Sermon Acts 8:26-40

Here is Philip, a simple man, a poor man, walking the hot highway road, and he sees an Ethiopian, dark skinned, tall and no doubt large since Philip recognizes him as a eunuch. Without functioning testicles, men do not develop facial hair, and they get a fat boyish look. Certainly the Ethiopian must have looked impressive, a large man with obvious wealth. Not only did he have a chariot, but someone was driving it. He had the luxury of sitting and reading. He obviously was an educated man with significant power since he was a court official of the Queen of Ethiopia. Indeed he must have had exceptional wealth to be able to own his own copy of the writings of the prophet Isaiah. An impressive and perhaps even intimidating man.

But Philip runs up next to the chariot and hears him reading from the Jewish scriptures, and emboldened by the Holy Spirit, he asks him, "Do you understand what you are reading?" The Ethiopian's answer is interesting. He does not do what most powerful men do; pretend that they know the answer lest they look ignorant or foolish. This is the temptation of most men, and some women, to never look vulnerable, especially to those with less power.

Yet, here is a rich and powerful man willing to admit, he is ignorant. Not just to an equal, but to a poor foreigner. I wonder why that is? Could it be because his being a eunuch, his difference made him understand the cruelty of those who lord power over others. Men over women, women over their servants or children? I don't know, however somehow this man, has what we Christians call a "teachable heart". He is willing to listen, and not only listen, but listen to the unlikely people; a poor foreigner along the road.

So the Ethiopian Eunuch invites him into his chariot, and invites Philip to guide him. The text is from Isaiah, "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe this generation? For his life is taken away from the earth."

The Ethiopian Eunuch asks, "About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this about himself or about someone else." Notice his question is not a command, but full of courtesy, even respect for Philip as a teacher. There is no demanding questions from a petty tyrant, but gratitude for the gift that Philip is. This is important to remember when encountering others who are not Christians, for we must remember that all human beings are created in the image of God. While we are fallen and in need of salvation, here we see in this foreigner, a reflection of the graciousness of God. Here we see the work of God preparing him to receive the Good News, and the call to be a Christian.

And grace is at work in our lives, opening us to the reality of our need for salvation; and the reality of the Kingdom of God unfolding in the world through Christ. How mysterious that God can even use evil done to us as an opportunity for grace. I have difficulty accepting that God causes evil to happen to us, but I do believe that God can bring good out of evil. The cross is evidence enough for me to believe that. God can use even deathly shame to bring about good.

Just like the Ethiopian being a eunuch, whether by birth, injury, or abuse, he likely would have been the brunt of jokes by other men. Perhaps this was why he was so curious about the story of the suffering servant in Isaiah. He may have personally known what unjust humiliation meant.

However the Good News was that this man did not choose the way of bitterness and condemnation of the world, but rather developed an openness to what others may offer. He has an unexpected life giving humility. This is fertile ground for the Good News of Jesus Christ. And Philip tells him that this scripture is talking about Jesus, and he tells him the Good News.

And as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the Ethiopian Eunuch says, "Look there is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?" Notice he doesn't say, "Please, can I be baptised?" I wonder if he saying, "Is there anything preventing a eunuch from being baptised?" For you see, this man with all his power, wealth, education, while in Jerusalem would not have been allowed in the temple. Only those considered "whole" could enter, and his condition would have kept him on the outside of temple-Judaism. Would Philip be the same, and prevent him, a Eunuch from God's presence?

How delightful the text is that Philip gives no verbal response. He says nothing, but obviously the Eunuch knows he is indeed welcome, and more than welcome, since he says, "Stop the chariot, and goes down to the water to be baptised by Philip and becomes the first African Christian. Why doesn't Philip say anything? Perhaps it when we are in the presence of the obvious work of the Holy Spirit, nothing needs to be said, and nothing more needs to be done. We just do what God wants us to do!

Then text says that the Spirit snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing. Rejoicing is the response to God's grace, that is why we gather here!

But we know from history that the eunuch did more than rejoice, for he carried the Good News to his country, and it quickly spread such that the Ethiopians are amongst some of the oldest Christians on the planet. And if you ask them how they heard the Good News, they will tell you this very story and rejoice. And we along with them. Amen.

Sermon Acts 8:26-40
by James Love