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. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join yourself to this chariot. And Philip ran there to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, do you understand what you read? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth”, and in chapter eight and verse thirty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how the Ethiopian asked Philip, “I pray you, of whom speaks the prophet this?” where we read:
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray you, of whom speaks the prophet this?
of himself, or of some other man?
The verse begins, “And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray you, of whom speaks the prophet this?” Luke began with the words, “and the eunuch answered Philip” which means “and the emasculated Ethiopian man responded and began to speak to Philip whose name means lover of horses and was one of Jesus' disciples”, “and said” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “I pray you” which means “I, the Ethiopian man, beg, beseech, want and ask you, Philip”, “of whom speaks the prophet this” or “who is the one that was moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman who solemnly declared to men what he received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation”? Luke shared how the Ethiopian man asked “Philip” who was the person in the “prophet's” writing.
The verse goes on to say, “of himself, or of some other man?” Luke continued with the words, “of himself” which means “pertaining to his own self”, “or of some other man” or “or concerning another male human being”? Luke shared how the Ethiopian man wondered whether Isaiah the prophet was writing about himself or another person.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we discover what was confusing the Ethiopian man within the prophesy of Isaiah. He didn't understand whether Isaiah was writing about himself or another person. “Philip” will inform him in our next verse, but for now let us understand that God desires people to comprehend His plan of salvation through His Son Jesus for all mankind. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (See John 3:16), and He wants everyone to know the price Jesus paid for the forgiveness of their sins. When a person yields their life to Jesus, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life with Him in Heaven. Let all who read these words know “Isaiah” was writing about the Messiah Jesus, and those who are wise surrender their lives to Him.
Next time Luke shares how Philip, “preached unto him Jesus”, 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".
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