Egypt and Tunisia have recently seen a lot of political unrest. It seems that Africa is a continent that has struggled with many problems in recent decades. Countries like Uganda have struggled with AIDS; Countries like Ethiopia have struggled with famine; Countries like Rwanda have struggled with genocide. Recently the countries in the north have threatened revolution. Does God care about Africa?
We see in today’s story that God pulled aside one of his apostles and supernaturally transported him so that he coud talk to an Ethiopian court official. Egypt and Ethiopia have long Christian traditions. We should be praying for Coptic Christians in Egypt now because God cares for Africa.
Acts 8:26-40
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”[b]
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] [c] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Questions
- What book is the Ethiopian reading?
- What does Philip say about the book?
- Why would God supernaturally transport Philip for this meeting?
- What strategy might modern Christians use to spread the gospel across unreached lands?
- How can we pray for the health of African churches?
Going Deeper
Plymothian 