Salvation in the Sands of Gaza – Acts 8:26-40

Jan 22, 2015 | Acts

To my mind, this is one of the most fascinating stories in the New Testament.

It is a holy parenthesis in the history of the early churches.

This unnamed visitor from Ethiopia bears some semblance to Melchizedek of the Old Testament;

As far as we are concerned he has neither father nor mother; beginning nor ending.

But I’m sure that he had an interesting life prior to this chapter,

And what takes place through him after this chapter is probably worthy of history books, if not Hollywood screen plays.

And yet, as yet, we don’t hear another word.

If the entertainment of eternity will be the praise of our Saviour, it is going to be most entertaining.

We will hear thousands of testimonies of men like this Ethiopian.

They are going to recount how the Lord providentially lead them in a multitude of circuitous routes around and around until they were brought to the cross.

And then after being cleansed through the blood of the Lamb, and after being regenerated by the Holy Spirit, they then became pilgrims on their way to the Holy City.

For the rest of their earthly lives they traversed a variety of high mountain passes and of hidden valleys.

They will have battled the plagues of disease and the plagues of earthly prosperity.

They will have fought dragons and demons, and met and blessed many other pilgrims.

There will be thousands of Christians who will have thrilling stories to tell to the praise of the Lord Jesus.

And we’ll probably learn that some of the most prominent saints really didn’t have nearly as exciting lives as multitudes of our brethren from whom we have never heard before.

At the foot of the throne of Jesus, we’ll learn the names of outstanding saints

Whose lives should have occupied great volumes of Christian biographies,

But whose names have been hidden to man and only enjoyed by their Saviour.

As Philip approached this stranger, he heard him reading from the book of Isaiah, chapter 53.

The deacon-turned-evangelist politely asked the man, if understood the words.

(I have always wondered how he made it past the secret service men and personal body-guards to get close enough to ask.)

It is somewhat ironic, but it’s OUR job to ask the same question about HIS question.

Do you understand what Philip was asking when he asked whether the man understood?

And more importantly do you understand the Answer?

It is going to take several messages before we will be able to look at everything in this scripture,

But let’s begin with a bit of an overview and then some thoughts about Philip’s sermon.

Let’s briefly think about God’s PROVIDENCE, Philip’s PREACHING and the Spirit’s PERSUASION.

First, GOD’S PROVIDENCE.

In that day when all the saints are gathered around the throne of God, comparing notes and praising the Lord,

I hope that we will be permitted to look back to see the handiwork of God on the back-side of the tapestry of our lives.

How was the man who presented the gospel to you, brought to Christ himself?

Were there any famous servants of God used of the Lord to lead someone to Christ, who presented the cross to someone who eventually brought it before your heart?

What is the complete lineage of the church which baptized us?

Will we ever be permitted to access this information, or will it be much as it is in this chapter?

There is debate about the country of Ethiopia, but it appears to be just about were our maps place it today.

In those days it was a country of great commerce and prosperity.

And that this man was the treasurer of his queen means that he was a powerful and important man.

He may have been like Joseph, the son of Jacob; a slave who was elevated to this position.

He appears to have suffered much before beginning to enjoy much from the Lord

From the days of Solomon, Israel had connections to this area of the world, and there had been Jews living there for centuries.

Perhaps it was through them that this man became a proselyte of the Lord.

But, are we even sure that he was a proselyte?

Now, its at this point that my mind begins to whirl:

Why was this man in Jerusalem?

It is assumed by nearly all the commentaries that he was a proselyte of the Lord, but that isn’t certain.

Perhaps he was there on official government business.

But assuming that he was a proselyte, he had probably been in the city for one or more Jewish feasts.

How long was he in town?

If I had come all that way by dusty, bumpy road, I’d want to spend as much time as possible in Zion.

But then again, the importance of his position may have necessitated a short visit.

And HOW was it that he WASN’T converted to Christ through the ministry of the Apostles?

Could it be that he was not a proselyte and had only a passing, intellectual interest in Judaism?

Could it have been that he was there in order to broker a new trade agreement or something?

If the whole city was being “filled with the Christian’s doctrine,” how did this man escape, or did he?

How close had he been to bumping into the Apostle Thomas on the street?

Did he give a crippled man an alms gift, just ten minutes before the Apostle Andrew healed the man, but this Ethiopian didn’t see or even know about the miracle?

Was Peter preaching in Solomon’s porch one day while this man came into the temple on the opposite side of the court-yard?

And there is a question even more perplexing: WHY did he not hear the gospel while in the city?

Why didn’t the Lord bring glory to His name by spectacularly saving this foreign stranger right there before the eyes of the Priests and people?

Could it be because he WAS a foreigner, and the disciples weren’t ready for this yet?

Why did the Lord not give this man two weeks with Peter and John in the upper room, so that he might have grown in the things of the Lord before returning home?

Truly the ways of God are mysterious.

And now, with his chariot nearly out of Israelite territory, God sends Philip to give him the gospel.

“O Lord, this is so impractical, especially since Philip is doing such a good work in Samaria.

Surely, there was someone not quite as busy as Philip whom you could have sent.”

If you check a map you’ll notice that for Philip to get from Samaria to Gaza, he’d probably have to pass through Jerusalem.

Or are we to assume that there was a considerable length of time, as well as miles, between Samaria and Gaza?

Could it be that Philip had left Samaria and was ministering in Caesarea already or some other city?

Say and think what you like, but once again, I believe that I see a smile on the lips of the Lord.

It’s as though God is saying, “I am in sovereign control of all things, and it shouldn’t matter how I work all things to my glory.

I can turn the world upside down or even inside out, but My Will shall be perfectly accomplished.

And if I want to even use the SILLY to accomplish the SUBLIME, what is that to you?”

