Unless ...

So Philip ran up to [the chariot] and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 is fascinating and well worth your reflection. There’s the happy providence of God bringing to Jerusalem the Ethiopian treasury official, possibly a Diaspora Jew himself, or at least one of the “God-fearers”—Gentiles who attended synagogue and were interested in Judaism. Leading up to this story is the powerful witness of Philip in Samaria, who in the power of the Spirit helped liberate the region from various oppressions and drew the attention of the fledgling church in Jerusalem. Adding to the drama is the text that the official is reading: the Suffering Servant hymn of Isaiah 53:7–8.

This is just a thumbnail sketch of an exciting story about how this eunuch came to know the Lord Jesus. Most interesting, I think, is what the eunuch did with the good news that was delivered to him. According to Irenaeus of Lyons in his Against the Heresies (180 AD), he was Simeon Bachos the Eunuch, who went back to Ethiopia and proclaimed the Gospel. In fact, Simeon is recognized as one of the fathers of the church in Ethiopia, one of the most ancient Christian traditions in the world.

The Gospel is a powerful, transformative word that draws together people of unlikely backgrounds from all corners of the globe, and that witness continues to this day. Our relationship with our brothers and sisters in Dembi Dollo, Ethiopia, begins with this story of Philip and Simeon, as well as many other faithful men and women. From Thomas Lambie, a Presbyterian medical missionary sent to Dembi Dollo in 1907, to A.D. Reynolds, who started the Missionary Emergency Fund that helps provide resources to First Presbyterian to send on to missions like the four schools we work with, and on to Elders Peggy Hill, Dottie Havlik, Stuart Parker, and many others of this church, it all stems back to this momentous encounter on a dusty road in the wilderness.

And here we come to a wonderful insight, focusing on the verses above. Their connection and conversation was certainly the product of the Holy Spirit bringing them together, but the story pivots on the fact that Philip had a heart to share and proclaim the Gospel, and Simeon was willing to receive instruction and guidance. Philip wanted to help Simeon understand a confusing passage about a suffering servant, and Simeon realized he was lost without a guide, so he invited Philip to sit and teach him. If they had not each responded to the Spirit’s lead, things would have turned out very differently.

And here I leave you, dear reader, with a charge. Unless your children, your spouse, your neighbors, your co-workers, or the strangers you meet at church or about town have someone to help guide them on the road, then how can they understand? Unless you are led into greater depths of understanding, how will you be able to respond? We need each other. More than that, the Spirit, judging by this story, relies on regular disciples like you and me to help share the Gospel.

That may look different for each of us. Maybe you are being called to be a Sunday School teacher but have resisted because of the time commitment or the fear that you don’t know enough. Maybe you are being called to bear witness with your hands through works of love. No matter the call, unless you and I respond, how will others hear and know the love of Jesus?

In Christ,

Pastor Sam

9:00: In person: 100;

11:00: In person: 65;

Deadline & Subscriptions

Monday is the deadline for contributions to Windows. Subscribe to our free e-newsletter, by sending your name and preferred email address to the editor.