He, apparently, repented (had a change of heart and mind), as he was already a religious person who was traveling back home from worship. Acts 17:30, Luke 13:3. (Note: You can already be religious and still need to obey the gospel.)
3. He confessed that Jesus was the Son of God (Acts 8:37). Matt. 10:32-33.
4. He believed that Jesus was the Son of God (Acts 8:37). Mark 16:16.
5. He was baptized (Acts 8:38). Mark 16:16.

We can follow the Ethiopian man’s example and become a Christian by obeying the gospel at this preaching of Jesus.

Will you become a Christian today?

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