by Robert C. Veil, Jr.
When the Lord’s church was first established, on the day of Pentecost in the city of Jerusalem, it
experienced great growth in that city. The great concentration of Christians in that city was
scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria following the cruel death of Stephen and
the resulting persecution of the church, (see Acts 8:1). These early Christians did not leave their
faith and practice behind, in Jerusalem, but they went about as evangelists, “preaching the word,”
(Acts 8:4). One of these early evangelists was Philip, who had served in Jerusalem as one of the
seven original deacons, (Acts 6:5). Philip traveled to Samaria, where multitudes listened to his
preaching and obeyed the gospel, (Acts 8:5-25).
There came a time when Philip, who was now a tested and highly-effective evangelist,
received orders from the Lord to head south, into a deserted area known as a Gaza, (Acts 8:26).
He went without hesitation, and observed a high-ranking and influential man from Ethiopia,
traveling back from Jerusalem after Jewish worship. The Ethiopian was “a eunuch of great
authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure,” (8:27).
Interestingly, the eunuch was sitting in his chariot and reading from the prophet Isaiah, which
further indicates his humility and spiritual interest, (8:28). Upon receiving specific instructions to
make contact with the eunuch, Philip ran to him and heard what he was reading, (8:29-30a). He
then asked the eunuch a timely and calculated question: “Understandest thou what thou readest?”
(8:30b).
In an inviting display of humility, the eunuch responded, “How can I, except some one shall
guide me?” And the eunuch begged Philip to come up and sit with him, (8:31). Here we have a
universal prerequisite to salvation: humility. The eunuch was displaying a willingness to learn, to
listen, to accept the fact that he needed help. This is essential for anyone who would be saved
today. Too many times we rush to try to teach people who have not yet admitted to themselves
that they need teaching. The eunuch was humbly admitting a need for help.
Help was not long in coming to this humble and receptive man. Philip began with the very
scripture the eunuch was reading, and “preached unto him Jesus,” (8:32-35). It would be interesting
to know the full content of Philip’s lesson here, but those details are not provided. It is important
that we recognize that the preaching of “Jesus” included the Bible doctrine of baptism, because
the next verse informs us that “as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the
eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (8:36). Obviously, Philip
had taught him the importance and urgency of baptism.
What happens next is also very interesting. Philip does not simply comply with the
request to be baptized, but states in return a significant requirement: “If thou believeth with all
thy heart, thou mayest.” And the unique, probably confesses, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the
son of God,” (8:37). So, in summary, we see leading up to baptism of the following steps of
salvation: humility, hearing the gospel, believing the gospel, repentance (see 2:38), and
confession of faith. —continued next week
