In my last blog, we traveled with Philip to Samaria where he encountered a man named Simon who practiced magic arts. Simon received the message of the Gospel, but wanted to receive the Holy Spirit so that he could lay hands on others, either for profit or for personal acclaim. Recognizing that his heart was not right with God, Philip offered him the opportunity to repent. Although Luke does not tell us that he did, I like to believe that he did so.   

On his return trip to Jerusalem, Philip preached the Gospel in many Samaritan villages until an angel of the Lord suddenly spoke to him saying:

“Arise and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza (this is a desert road). And he arose and went; and behold there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure, and he had come to Jerusalem to worship” (Acts 8:26-27).

This Ethiopian eunuch was returning home after worshiping in Jerusalem at one of the Feasts. During his time in Jerusalem, I suspect that he had heard about this new band of Jews who had become followers of a man named Jesus. And, he undoubtedly had heard that this Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, the Savior of Israel, who died for the sins of the nation, and for all mankind. He may have even heard from the mouth of one of Jesus’ followers that Jesus was the fulfillment of a specific prophecy found in the Book of Isaiah, because while he was returning to Ethiopia in his chariot, he was reading from Isaiah. It is at this very moment that the Holy Spirit told Philip to speak to the eunuch. Luke then records that Philip “ran up” to the chariot and as he heard the Eunuch reading from the Book of Isaiah, Luke records:

“Do you understand what you are reading” (Acts 8:30)?

The eunuch responded by saying,

“How could I unless someone guides me” (Acts 8:31).

Talk about an open door that Philip was invited to walk through! The eunuch invited Philip to join him in the chariot and explain the following passage that he was reading from Isaiah:

“He was led as a sheep to slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He does not open His mouth. In humiliation His judgment was taken away; Who shall describe His generation? For His life is removed from the earth (Acts 8:32-33; from Isaiah 53:7-8).

When he finished reading, the eunuch asked Philip whom the prophet was referring to, was it himself or someone else? I love what Luke records next:

“And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture, he preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35).

Beginning with what the eunuch was reading from the Old Testament, Philip explained to him the events surrounding Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. In other words, Philip told him that Jesus was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. And as they continued on their journey, the eunuch saw some water and said:

“Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized” (Acts 8:36)?

To which Philip responded:

“If you believe with all your heart, you may” (Acts 8:37).

And then the eunuch replied:

“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37).

The eunuch ordered the chariot driver to stop, and they both went down into the water where Philip baptized the eunuch. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord immediately sent Philip to Azotus as the eunuch continued on his journey home rejoicing over his encounter with Philip, but even more, his encounter with Jesus.

We call this a “divine encounter.” Philip was not planning on it, but the Lord had arranged for Philip to meet the eunuch while on his way back to Ethiopia, who “just happened” to be reading from the prophecy from the Book of Isaiah. This would also be the primary prophecy that the Apostle Paul would later refer to as he shared the Good News in synagogue after synagogue throughout the Roman Empire. It is important to note that Philip took advantage of this encounter by recognizing that this was all planned and arranged by God Himself, and as a result, the Gospel was taken to Ethiopia, not by Philip, but by the eunuch.

Have you ever recognized and taken advantage of a “divine encounter?” I suspect that we have such encounters more than we know and fail to take advantage of them. My encouragement to each of us is to recognize such encounters when God places them in our path, and then to take advantage of them by encouraging that person (or those persons). And if you sense that the door is open to speak of Jesus, then do so. And let’s remember that the Apostle Peter told each of us to:

“Set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15).

In other words, let’s make sure that Jesus takes “front and center” in each of our hearts, and then to always be ready to share Jesus with others, and when we do, we must not forget to do it with gentleness and reverence. So, when the next “divine encounter” unexpectedly occurs, let’s take advantage of it by sharing a word of encouragement, which may include a word, or several words, about Jesus, the Giver of Life. As a result of his encounter with Philip, the eunuch took the gospel to Ethiopia. Who knows what God may do with your next “divine encounter.” Be on the lookout for it! It may come sooner than you think!

Hope to see you next week.