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THE KING’ S BUSINESS
a demonstration: first, that the author of the prophecy was inspired o f God, and sec ond, that Jesus o f Nazareth was indeed the Messiah, fulfilling this prophecy made so many hundred years before. v. 35. “ Then (But) Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture (beginning from this Scripture ) , and (omit, and) preached unto him Jesus." One can begin at almost any Scripture and preach Jesus, for Jesus is the central subject of all Scripture, but the 53rd chapter o f Isaiah is so full o f Christ that it makes it espec ially easy to begin from it and to preach Jesus. Philip was a model preacher as well as a model worker, his subject was the only subject o f all true Christian preaching, “Jesus ;” his method was the beat method, exposition o f Scripture' How unlike Philip are too many o f our modern preachers who preach -everything under the sun except Jesus, v. 36. "And as they went on their (the) way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said (saith), See (behold), here is water, what doth hinder me to be bap tized.” The treasurer o f Queen Candace promptly, accepted the truth and accepted the Saviour Philip had preached to him. Having accepted the truth he wishes as soon as possible to make an open confes sion o f the Saviour whom he had accepted. Doubtless Philip had told him o f the Lord’s command that those Who had accepted Him should confess Him in baptism. H t is evident that Philip thought that baptism was a matter o f greater importance than many seem to think today. I f the eunuch had -been like many modern “ seekers after truth” he would have thought o f a score o f things that would hinder his being bap tized, but as he was not merely in pretense,- but in deed and in truth, an inquirer, as soon as he knew the truth he threw difficul ties to the winds and obeyed it. Many a modern man may well learn from this old- time. inquirer. v. 38. "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.” Philip was as
prompt to yield to his request to be bap tized as the eunuch was to seek baptism. He did not hesitate, but immediately did the thing that needed to be done. He did not think it was necessary to put the can didate on probation for a few months and to instruct him before he baptized him. The fa ct that the man had found and received Jesus as the Messiah, the Son o f God, was all that was necessary to fit him for bap tism. This was the common custom o f the apostles and the other workers in the early church, (cf. Acts 16:33). Can we improve on apostolic practices ? vs. 39, 40. “And when they were come up (came up) out of the water, the Spirit of' the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more: for he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached (the gospel) in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea .” Philip’s work is done and the Spirit takes him away. It sounds, tak ing it in its connection, as if Philip was caught by i hurrican (cf. 2 Kings 2:16), but it w'ill not do Jo dogmatize about that. The reason o f the catching away o f Philip was that the eunuch might learn to look directly to Jesus Himself. Oftentimes the man who helps us into the light becomes a hindrance to us by standing between us and Jesus Himself, and it is better for us if he is taken away and we are;thus taught to look directly to the Lord Jesus Himself. - The eunuch had learned his lesson well, he did look to the Lord. He no longer asked for Philip now that he had found Jesus. He went on his way “ rejoicing” with a new found joy, a joy that those only know who have received Jesus. It is clear from this story that one •can learn and accept all one heeds to know about Jesus in order to be baptized, in a few hours. This Ethiopian treasurer had never heard o f Jesus before, and yet, as a result, o f this one conversation about Him he gained such a complete know ledge'of Him that he is fit to be baptized and sent, on his way rejoicing to found a church in Ethiopia., and this too, before a single gospel had been written which he could carry with him
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