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THE CONVERSION OF THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH

 

“A MAN WHO WAS REACHING, READING AND REJOICING”

 

BIBLE TEXTS – READ (ACTS 8:26-39) (ISAIAH 52:13-15; 53:1-12)

 

 

In considering this story of the conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch, I would like to focus your attention on the following three simple points:

 

  1. HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS REACHING – (ACTS 8:27)
  2. HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS READING – (ACTS 8:28-35)
  3. HE WAS A MAN WHO WENT ON HIS WAY REJOICING – (ACTS 8:36-39)

 

1)                  HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS REACHING – (ACTS 8:27)

 

In (Acts 8:27) we learn that the Ethiopian Eunuch was a man who had a very successful and prosperous business career. He was treasurer of Candace the queen of the Ethiopians. The eunuch was a man who had great authority. It says that he came “to Jerusalem for to worship”. He apparently became a convert or half convert to Judaism. He looked to Jerusalem for light and blessing and had gone there to worship. He returned unsatisfied, still a seeker, still reaching out. “HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS REACHING”. He was reaching out to fill a void in his heart and life. Even though he was successful and prosperous in his business life, still there was something missing, some emptiness, some lack of satisfaction.

 

The description of the eunuch is descriptive of many in our contemporary society.  They have successful careers, at least by the standards of many in the world today. They are somewhat financially secure and have a measure of comfort and stability. They frequently belong to a mainstream denomational church and may even attend church services on a regular basis. Is this descriptive of you? In spite of your materialism and many “creature comforts” do you still have a sense that “something is missing”. Even going to church on Sunday doesn’t seem to be of much help. My friend, if you can relate to these things let me say to you that if you’re not right with God, nothing you achieve or attain in life will fill that void in your heart and life. What was missing in the life of the eunuch and what is missing in your life is a right relationship with God. The Bible, the Word of God, declares that man is a sinner by nature and by practice. Please read the following scriptures closely and consider them as they relate to you personally;

 

·        (Romans 3:9,10) – “Jews and Gentiles .. They are all under sin”. There is none righteous, no not one”.

·        (Romans 3:22,23) – There is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”.

·        (Ephesians 2:1-3) – Man is said to be “dead in trespasses and sins”. “Children of disobedience”. By nature the children of wrath”.

 

Because of mans sinful condition, he is separated from God. This is what it says in (Isaiah 59:2) “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear”. This is the “something that is missing”, the lack of a right and proper relationship with God. Because of mans sinful condition, there is death and judgment to come. Notice what the Word of God says;

 

  • (Romans 6:23) – “The wages of sin is death”.
  • (Romans 5:12) – “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”.
  • (Hebrews 9:27) – “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”.

 

Because of these things you need to be saved and brought back into a right relationship with God. How can this be done? Going to church, being “religious”, being baptized as an infant, doing the best you can, tithing, keeping the “golden rule”, etc, etc, none of these things will bring you salvation. The Bible declares;

 

  • (Isaiah 64:6) – “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteous nesses are as filthy rags”.
  • (Titus 3:5) – Salvation is “Not by works of righteousness which we have done”.
  • (Ephesians 2:9) – Salvation is “Not of works, least any man should boast”.

 

Based upon the Word of God, we can draw the following conclusions;

 

  1. Man is sinful, a sinner by nature and by practice.
  2. God will bring man into judgment for his sins, particularly the sin of unbelief and rejection of the Gospel.
  3. There is absolutely nothing that man can do to merit or inherit God’s salvation. Man cannot save himself.

 

This is mans great dilemma. This is your great dilemma. But, what man cannot do, God has already done when His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, died on the cross, was buried and on the third day rose again according to the scriptures. Dear reader, it is not your good works, your strivings to be better, your good resolves, or any religious ceremony through which you have passed or may pass.  It is not your prayers or sorrow for sins that merit God’s favor and salvation. It is only Christ’s finished work. It is this alone which makes possible the salvation of all who trust in Him and own Him as Lord.  

 

2)                  HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS READING – (ACTS 8:28-35)

 

The eunuch was on the right path for salvation.  In (Acts 8:28-35) we see that “HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS READING”.  We are told exactly what he was reading and where he was reading.  He was reading in the scriptures, the Bible, the Word of God.  He was reading in the Old Testament, in the book of Isaiah, chapter 53, verses 7 and 8.  He was reading about the great prophecy of the suffering Servant.  In (Acts 8:34) the eunuch inquired of Philip, “of whom was the scripture speaking”?  Who was this suffering Servant?  In (Acts 8:35) Philip answers his question.  The Servant’s name was “Jesus”.  The name “Jesus” means “Jehovah the Saviour” (the salvation of Jehovah).  Do you read your Bible?  Have you read the story of Jesus and His death on the cross for your sins?  The Bible is the absolute authority of God.  It is God’s message and love letter to man.  The Bible contains all the truth that God has been pleased to reveal to man.  In it, God has revealed information about man’s origin, fall and sinful condition.  He has revealed that He is sovereign, holy, and a God of infinite love, “long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  The Bible contains “the gospel (the good news of God) of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). 

 

·        (John 3:16) – “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever lasting life”.  Will you believe in Him?  Will you be one of the “whosever’s”?

·        (1 Timothy 1:15) – “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”.  Will you acknowledge and repent of your sins that you might be saved? 

·        (1 Peter 3:18) – “Christ - - suffered for sins, the just for unjust, that He might bring us to God”.  All the work has been done to “bring you to God”, to restore you to a right relationship with God.  It says in (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) “God - - hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ”.  “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them”.  “Be ye reconciled to God”.

 

It is all up to you.  God has provided a Saviour and made provision of salvation through His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Will you believe in Him?  Will you receive Him to be your own personal Saviour?  (John 3:18) He that believeth on Him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”.  (John 3:36) “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him”.

 

The eunuch, as we mentioned, was reading about Jesus, God’s suffering Servant and the Saviour of sinners. Specifically, he was reading the following about the Saviour in (Acts 8:32, 33):

 

·        HE WAS A SUBMISSIVE SAVIOUR

(Acts 8:32 a) “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before His shearer”.  He was submissive for you dear reader.  In (John 10:17,18) Jesus said “I lay down my life, that I might take it again” (in resurrection).  “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.  His submission to the cross was a voluntary act.

 

·        HE WAS A SILENT SAVIOUR

(Acts 8:32 b) “So opened He not His mouth”.  He was silent for you dear reader.  It says in (1Peter 2:23)  “when He was reviled, He reviled not again”.  (Isaiah 53:7) “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth”.

 

·        HE WAS A SUFFERING SAVIOUR

(Acts 8:33 a) “In His humiliation His judgment was taken away”.  Justice and a fair trial were denied the Lord Jesus.  He submitted to it all for you dear reader.  His trial was a mockery of Roman justice.  On a number of occasions Pilate declared “I find no fault in the man”, yet he consented to the accusers of Jesus who said  “away with Him, crucify Him” (John 19:15). 

 

·        HE WAS A SLAIN SAVIOUR

(Acts 8:33 b) “Who shall declare his generation, for His life is taken from the earth”.  They mocked Him and said He had no hope of posterity because He was killed in the prime of manhood and was unmarried.  It was all for you dear reader, for you sins, that He suffered, bled and died on that cross of Calvary.  (Hebrews 2:9) “ By the grace of God, He tasted death for every man”.  (1 Peter 3:18) “Christ also  hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God”. 

 

The measure of God’s love for us is seen in the greatness of His gift to us, the gift of His own well beloved Son.  Friend, is your heart so hard that you can spurn such love by rejecting Him as your Saviour?  All those who reject the Lord Jesus as their Saviour will suffer for their own sins in the lake of fire, for all eternity.  (Revelation 20:10-15; 21:8).

 

 

3)  HE WAS A MAN WHO WENT ON HIS WAY REJOICING – (ACTS 8:36-39)

 

The eunuch believed what he was reading and believed the message about Jesus which he heard from Philip, the evangelist. As a result, the man who was reaching and reading became “THE MAN WHO WENT ON HIS WAY REJOICING”. Read (Acts 8:36-39). The void, the emptiness in his heart was replaced by Jesus Christ. He found his Saviour and God’s salvation.  He believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and received Him into his heart and life. Joy filled his heart because his sins were forgiven and he was restored to a right relationship with God. He was reconciled to God and became a child of God “by faith in Christ Jesus”.  (Galatians 3:26).  “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”.  (Romans 5:1).

 

Many people try to find their joy, their happiness in the things of the world.  They are like the man in the book of Ecclesiastes.  (Ecclesiastes 2:10) “Whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my portion of all my labor”.  This sounds like the philosophy of the world today, does it not?  “If it feels good, do it”.  Is this descriptive of you?  Will you continue to “rejoice in your labor” or will you get saved and “go on your way rejoicing in the Lord”?  There is another verse in Ecclesiastes of which you should be made aware,  (Ecclesiastes 11:8) “but if a man live many years and rejoice in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many”.  Ahead is the judgment of God, (Hebrews 9:27) “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”.  (2 Corinthians 5:10) “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ”.

 

Please give this matter your most serious attention.  Will you be a believer or non-believer?  Your eternal destiny depends on your decision. 

 

Christian Messenger