Text: Isaiah 53:7-8

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Introduction:

a.       Isaiah speaks of Jesus. Some prophesies are at times hard to interpret, but not this one.

Acts 8:32-35

32 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:

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

1.      The Meeting of Philip the Baptist Deacon and the Ethiopian Secretary of the Treasury

a.       Philip

1.      A deacon

Acts 6:3-6

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

2.      A evangelist 

Acts 21:8

And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

3.      Preached at the city of Samaria

Acts 8:5, 12

8 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

4.      Was led by the Lord to go to Gaza by way of Jerusalem.

Acts 8:26-27a

26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27    And he arose and went:…

b.      The Ethiopian eunuch

1.      From Ethiopia

2.      An eunuch (defined by Jesus Matthew 19:12)

3.      Head Treasure for the Queen of Ethiopia (Candace a title like Pharaoh)

4.      At Jerusalem to worship (most likely Passover or Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement)

5.      On his way home riding in a chariot, 

6.      Dedicated man, reading Isaiah the prophet

Acts 8:27-28

27 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,

28    Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

2.      The Encounter of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

a.       Arranged by God

Acts 8:29

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

b.      Asking the right Question

Acts 8:30

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

c.       The scripture

Acts 8:32

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:

d.      The eunuch answer

Acts 8:34

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

3.      The Preaching of Jesus 

a.       The Lamb of God

Isaiah 53:4-6

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

b.      The Response to the preaching of Jesus

Acts 8:36-37

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

c.       Baptism an act of obedience

Acts 8:38

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.

d.      The importance of one life

Acts 8:39

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

e.       Philip ends up in Caesarea

Acts 8:40

40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

4.      Closing

a.       The question - what doth hinder me? (Acts 8:36)

1.      Have you laid you sins on Jesus

2.      Have you followed Jesus in baptism