ACTS: Phillip Preaches Christ Jesus to an Ethiopian, and He is Saved!

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. (Acts 8:26-28)

Many times people can be heard saying, and a very famous and well known TV personality has even said this, "how can people in the most remote parts of the world believe in Christ Jesus if they've never heard the gospel or read the bible?"  We have got to remember that In the beginning God created... (Genesis 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) 

Throughout the history of mankind, God revealed Himself through the children of Israel, and as recorded in Nehemiah, ...and all the nations around us saw these things,... (Nehemiah 6:16; see Christianity vs. Religion; Watch Out for Counterfeits) God has put the knowledge of Himself in all people, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, (Romans 1:19-20) 

The well known TV personality who couldn't believe that Christ Jesus is the only way to God was thinking of mankind more highly than she ought.; and we are not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3) God doesn't need us to reveal the Truth to anyone; He has already done that!  He just uses us to help explain to them what He's already put in them.  Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:27-31)

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 12:14-15, 17) Preachers or teachers of God's Word are so important, that's why we must Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15 KJV)

And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this:

“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
 In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”[Isaiah 53:7-8] (Acts 8:31-33)

So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. (Acts 8:34-35)

Let this be a lesson to all of us, the only message we are to share with anyone is Christ Jesus!  We don't need to try and convince anyone to go to a certain church or study group.  We don't need to tell anyone they have to be baptized a certain way.  We don't need to tell anyone that they need to listen to a certain TV ministry.  All those things aren't bad in and of themselves.  But the most important thing we can do for anyone we come in contact with is to preach [teach] Jesus to them.  They have the knowledge of God manifest in them; next thing they need is the understanding of what they have read [or heard].

Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:36-37)  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) Thank God for making this clear in the scriptures!  Getting baptized does not save us!!!  

Getting baptized is an outward showing of a spiritual change that has taken place within us; not by works of righteousness which we have done [like being baptized], but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, (Titus 3:5-6)  Like John the Baptizer stated so clearly, "I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:8)

So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. (Acts 8:38-40) ...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,... (Galatians 5:22) and this Eunuch went on his way rejoicing, because he was full of the Holy Spirit and full of joy!  Being in his position of authority in Ethiopia, surely he also went his way spread the Word of God, just as Phillip continued to do! For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord,...! (II Corinthians 4:5)