22.229 | Belief Before Baptism | Acts 8:32-40 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

Acts 8:32-40 ESV

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?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”[e] 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 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. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. 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. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

BELIEF BEFORE BAPTISM

The Ethiopian was reading from Isaiah 53 which speaks of the Suffering Servant. In Isaiah 53:7, the Servant is described as a silent lamb being led by others. For him, there was some difficulty about this verse because when Jesus was on trial, He did speak to His accusers and to Pilate (John 18:19–23, 33–38). And yet, He did not defend Himself (Mark 14:60–61; 15:4–5).

The last two lines are difficult to understand; the source material is a little clearer. Isaiah 53:8 says, "and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living?" The literal transliteration is, "and his generation, who considers?" It means that the people of Jesus' time and place didn't care that He was wrongly convicted, tortured, and executed. This is clearly seen by how easily the priests convinced the people to demand Jesus' death (Mat 27:20–23)

The eunuch wasn’t able to understand until Philip explained to him. Definitely, it was the Spirit who has led him to the eunuch, had given also the needed illumination. “For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God”[1 Cor 2:10,11]

Unlike the Pharisees, priests, and scribes who read the Old Testament, yet either rejected Christ or resisted before coming to faith (Acts 6:5), this Ethiopian eunuch immediately accepted the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy and Christ as his Savior (v.36–39). He did not miss the opportunity to express his faith in Christ through water baptism. Was he at Jerusalem and had witnessed the baptism of the 3000 earlier? Perhaps.

His conversion was proven real by his identification in Christ through baptism, even rejoicing for having trusted and was baptized.

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