Today’s reading draws us further into the world of the early Church, giving us more insight into the climate in which the gospel was preached. It also acquaints us more with those who contributed to the distribution of the gospel.
The same day Stephen was martyred, widespread persecution occurred, with Saul actively pursuing and persecuting believers, throwing them in jail (Acts 8:1–3). The persecution intensified, but the resolve of Jesus’s followers to share His message only grew.
Philip’s encounter with the eunuch was more than being in the right place at the right time. It was a divine orchestration from God, who was ready to meet the eunuch’s desire to know more about Him. Philip met a perplexed man, who did not understand who the subject of the passage from Isaiah was talking about. But Philip did.
Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.
—Acts 8:35
Here we see God’s saving power in action. As Philip directed the eunuch to Jesus through the scriptures, the eunuch accepted everything that he heard. It was a monumental moment in the man’s life, the eagerness evident in his immediate request to be baptized. As regal and important as his position was in Queen Candace’s court, he took on a more prestigious status as a member of God’s family.
This roadside conversion points back to God’s promise in Isaiah 56:3–5, where God specifically promised that His salvation would extend to foreigners and eunuchs, who generally did not have families of their own. Better than a biological family, the eunuch now had a place among God’s people and family. What joy he experienced as he returned to Ethiopia forever changed.
The joy-inducing, life-giving gospel at work in the eunuch’s conversion is the same gospel that has transformed our lives. The eunuch’s story highlights the beauty of God’s grace. Because of sin, we were far from God, but because of Jesus’s sacrifice, we now belong to Him. The gospel welcomes all, without discrimination; the only requirement is that we accept His gift of salvation (Romans 10:13). In God’s household, strangers are bonded together as family and we all experience God’s blessings.
The eunuch’s conversion during the Church’s persecution emphasizes that nothing will stop God’s plan for us to be His people. Our lives are forever marked with a deep joy that outlasts any situation we face, knowing that we are loved and accepted by Him.
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86 thoughts on "Philip and the Ethiopian Official"
Praise The Lord!
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever! God is sovereign over all and we can trust Him in any and all circumstances because He does not change and us faithful. Thank you God for your faithfulness.
Please pray for me- my grudges are strong and I’m struggling with forgiving a very important person of my childhood who has neglected me. I want to move on from this.
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Thank you for the prayers, everyone, including Sharon, Rhonda, Tami, CeeGee, Wendy and Searching. Our flight was smooth and Violet did very well. Really felt the difference. And Andrew kept his meds down yesterday. (I don’t know about today…)
❤❤❤ thankful! Enjoy your special time away! ❤
That’s wonderful!
Praise the Lord!
Amen. Glory be to God. The story is beautifully told and makes me feel blessed to be where I am now but also wishful to be in that carriage listening to Philip tell the Good News of Jesus. The world today needs Philip to the nth right now. Spread the Good News of Jesus. Yell from mountain tops and show others the Good News by being His light. Lord I pray that you strengthen all of us with your light so that we may share the Good News of Jesus through our actions, words, kindness, and love for others. Amen
Oh, Mercy, what a sobering example from our time! Desperation can overshadow discernment for sure. Praying for a quick healing from this cold/headache issue! Thank you for posting when you don’t feel well! ❤
I pray that the Holy Spirit would make me aware of times when I can share his gospel. I want to tell those around me about Christ. Sometimes I think I may miss opportunities to do that because I get distracted.
I love, love, love that the gospel is for all who will believe!
