1. What was God’s PURPOSE here? (Verse 26) “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” A. God moved Phillip who was successfully preaching to the multitudes in Samaria to share the gospel with one man. B. This speaks volumes about God and about sharing our faith. This is a lonely place not an urban center. C. Two things: One about us. Phillip the evangelist – what if he had been Phillip the bus boy? One about God – God’s ways are not the same as ours. The eunuch had been in Jerusalem.
2. Who was the PERSON God sent Phillip to reach? (Verse 27) “So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”).” A. An African eunuch, this would be the first account of a black man coming to Christ, as we know that the gospel is for all races of people without distinction. B. Verse 28 reveals he had traveled some twelve hundred miles to worship in Jerusalem. He had an interest in the Scriptures and was financially able to purchase an expensive scroll.
3. How was God PREPARING the eunuch? (Verses 30-31) “Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” A. The Eunuch was reading Isaiah 53:1-8. One of the clearest Old Testament passages on the Messiah revealing the truth of the gospel.
4. What PROBLEM was the eunuch having? (Verse 34) “The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” A. He did not understand what he was reading or who the scripture was referring to
5. What PROCESS did Phillip use to share the gospel? (Verse 35) “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” A. He began with the scripture before him. He told him about Jesus, His life, His cross, and His resurrection.