Luke the physician wrote after Philip led the Ethiopian man through the scriptures written by the prophet Isaiah, “Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized?And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God”, and in chapter eight and verse thirty-eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how Philip and the Ethiopian, “went down both into the water, both Philip, and the eunuch; and he baptized him” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “And he commanded the chariot to stand still:” Luke began with the words, “and he commanded the chariot” which means “and the Ethiopian eunuch ordered and bid the carriage or coach” “to stand still” or “to stop it's traveling”. Luke shared how the “Ethiopian eunuch” stopped his “carriage” for the following to take place.
The verse goes on to say, “and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” Luke consider the words, “and they went down” which means “and the Ethiopian eunuch and Philip descended” “both into the water” or “both of the men went into the water that was noticed by the Ethiopian man”, “both Philip” whose name means “lover of horses and was one of Jesus' apostles” “and the eunuch” or “and the emasculate Ethiopian”; “and he baptized him” which means “and Philip submerged, immersed and dipped the Ethiopian eunuch in the water”. Luke shared how “Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch” descended into the water, and “Philip baptized” him.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “Ethiopian man” ordered his “chariot” to stop, and he and “Philip” descended into the water. In that place, “Philip” “baptized” him. God desires a personal relationship with every person in this manner. Anyone who recognizes that Jesus is God's Son, repents of their sins and receives Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him. Let all who read these words follow the lead of the man from “Ethiopia” and yield themselves to Jesus to be “baptized” and “saved”.
Next time Luke shares, “when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip”, 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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