Atos 8

Atos 8

Meyer - Our Daily Homily - Desert means uninhabited. It seemed a strange providence that took Philip thither. He had been chosen to the honorable office of deacon, and there was probably plenty of work to do in connection with the scattered Church. Moreover, he had just completed a most successful mission in Samaria, where the multitude had given heed with one accord to the things he had spoken; but now he was suddenly landed in these lonely solitudes, where only chance travellers could be eneountered. Did he not count it strange, and wish to get home to his four little daughters (Acts 21:9)? There are many deserts in life! The solitude of a new country, in which you do not know the language. The solitude of a sick-chamber, in which the earnest worker suddenly discovers the limitations of physical weakness. The solitude of suspicion and dislike, which contrast strangely with some large and devoted circle. Thither God brings us not infrequently. No flower can thrive in unbroken light. But in every solitude, if we wait patiently on the Lord, there are opportunities of service. There is always some inquiring soul in need of the precise help we can give. There is an old story of some monks to whom the Book of Revelation was being read. At the end each was asked to choose the promise he loved best. One said I will take this, “God shall wipe away all tears.” Another chose, “To him that overcometh I will give to sit on my throne.” The third replied, “I would choose, ‘His servants shall serve Him.’” This latter was Thomas à Kempis, who afterwards wrote “The Imitation.” Not caring how to serve Thee much, But to please Thee perfectly.” ILLUSTRATION - GETTING UP AND GOING WHEN IT IS NOT CONVENIENT - John Egglen had never preached a sermon in his life. Never. Wasn't that he didn't want to, just never needed to. But then one morning he did. The snow left his town of Colchester, England, buried in white. When he awoke on that January Sunday in 1850, he thought of staying home. Who would go to church in such weather? But he reconsidered. He was, after all, a deacon. (REMEMBER PHILIP'S ORIGINAL CALLING!) And if the deacons didn't go, who would? So he put on his boots, hat, and coat and walked the six miles to the Methodist Church. He wasn't the only member who considered staying home. In fact, he was one of the few who came. Only thirteen people were present. Twelve members and one visitor. Even the minister was snowed in. Someone suggested they go home. Egglen would hear none of that. They'd come this far; they would have a service. Besides, they had a visitor. A thirteen-year-old boy. But who would preach? Egglen was the only deacon. It fell to him. And so he did. His sermon lasted only ten minutes. I’ll let the young boy tell the rest of the story…The boy's name? Charles Haddon Spurgeon. England's prince of preachers (Spurgeon's Testimony) Acts 8:27 So he got up and went; and 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, KJV Acts 8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, So he got up and went Mt 21:2-6; Mark 14:13-16; John 2:5-8; Hebrews 11:8 and there was an Ethiopian eunuch Ps 68:31; 87:4; Isaiah 43:6; 45:14; 60:3,6; 66:19; Jeremiah 13:23; 38:7; 39:16; Zephaniah 3:10 queen of the Ethiopians 1 Kings 10:1; Mt 12:42 who was in charge of all her treasure 1 Kings 8:41-43; 2 Chr 6:32,33; Ps 68:29; Isaiah 56:3-8; John 12:20 Acts 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PHILIP'S IMMEDIATE OBEDIENCE So he got up and went - Now keep the context in mind -- the angel gives a strange command to go to a strange place (desert at "high noon"), but does not give an explanation for the command. As an aside it reminds us of God's call to Abraham to leave his country, which he did by faith, which Philip also exercised. So how did Philip respond? "He did not say, "Well, I'll have to pray about this." He did not question God. He did not tell the angel to do it himself or send someone who was not in the midst of a revival like he was! What about sending one of those apostles in Jerusalem for they now have some time on their hands? And besides they are closer to Gaza then I am. He did not say to himself, "Well, I wonder if this is a call to a larger field of service." (Stedman) In a word, he did not hesitate (which is always disobedience), but instead immediately OBEYED! Philip was not self controlled but Spirit controlled. A self controlled man would very likely have sought to stay in Samaria where the harvest of souls was ripe! But not Philip. He is true to form, still a man "full of the Spirit" (Acts 6:3+). And so he obeys the angel's commands without hesitation and with no evidence of grumbling or disputing (cf Php 2:14+). The NAS, ESV, NLT, NIV surprisingly do not translate the Greek interjection "idou" which means "Behold" an interjection added by the Spirit to gain our attention as we read the text. The KJV is more accurate rendering it "behold, a man of Ethiopia an eunuch." The behold calls our attention in this context to the providence of God -- the place to which was to go just happened to have a foreigner who just happened to be reading the Bible! Talk about coincidence! When we are in the center of God's will and filled with His Spirit, we are far more likely to experience similar "divine coincidences!" Kent