Join Yourself to this Chariot - Acts 8:29

Luke the physician wrote how “the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes 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 the prophet”, and in chapter eight and verse twenty-nine of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join yourself to this chariot” where we read:

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.

The verse begins, “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, ...” Luke began with the words, “then the Spirit” which means “at that time the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son” “said unto Philip” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to Philip, whose name means lover of horses and was one of Jesus' apostles” the following words. Luke shared how “the Holy Spirit” of God began to speak to “Philip” again.

The verse continues, “... Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.” Luke added the words, “Go near” which means “approach the Ethiopian man”, “and join yourself” or “and fasten and cleave your own self” “to this chariot” which means “to the carriage and coach in which the Ethiopian man was seated”. Luke shared how the “Holy Spirit” instructed “Philip” to approach the “carriage” of the “Ethiopian man”.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Philip” received the next instruction from God concerning this “Ethiopian man”. He was to “approach” the “chariot” in which the “Ethiopian man” was riding. Step by step God was reaching out to this man, and He will reach out to every person through His Son Jesus today. God loves people, and He wants everyone to live with Him forever. Anyone who yields their life to His Son Jesus will be saved from their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Even as “Philip” received the “second” instruction from the “Holy Spirit”, God will lead those who hearken to Him one step at at time to fulfill His purposes and will. Let all who read these words receive and obey the next “step” God has for them in their lives.

Next time Luke shares how, “Philip ran” toward the Ethiopian man, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".