—Acts 8:26-40—Philip
is sent to bring an Ethiopian eunuch to faith in Christ. The treasures of an Ethiopian queen were on their
way home after worshiping in Jerusalem. His chariot was on a main road from
Jerusalem to Egypt. The Spirit directed Philip, one of the seven deacons (See
Acts 6:1-5), to meet the chariot at Gaza. The eunuch was probably a proselyte
or God-fearer of Judaism. Philip found him reading Isaiah 53 but not
understanding it. After Philip’s explanation, the Ethiopian asked to be
baptized. He accepted Christ and according to tradition he introduced
Christianity into Ethiopia.
It should be noted that verse 37 (“If you believe with all your heart, you
may.” And he replied, “I believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”)is omitted in the older manuscripts and
some modern versions will place the verse only in the margin.[1]
When the eunuch learned about Christ as the suffering
servant of Isaiah 53, he requested baptism. Why was his request so important?
Why wasn’t knowing about Jesus, the washing away of sin, and the understanding
that he was the Messiah enough? The eunuch wanted to be baptized because
baptism is the means of being born again of the Spirit means of being
incorporated into the body of Christ, the church. Baptism connects us to Christ
and to His body the church.
A Prayer for humility: O God, You
resist the proud and give grace to the humble. Grant us true humility after the
likeness of Your only Son that we may never be arrogant and prideful and thus
provoke Your wrath but in all lowliness be made partakers of the gifts of Your
grace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord [2].-28 April, 2021
Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, The Book of Books in Pictures. copyright © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.
[1] Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
[2] Collect for Humility, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis
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