The Growth and Expansion of the Church in Judea and Samaria (8:4-12:25)

The Missionary Work of Philip (8:4-40)

------

The influence of missionary work was not Europe to Africa but Africa to Europe.

Early Church Fathers who were from Africa:

Clement of Alexandria (150 - 215)

Tertullian (155 - 220)

Cyprian ( - 258)

Origen (184 - 253)

Athanasius (296 - 373)

Augustine (354 - 430)

One of the accepted scholarly beliefs is north Africa was separated from the rest in early church. However, the influence of missionary work was not Europe to Africa but Africa to Europe.

------

Early Mentions of African in the New Testament:

Jesus and his family hid in Egypt. Simon of Cyrene- Roman officials appointed him to take the cross- He is an African. He was a proselyte who later became Christians. Mark names Simon of Cyrene’s sons.

------

Mentions of African converts in Acts:

Acts 2 Africans were present on the day of Pentecost Acts 6:8-10 - Stephen - Those who argued with Stephen - Cyrene, Alexandria were African cities. Even at the feasts many Africans were there.The Ethiopian was the first gentile of African descent documented as converted in Acts.

---

Amongst the Africans (8:26-40) a. Sent on a Mission by God (8:26-29):

God did not tell Philip specifically to share the Gospel with Samaritans but to the African he specifically did.

Note: Don’t go around thinking an Angel is going to speak to you. The will of God is not normatively determined by such announcements. This was abnormal not normal. It is peculiar. We should not seek such means such as the ‘peace of God’ in determining God's will.

------

Phillips Missionary Journey:

Location (8:26) - See Map in Documents Section.

------

First Object: An Ethiopian (8:27-28)

------

1. He was a Eunuch was Committed to Judaism.

Jewish Diaspora was in all the larger region.

Note on the Jewish Diaspora “Various factors contributed to the geographical dispersion of the Jews and the growth of the Diaspora communities: expulsion, political difficulties and religious persecution in Palestine, internal conflicts in Jewish society, and tempting economic prospects in new countries.”

Note on the Jews in the First Century • Jews, “were resident in Alexandria and the country from the slope into Libya to the boundaries of Ethiopia.” – Philo

Note on their Judaism:They read the Septuagint (LXX)

2. He was a Court Official So spoke Ethiopian and Greek and was able to read the Septuagint.

3. He was a Worshiper.

He may have read: Isaiah 56:3-5

3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,

“The Lord will surely separate me from his people”;

and let not the eunuch say,

“Behold, I am a dry tree.”

4 For thus says the Lord:

“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,

who choose the things that please me

and hold fast my covenant,

5 I will give in my house and within my walls

a monument and a name

better than sons and daughters;

I will give them an everlasting name

that shall not be cut off.

------

The Proclamation of the Gospel (8:30-35)

Philip Overhears and Asks a Leading Question (8:30) Note: Where the situation presents itself, you don’t need to have cooke cutter methods. Do you use your conversation to a stepping stone to Gospel. Unsaved people need Christ.He was Biblically aware but he still needed God. Note: Reminds of the population around us- Cultural Christianity. Religious people need to be saved.Phillips is asking: Do you perceive the meaning- the significance of this. Do you really understand what it means. Note: It is not just the grammar, although that is important. Once you understand the grammar you must understand the meaning or significance.

------

The Ethiopian Pleads for Help to Understand (8:31-34)

Often times what we can just tell friends - "Read the Bible" . God perhaps will work in those to open up their eyes. First step to another’s conversion is prayer. Pray for your unsaved friends, family and acquaintances.

------

The Ethiopian Understands His Deficiency (8:31- 33)

30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter

and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,

so he opens not his mouth.

33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.

Who can describe his generation?

For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”

------

Note: One wonders if he was properly cared for by Jewish leadership. Even if he was he would not have learned.

------

Luke identifies the specific passage in Acts, Servant song. Is 53. From the fourth section. Isaiah is describing the rejection of his servant. It is so profound and complete that he would be rejected to the point of death. And not because he did something wrong but it was for the propitiation of many. How can God’s servant be rejected by God’s people. It did not make sense to the Jews. Eunuch is not able to understand who is Isaiah referring to.

------

The Ethiopian Asks for Guidance (8:34)

Philip Pointed Him to Christ (8:35)Luke describes Phillip’s way of talking as preaching. It was not reserved from just corporate preaching but for all Christians. When we preach the Gospel we are preaching. All of us are preachers.

------

The Conversion of the Ethiopian (8:36, 38): Residue and Evidence

The Residue of His Conversion (8:36): Baptism

Baptism was a representation of salvation.

He did not want to wait - having trusted Christ.

Both went into water. Without a doubt they would have water on the chariot but he went into the water. It is by immersion.

Sent on a Mission by God (8:39-40)

Snatched by God (8:39) ! snatched away taken forcefully, firmly, quickly He was taken after they ascended. What was practiced by John the Baptist, Jesus and his disciples was integrated into the church.

The Evidence of His Conversion (8:38): Joy

39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing

Notice - the joy of the believer, when the pressures of life come in - does the joy of Christ stay with you? We live in a world that elevates the discontent. . When Christ came - this many had joy. Christ’s joy came to dominate his life.

------

Settled in Caesarea (8:40)

He kept preaching the Gospel to all the cities. Jesus commandment of the great commission was being fulfilled.