The Bible is such an unfiltered book of God’s power and human’s frailty. No censorship lol, no save face attempt. Couple of things that stood out to me:
1- The desire to commercialize the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts: Simon the sorcerer. A while back, I heard a story of a brother in Christ who has an autistic girl now in her teenage years, he loves his girl so much, she is non-verbal, he always wishes to one day being able to hear her speak, dada I am hungry, dada I am hot, or dada I love you. It has yet to happen ( we are praying for his girl M). Years back, he went to a certain mega church to have her pray for, since there is a gift of healing at that “famous” ministry, somewhere in TX. There are many wonderful ministries in this wonderful state, but not in this story lol. The catch was, they won’t pray until he transfers the money (tithing/offering). So he did, once payment was cleared, they prayed, the family traveled back to their home state and was told to wait. Nothing happened. God is not pleased with these dealings. So this is still happening today, around us. Be careful of the unethical practice through supernatural displays to gain finance, influence and public admiration. Same with Simon, these saw the Holy Spirit as a means of control and influence, not for humble service. This also reminds me of another character, Gehazi, the servant of Elishah, the prophet that God healed Naaman through from leprosy. This Syrian commander after being healed, brought lots of lavish gifts to thank Elisha. But Elisha refused, for God’s grace cannot be bought, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none” (2 Kings 5:16). Gehazi secretly ran after the Syrian commander to take the gifts, showed inner covetousness, and lied to Elisha when Elisha confronted him, and immediately he was judged, Namaan’s leprosy was transferred to him (2 Kings 5:15–27). So his sin was not just taking money, he turned God’s free grace into personal profit, while standing in close proximity to holy work. Very close. The punishment was very severe. “You cannot both serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Similar case with Judas. Moral lesson on what not to do: use ministry for financial exploitation, treat spiritual gifts as credentials for influence, equate anointing with self entitlement, confuse anointing with ownership vs. stewardship.
2- The teleport of Philip: I love the adventurous part of this story. Thank you SEARCHING for sharing from HRT. “Walking by the Spirit led Philip to an unlikely person, unlikely conversation”. This is very true. I heard a testimony on Sid Roth program of a preacher (on youtube), he experienced this teleport one time, to only appear in a third world country, with a family who all stared at him, and he didn’t speak the language. It was unlikely. Then he managed to share Jesus message and was taken back. Wow. To his amazement. So unlikely.
* I would appreciate your prayers for a speedy recovery over a cold/flu/ headaches combo. Feeling miserable. Thank you so much. Hugs and love to you.
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Be blessed dear sisters.
Oh, poor dear Mercy!
Praying it all passes quickly
Sorry you don’t feel well friend! I have a migraine today, and had a pretty deep removal of skin cancer on my face today. I have had many, many…but this one actually hurt too bad to chew dinner. After 1 bite I knew it wasn’t going to work. I went to broth soup. So prayers please that it heals good and quick!
Also, you are so right, deception is everywhere and is going to get worse! We Christ-followers really have to be discerning and so aware (by the Spirit) of people like Simon, false teachers, mediums, and of course AI. We have to open our eyes, and not just be church attenders! We have to be about our Father’s business, it is imperative. All the pieces are coming together for the anti-christ right now! Exciting, not scary, because God’s Spirit is going to direct his children! We want to make heaven crowded, especially with our loved ones!
I’m late here…but praying you feel much better by now.
The story of Simon really caused me to pause. A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery. [Previously] Even Simon himself believed. After he was baptized he followed Philip everywhere. He was astonished by power but not transformed by surrender. He believed at the level of amazement but not yet at the level of repentance and trust. Baptized but still bound. Simon loved what God was doing but hadn’t learned to let God lead him. Simon isn’t mentioned again after this, I would love to know the rest of his story. I also noticed how Simon asked Peter to pray for him so he was aware of his need. And Peter would have a deep understanding of the grace Simon needed because of his own story of failure and restoration which is why I believe he pointed it out. Peter knows Simon can be restored because he himself was restored.
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All of this really stuck out to me this morning as I’ve had a very hard week with my soon to be 13 year old. She has a strong nervous system and a strong will:) We have 21 days of prayer right now which means we leave the house at 5:45, we do not make her go, she is setting her alarm and getting up on her own for this. Reading her prayer journals she wants to do right. Yet can flip the switch so abruptly. The other morning she got home from prayer and when something didn’t go her way, oh boy. I am looking forward to sitting down with her this evening and reading this story with her and finding ways we can both grow in these moments.
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Simon didn’t wake up wanting to do wrong, He just hadn’t let God touch that part of him yet that still wanted control. 8:21 Your heart isn’t right before God. Not evil- just unsurrendered.
I am so thankful for sanctification.. that God never gave up on me, is patient with me and still is growing and changing me and I am trusting He will do the same with my girl!
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Have a beautiful day She’s!!
Oh so good, you put into words exactly what I was thinking and answered my questions I had left on Kelly Neo’s comment! Thank you Kristy! I love that your daughter is even going…that’s pretty huge, and has a prayer journal! Remember they are very hormonal at that age and do have a up/down emotional level for the next few years, but especially 12/13! I had a boy though, so he was easy, yet not commutative! Still isn’t at at 25! Love that you want to sit down with her and work on it!
