Philip and the Eunich

Philip filled with the Holy Spirit, is led out into the desert to an Ethiopian Eunuch in need of help. 

Act 8:26  And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Act 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,
Act 8:28  Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Act 8:29  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Act 8:30  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Act 8:31  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
Act 8:32  The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
Act 8:33  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Act 8:34  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Act 8:35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Act 8:36  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Act 8:38  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Act 8:39  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Act 8:40  But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

 

Philip preached to him Jesus from Isaiah 53. The eunich believed and desired to be baptized in the near bye water. After baptizing the eunich, the word of God says that he was caught away by the Spirit and was found in Azotus.

 

Strong's concordance defines "caught away" as to seize, carry off by force; to seize on, claim for oneself eagerly; to snatch out of the way. The phrase is also translated, catch up, pluck, take by force. It appears that Philip was in one place and was caught up by the Holy Spirit to another place.

 

The Ethiopian was full of joy, a fruit of the Holy Spirit. There was no separate receiving of the Holy Ghost, it appears that he received it all at his water baptism.

 

We are to be ready and willing to be led by the Spirit to someone who desires to know about Jesus and salvation. I witnessed on the Internet for a year before the Lord led me to Sarah. What a miracle of salvation she received, but that is another story.

 Hiding Place (by Sarah).

Miracle power, not magic

The Holy Ghost must be received to have God's power for ministry. He may come upon a person by the act of God, others pray to receive Him, and in this story prayer and the laying on of hands were the means of receiving the Holy Ghost. The power is not bought or earned.

 

Act 8:5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Act 8:6  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Act 8:7  For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
Act 8:8  And there was great joy in that city.
Act 8:9  But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Act 8:10  To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
Act 8:11  And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Act 8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Act 8:13  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Act 8:14  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Act 8:15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:18  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:20  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Act 8:21  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Act 8:22  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Act 8:23  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Act 8:24  Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. Act 8:25  And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip preached the word of God to the Samaritans and they believed and were baptized in the name of Jesus. Simon the sorcerer was one of those who believed the true report and were baptized in the name of Jesus. Peter and Paul came to Samaria. There was one thing more that was needed, the receiving of the Holy Ghost. They prayed first and then laid  their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. Simon apparently did not receive the Holy Ghost, but wanted to give money to them to receive the power to do miracles. I am sure that today there are many TV preachers who would take his money with promises given, but there is no substitute for personal prayer and the laying on of hands. On our Internet ministry many were saved and discipled, but there was no laying on of hands, this would be done through a Spirit filled local church. Many did receive the Holy Ghost and are continuing in faith. I pray for all who receive Jesus, that they be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost.

 

Luke 11:9  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Luke 11:10  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Luke 11:11  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Luke 11:12  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Luke 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

The Holy Ghost is not for magic. He must feed on the word of God. We must know who we believe and we hear from God in the word of God. There is a discipling needed to be used of God. The Holy Ghost is our teacher.

Nathanael

Joh 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Joh 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
Joh 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
Joh 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
Joh 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Joh 1:50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
Joh 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Philip brings Nathanael to Jesus, but Jesus had already seen Nathanael under the fig tree, under a symbol of that nation Israel. Jesus knew this son of Jacob before he was brought to him. God chooses first and when we share Jesus with others, those who God has chosen will come to him. Nathanael was not thinking much of anyone coming from Nazareth, this was a stumbling block to some of the Jews who knew the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem. Jesus indeed was born in Bethlehem and when he saw Nathanael he said somehing truly unusual. Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! He had no guile, craft, deceit, like so many of the deceitful leaders of Israel who tried to destroy him because of envy. He came to him having received the invite from Philip "Come and see."

Jesus said that we must come into the kingdom as children; they trust and are accepting.

Mat 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Nathanael was quick to believe on Jesus with little proof.

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

We come to Jesus by faith and our faith grows as we learn more and more.

Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

You will see these things because you are to be redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, you will see me in my glory when I return to set up my kingdom. Angels will ascend and descend upon the Son of God who is the Lord of Hosts.

What of so many who come to Jesus with guile in their hearts? We see them when we witness on the Internet. They come in with trick questions. Some appear to be polite, but they want to destroy your ministry. Some are bitter and destitute of hope at the bottom of life. Share God's word and give them the good news. Be consistent, unmovable and perhaps the LORD will do something in their hard hearts. A mocker may by your life style, see something in you that they want. They will see Jesus in you, who is their salvation.

Php 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you and be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;

Php 1:28 and in nothing affrighted by the adversaries: which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and that from God; (ASV)