The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 8:29-35, “Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”
30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: “HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
33 “IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY; WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH.”
34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?”
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.”

Believers in the New Testament era had a distinct advantage in that angels often spoke to them. We have a similar advantage in that the Holy Spirit speaks to us. The difference is that the New Testament believers listened more intently than we.

Remember that Philip had been ordered by an angel to venture to a desert road where he would encounter an official from the court of Candice, Queen of the Ethiopians. Philip obeyed and discovered the official reading the Book of Isaiah. The Holy Spirit then said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” How does this happen? Is Philip to stop the chariot, or what?

Asking a question is often the best way to introduce yourself into a conversation. Philip simply asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?” Forgive me for introducing myself into the narrative here, but I very often asked myself this precise question when I was studying Hebrew in the seminary. I can only imagine how much more difficult it would have been to attempt to read Hebrew while bouncing around in a chariot on a desert road. Yet, with the LORD, all things are possible.

The very passage the official was reading (Isaiah 53:6ff) gave Philip the “opening” he needed to share the Gospel, and Philip did not waver. He shared his faith with the man. He spoke forthrightly about Jesus. Everyone wants to know the answer to the question the official asked. When we come to know Jesus, we are prepared to share Him as the answer to the multiple questions others have. Philip had no inkling what the man would ask. Yet, the LORD gave him the answer. He will do the same for you –but only if you obey Him by going where He directs.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom