Saved By A Sermon In A Two Horse Wagon
Posted: Thursday, July 07, 2011
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
People during biblical times were not spoiled and lazy as many of us are now. During the time, before and afterward, of the first century A.D., most folk walked wherever they went. But not always. They had carts and wagons, some much better and nicer looking than the horse drawn wagons of today. They were usually called chariots in those days and it is difficult to mention chariot without visualizing an armored warrior standing erect and snapping a whip at his horses, in a two wheeled cart with armor around the front of it which came up past the man’s belly-button.
The story begins with the verses 26-28 in the King James Version as follows:
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. 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, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias (Isaiah-jhh) the prophet.
Preceding this, Philip, an evangelist, was working and preaching in Samaria and had converted many of the Samaritans. But this man, an Ethiopian proselyte Jew was devout in that faith and had, as all Jews were supposed to do, traveled from his location in Ethiopia to Jerusalem to worship annually. God knew, as he did with the Apostle Paul, that this man was a conscientious and strong man in his faith and worthy of salvation. But he had not yet heard of the spiritual kingdom of Jesus Christ.
It is worthy of note here that he was the treasurer for the nation of Ethiopia under the Queen Candace. The very fact that he held this position was an extreme commendation since only the most trustworthy sort would be allowed to hold the job. Also, you will note that he was an eunuch. It doesn’t mention whether or not this was a voluntary thing or if he had been forced to have such surgery in order to work closely with the Queen.
But the story continues thusly:
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 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. 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: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? (Act 8:29-34 KJV) (bold phrase a quote from Isaiah 53:7)
The prime thing to notice from here on is that Philip “preached unto him, Jesus”. Then watch the results.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 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? 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. 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. 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. (Acts 8:35-39)
The Eunuch had reason to rejoice. He had been added to the Lord’s kingdom, by Jesus himself.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Well told. I have never seen or heard this done in the manner you did. Great treatment. Like a movie. Well told.Many thanks Christopher. Your comments are priceless.
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