But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.” Acts 8:26 WEB

Verse twenty-six in chapter eight of the Book of Acts begins Luke’s recounting of an encounter between Philip, a deacon of the early church and an Ethiopian eunuch. The verse records a command Philip received from an angel of the Lord. As he intends to preach the gospel in Jerusalem, an angel of the Lord directs Philip to travel south to Gaza. On the way, Philip meets an important Ethiopian official alongside the road where he sat in his chariot reading the prophecies of Isaiah.   

This is not the same person as the disciple Philip introduced in Matthew’s gospel. Neither is he the brother of Herod Antipas. Rather, this Philip is a different man who scripture reveals as the first missionary and evangelist of the Gentiles. As Jesus’ followers encountered persecution in Jerusalem for preaching the gospel, Acts 8:5 records that, “Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. WEB”

The Good News

The Holy Spirit led Philp in his evangelical work. As the foreign official sat in his chariot reading from Isaiah, the Spirit directed Philip saying in Acts 8:29, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot. WEB” Approaching the chariot, Philip asked the Ethiopian official in Acts 8:30, “Do you understand what you are reading? WEB” The man responded in Acts 8:31 saying, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?”

At the very moment the Ethiopian eunuch read the prophecy of the Messiah from Isaiah 53:7-8, an angel of the Lord and the Holy Spirit guided Philip to the man’s side to preach the good news about Jesus Christ. Beginning with Isaiah’s prophecy, Philip preached to him about Jesus. Upon receiving the word, the Ethiopian accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. Immediately thereafter, Philip baptized the man. 

Yesterday’s Devotional: Pray for One Another