I have a soon to be thirteen year old too! Not the easiest when the hormones start to hit. I love your words here and how you will
Share this
This ! Thanks for your insight.
I love this Kristy and understand the struggles with teenage girls. I have two, but now older.
Phew!!! My brain hurts from all the reading…so much depth in this passage. First, there is the contrast of the 2 encounters:
The eunuch who exhibited a heart-felt seeking of the Word. He wanted more in the way of understanding which led to wanting more in the form of baptism. Knowing that he would be prohibited from entering the temple beyond the Gentile section, he went anyway. One commentary said that the fact that he had a copy of the scroll he was reading speaks of his high position. We have one genuine seeker/believer. Then there is Simon who was ‘spellbound’ by the power of the apostles and wanted that same power not so he could assist in the spread of the gospel, but so he could use it for monetary gain/fame/celebrity status. I read conflicting notes on this section but what I do know from God’s Word is that he knows each heart and what fuels our actions. It is said that Simon ‘believed’. I am left wondering what it was he actually believed. He didn’t mention wanting to hear more of the Word or ask what was required of him (that we know of) and rather than praying he asked John and Peter to pray for him. Was he expecting repentance or more ‘magic’? As I said in opening- Phew!
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What I take away from these examp!es: not to be frivolous in sharing the gospel, not to sugarcoat sin or take repentance lightly. I need the Holy Spirit’s guidance to help others know their ‘belief’ is real if and when I have such an encounter.
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My brain needs a break so I will end with this on 8:40 from Warren Wiersbe. It was helpful to me.
“As we trace the expansion of the gospel during this transition period (ch. 2–10), we see how the Holy Spirit reaches out to the whole world. In chapter 8, the Ethiopian who was converted was a descendant of Ham (Gen. 10:6, where “Cush” refers to Ethiopia). In chapter 9, Saul of Tarsus will be saved—he was a Jew and therefore a descendant of Shem (Gen. 10:21ff.). In chapter 10, the Gentiles will find Christ, and they are the descendants of Japheth (Gen. 10:2–5). The whole world was peopled by Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Gen. 10:1), and God wants the whole world—all of their descendants—to hear the message of the gospel (Matt. 28:18–20; Mark 16:15).”
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤❤❤
SONG SHARE
The Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns (old but good) ☺
From the song-
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth…
Thank you for sharing the”lineage” of Ham, Shem and Japeth – so interesting!
And thank you for the song share – that line convicts me every time!
You’re welcome, Kimn. I don’t recall hearing that before but knowong my senior brain I likely have! ☺
On the song- Same here! ❤
Yes, that was good info!
Ceegee your the best! Voice of truth…Casting Crowns! That was right when I started listening to Christian music…25 years ago!!
I played some good music yesterday at jail…I wish I could share a picture of the beautiful butterfly’s dancing and clapping and praising to Glorious Day by Passion! The subject was I AM NEW! —since that Glorious Day…You called my Name…and I walked OUT OF THAT GRAVE! It makes my heart overflow!
Glorious day- We sing that a church a lot!!!❤I can picture the joyful dancing! Glad the CC song has special meaning to you, too! ❤
❤️ food for thoughts. Thank you.
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Enjoyed all your comments! I love Acts! So many stories of how God gives divine appointments. He still does today! We just need to be open to them.
Praying for all
So many people think the signs and wonders are gone…healings are gone! What??? No way! I see miracles and healing all the time!
I think the best part of this story is that someone told someone who told someone on and on who told me about Jesus ❤️
YES Jenna, Amen! Shall we do the same…! We never know what our seeds will produce!
Love this thought Jenna
Something thst really stands out to me in today’s passage is how the death of Stephen fueled the believers desire to proclaim the Gospel. “The persecution intensified, but the resolve of Jesus’s followers to share His message only grew.”
I’m not sure that I would be as eager? I think fear would really come into play for me and I’m not sure resolve to share would be my first response. Knowing that Ssul was on a rampage would scare me and yet, Phillip pressed on and lives were changed for eternity. My comfort and complacency can not lead what I do. The urgency and life changing message of Jesus has to matter more. Walking daily with Jesus, encountering others and speaking nd sharing Gospel Truth changes lives and Philip’s example of “telling the good news about Jesus vs 35” was life changing for these men. I (we) have this message, this Truth.
Lord, find me faithful and obedient in this.
Amen❤️
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Wendy, that’s so true. It’s funny how quickly we skip through the passages to the next. I didn’t even think about them seeing the stoning, knowing others were ready and looking to persecute as well…BUT going. It sure fires me up to GO and tell! We have gotten so comfortable and complacent! I read “Boot Your Warriors Boots On” which was written 10 years ago…and it is spot on! Because she knew things were going to rile up, politically charged to affect us all, the way we were going…but to get your boots on and get ready to stand firm on the word of God! I highly recommend it!
The gospel welcomes all, without discrimination! All we need to do is say YES to Jesus! Praying for our loved ones would come to JESUS soon! Happy Thursday sweeties. So much to impact this morning, but gotta go again. And I’ve been here for almost an hour (LOL)
Glad you are feeling better! ❤
I hope when you come back to read, your home and cozy and warm, maybe with some warm tea!!
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The account of Philip and the Ethiopian reminded me of two passages:
→Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
*God knows our hearts, He knows those who are truly seeking Him.
→1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”
*We need to know God’s word ourselves, before we can share it with others.
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Have a blessed day my sweet SRT sisters ~ continued prayers for your requests. ❤️
Yes! Amen Sharon! How can we share what we don’t know! Ask for wisdom, ask for divine encounters!
Thank you for sharing these verses. I love the connection.
So true! ❤
Amen
NIV commentary: “Simon is a good example of misplaced religion. He believed and was baptized, but it was an inadequate belief. the sought God’s power, without any apparent interest in developing a relationship with God.”
The eunuch. Christianity and Christ makes all things new. Deuteronomy 23:1 prevents castrated males from entering the assembly However, Christ loves everyone and everybody is inclusive and not exclusive.
God meets us where we are.God will get us where He wants us if we follow the Holy Spirit. This divine encounter inspires some awe.
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God gives us so many of our own Philip moments where obedience to God can lead to blessing for others! Sometimes our life experiences help us walk through a difficult season with friends or family because God knows we’ve already experienced that. Other times, it’s spontaneously praying for someone. No matter what, His plan is always perfect!
I wrote a whole lot and lost it. Still getting used to my new tablet! Error.
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I will try and rewrite
, for now Good morning wrapped in love and hugs, and covered in prayers..❤️
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I have had that happen and so frustrating.
So sorry, Tina! I know that feeling well. Bless you, sister! ❤
Yep me too, too many times to remember!
HRT, Ryne Brewer: The Spirit took Philip to an unlikely place, to meet an unlikely person, to have an unlikely conversation that led to an unlikely result. And I’m left asking: Am I open to walking by the Spirit this way? Am I willing to be led to places that don’t make sense, to people I might otherwise overlook, into conversations that feel uncomfortable—trusting God may already be at work to bring results I could never have imagined?
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There’s also an important lesson on what I’ll call true repentance, sincere faith and/or real Godly leadership in these Scriptures – Simon. Beware, sisters, of deception in who we listen to and give credence. I imagine MERCY and/or CEE GEE might weigh in on this.
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LISA H – praying for Andrew, and for traveling safety today and on your return
CEE GEE – Same thought on the 2 strangers :). Your comment & challenge yesterday re: resisting the Spirit fits well with today’s obedience in walking by the Spirit ❤️
MERCY ❤️
MIA FAITH❤️
KIMBERLY Z ❤️
WENDY B, KRISTY, SHARON JERSEY GIRL ❤️
TAMI ❤️” I had to ask myself “what do I do for God that is uncomfortable or sacrificial?”” !!
SARAH CARMONA ❤️
ADRIENNE ❤️ how was Paul’s surgery?
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Side note to my PUSH and FROG mention yesterday – if you’ve ever seen/been to a Sweet Frog yogurt store, that’s what Frog originally meant. They used to sell shirts with it spelled out, doubtful they still do as it was acquired by a corporate entity a few years ago.
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And wow, the Verizon outage was a mess yesterday, at least in U.S. southern states. Everything should be back to normal today but yesterday was frustrating in trying to reach loved ones. We still have a landline but we are outliers so it didn’t help :(
Thank you for this Searching. Lord, let us be willing to be uncomfortable, for your will to be done.
Lots of good stuff, Searching! Interesting tidbit about FROG! No outage here yesterday, thankfully!