I think that we’ll come back to this subject at a later date,

But just think about the likelihood of Philip finding this needle in the haystack.

Or maybe it might be said better – finding this uncut diamond in the desert sands of Gaza.

It was clearly the Lord’s intention that Philip find this man just before he reached the boarder with Egypt.

“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.”

Without the strength and guidance of God, it would have been impossible for these two to have met.

Last December Judy and I met the Erik and Willimena Berg in Greenville, South Carolina.

It took a good road map, two good cell phones and three telephone calls to finally connect.

And in that case both of us knew who we were looking for.

But in this case, one party wasn’t looking to be found and the other party didn’t know who he was looking for.

Isn’t the providence of God something wonderful? Praise the Lord!!!

The second thing that I’d like you to consider was PHILIP’S PREACHING.

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

A few years ago, we began the tradition of reading a passage of scripture during our morning song service.

I intended a couple of different things when I started that:

First, I wanted it to be an act of worship, further focusing our attention upon the Lord,

Assuming that the songs hadn’t yet accomplished that.

And then each passage is chosen to coincide with the morning message.

And it might be appropriate at the conclusion of each reading to ask the question: “Understandest thou what thou readest?”

I’m pretty sure that this Ethiopian’s chariot didn’t come standard with a DVD player.

Nor did it have a CD player or even a cassette player.

But it did come with a driver.

Either as a proselyte, or as a curious intellectual this man picked up some copies of the Jewish scriptures.

And as the many days of travel slowly passed by, he chose to read the scrolls which he had bought.

I wonder if he wasn’t reading out loud in order to be blessing not only to himself but to his charioteer as well.

Now, if I was obliged to give a man a copy of the Old Testament in order to try to bring him to Christ, there would be only a few scriptures where I would begin.

There are a couple of Psalms, such as the 22nd which teach wonderful things about the Lord.

And there are places in Genesis and Exodus where it would be good places to begin as well.

Scriptures such as Abraham’s near-sacrifice of his son, Isaac.

And then there is the giving of the law.

But above them all, especially if I was unable to make comments on that scripture as my friend was reading: I would suggest that he begin reading in Isaiah 53.

And it seems that I am in agreement with the Lord on this subject, because by the guidance and providence of God, when Philip found this man he was reading in the 12 verses of Isaiah 53.

Out of the 929 chapters in the Old Testament, he was reading this one.

Please return to Isaiah 53

This Ethiopian chamberlain was reading a translation of verses 7 and 8.

He asked his Jewish guest if Isaiah was talking about himself or about someone else.

It is interesting to note that if he were asking that question today, he’d probably include another option:

Many Christ-denying Jews like to apply this chapter to their nation.

But based upon the authority of the Word of God; according to the commentary of Philip, this chapter is talking about the Christ, and more specifically, about the Lord JESUS Christ.

What I would like to do right now, is read this scripture once again, as Philip might have done so.

What I’d like to do is comment and explain, as he might have done, what the prophet was telling Israel.

Let’s begin with Isaiah 52:13:

“Behold, my servant (the Messiah) shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.”

In fact every knee shall eventually bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

“As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.”

He shall be so beaten, so tortured by the priests and the Romans, that his visage, his appearance, was almost unrecognizable.

“So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.”

When the Lord returns, the whole world will stop and gape in awe.

“Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”

Jesus’ birth, the Messiah’s incarnation, was sublimely humble and inconspicuous.

And there wasn’t much in his life that attracted the love and attention of the average man.

In fact, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

They shouted, “Crucify him, crucify him; we will not have this man to rule over us.”

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.”

It was the Lord Jesus, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

“Yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”

Actually, he WAS smitten of God.

He was “delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God” to be crucified & slain.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.”

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”

Every man, woman and child on the face of this earth is a rebellious sinner against the Lord.

We are wayward sheep who have no hope of returning to God on our own.

But “behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

“He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.”

“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, {the Jews had} taken, and by wicked hands had crucified and slain.”

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

“Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

What is the most important thing to be understood in the Bible?

It all boils down to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.

Christ said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.”

Philip the Apostle said, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

In Luke 24 Jesus taught the two travelers: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”

Then back in Jerusalem He spoke to the rest of his disciples:

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.”

All that Philip did that day in the desert was to take the Old Testament scriptures, beginning with Isaiah 53 and shared with this man what they taught about the Saviour.

BUT that was not sufficient to truly bless this man.

He needed more than just an intellectual understanding of this wonderful scripture.

In addition to the preaching of Philip was the PERSUASION of the SPIRIT.

This aspect of the history is not clearly outlined, but it is clearly understood by every gospel preacher.

And it would be understood by every saint of God, if they’d think about it for a while.

What made the people of Samaria and the residents of Ninevah repent at the preaching of the prophet?

What made these people smarter, more humble, more receptive than the priests back in Jerusalem?

Christ Himself tells us: “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

I receive not honour from men.”

And the apostle John explains: “But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.”

There resides in every human heart a native rebellion against the rule of God and against the Messiah.

The only way that any sinner will accept this message of love and rule is by the omnipotent power of God.

That this man, returning home wanted to return there as the first Christian to walk its soil, is an amazing act of sovereign grace.

Remember, the Saviour said,

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

What we are reading in these verses is an illustration of this wonderful work of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

Now, the question remains: can YOU read the same sort of story in your life?

Like this man, you’ve read twice the greatest evangelical chapter in the Old Testament.

You’ve heard that chapter briefly explained.

But has the effect of the sacrifice of the Saviour been laid upon your heart?

Are you and humble and repentant as that powerful and influential man?

Has the Lord given you a new heart?

Do you WANT a new heart?

I implore you to repent of your sin and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!