This Sunday as we close out our missions festival by focusing on Acts 8:27-40, which recounts Philip sharing the gospel with an Ethiopian. This post simply contains the Scripture with a few devotional questions and thoughts for you to prepare to hear God’s Word preached.

Scripture: 26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31And he said, “How can I unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep, he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about
himself or about someone else?” 35Then

²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. ²⁷ And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship ²⁸ and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹ And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” ³⁰ So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹ And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. ³² Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

³⁴ And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. ³⁶ And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. ³⁹ And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

A. Things to contemplate as a result of studying this passage:

• How should our view of God’s work in the world grow as a result of studying a passage like this
• How do you need to grow in a Christ-centered approach to reading and studying God’s Word?

B. Things to do as a result of studying this passage:

• Attempt to turn one conversation this week with a friend or co-worker to spiritual matters.
• Take a small step this week to cultivate a friendship with someone who is different than you.

C. Things to pray for as a result of studying this passage:

• Ask the Lord to make you a person who boasts in the cross because you are profoundly aware of your own sinfulness while remaining strong in the continued, fresh discovery of the pardoning grace of God revealed in the cross of Jesus.
• Ask the Lord to give you a greater and more joyful confidence in the truth, power, and relevance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Ask the Lord to move everyone who calls our church home to cultivate at least one redemptive relationship. To build a “redemptive relationship” means to invest yourself in the life of another person in such a way that he or she is drawn more closely to Jesus Christ. This person can be a believer or a person who is not yet believing.
• Pray for us to grow in our grasp and love of the Scriptures… And that our love for the Word would foster a greater love for Jesus.
• Pray for the suffering and persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world to result in many conversions to Christ just like we observe in Acts 8.