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Beware- no, I didn’t exactly go that route in my comment! ☺
I do agree with you, though, in being cautious. If something doesn’t matchup with Scripture – red flag. So many good leaders have lost their standing due to sin in their lives, but I believe that if they are truly repentant that their teachings still have validity. They may not be allowed to continue in leadership and we shouldn’t be gullible. One of the commentaries I read mentioned allowing time after repentance for actions to prove it out. As I said in my comment, my brain is tired so I hope that makes sense! I will try to find that commentary! ❤
I can’t find that section I mentioned! I hate that because I know I read it. (sad emoji)
There have been a handful of times that I know God put me in for that moment. Have I always listened to the Spirit? I wish I could say yes, but that wouldn’t be true. I pray that I listen and follow through with the Lord’s calling in those moments, just like Phillip did.
I love this because as someone who used to believe that I did not need a “church” to be a follower of Jesus, today’s scriptures and devotional highlight the importance of the church community in understanding God‘s word. Because I remember reading the Bible as an adult and not understanding a lot. It wasn’t until our pastor, and through Bible studies at church, that I came to understand the words I was reading, and the wonderful news of Jesus!
Yes, Maria! So many friends and family don’t think they need church. We do! It’s where we learn and grow, we need each other and we need strong leaders.
Bingo! Yes! Many will argue they don’t “need” to go to church- and it doesn’t affect your salvation of course, BUT like you said…fellowship, learning, praising and worshipping with brothers and sisters! Small groups give us intimate fellowship and growth, and wisdom and insights like nothing else!!
Yes, that is so right. We don’t need to be in a church to be saved – but that is where we grow and flourish. We need each other, the “body” needs all the “parts” in order to thrive.
That’s true for me too, Maria.
Philip, one of the same group that Stephen was chosen from to lead, was faithful to do whatever God asked him to. He left the Samaritan places where the Spirit was flowing and the people were responding to the gospel (a “green” place) to go into the desert (a “dry”place) where nothing was happening out of obedience. O but for that one who was in the dry place, Philip’s coming in obedience was life changing!
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Lord increase my faith to leave the “green” places for the “dry” places you want to send me to.
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Simon the magician reminds me of Balaam, using his sorcery for money. His faith journey also shows me that shaking of the evil we have attached ourselves to before salvation, may take a bit to shake off completely. I need to be patient with new believers to learn and grow in the things of God.
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Be blessed today for we have a great Savior!
So good, Kelly ❤️
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Yes! Your ending! What we are attracted to still before salvation! I felt like it left me hanging…Why did Philip say the Lord “may” forgive you if you ask?! Meaning sincerely? I wanted more info out of the text. I wanted Simon to have the Holy Spirit after accepting Jesus. This gives so much to chew on with the argument of saved always saved- were they really in the first place.
Also gives yet another example of Saved but not having the Spirit until Peter and John came and laid hands on the believers. Maybe the argument of a second infilling.
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Excellent, Kelly; thank you! ❤
How did your mom’s phone appointment go?
This is how we change the world. By pursuing the world with the life-changing Word of God’s holy love. I pray God would show us how to do this in such a time as this. I pray God would show us the right way to love those so different from us. I pray God would show us how to lead people to healing who have been hurt by the church. I pray He would give us hearts broken for such a broken world, and, at the same time, himility as we see our own role in its brokennness. I pray He gives us boldness and kindness, truth and forgiveness, confidence and care. I think we too often try to figure this out on our own and that just doesn’t work. Especially in America, where everything seems to be polarized and everything seems to cause even more division and hate of the “other,” we need the Holy Spirit’s guidance more than ever. We simply need to be willing vessels. If all of us who profess to be Christians could daily lay our thoughts, fears, and confusion at God’s feet and ask Him to guide our ways, I think, I know, extraordinary things would happen. The world will never fully understand us, and that’s ok. But what if we as a whole lived in such a way that the world couldn’t help but see that our guiding force is radical, life-giving, unifying, eternal love?
Amen, amen, amen! Thank you, sister ❤️
Amen and Amen! Thank you for sharing.
Amen! ❤️
Amen – thanks for sharing
Yes AMEN Meagan!! So good!
Amen!
Amen❤️
Division and hate- meanwhile God is Love. We see the manifestation of satan through his false prophets, the megaphone of social media that mass programs hate and division. Thank you for this.
Beautifully said
Meagan, this is so beautifully written and I know it comes from your heart! Thank you so much for writing these prayers that we should all be praying! ❤
This is late in the game, but I also appreciate these prayers and will be praying this on repeat! Thank you Meagan C.