212
The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
The Lord now sent his angel to Philip, directing him to cross the
desert and go to Gaza. “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.” The eunuch, in his blindness, had
been groping for light. He believed the Scriptures, but could not
fully understand them. He therefore went a journey to Jerusalem to the
temple. Hungering and thirsting for knowledge, he laid his perplexities
before the priests and scribes; but he was still more mystified than
[304]
before by their interpretations of scripture. He prayed fervently for
light and knowledge, and God heard his prayer, and sent his angel to
Philip, bidding him go to Gaza for the purpose of preaching Christ to
a single soul that hungered and thirsted for the truth.
The eunuch had heard at Jerusalem various conflicting reports in
regard to Jesus of Nazareth. His mind was troubled upon the subject.
He had a copy of the Scriptures with him, and was diligently studying
the prophecies in reference to the Messiah, when Philip met him. They
were strangers; but the mind of Philip was impressed that this was the
man who needed his help. Philip, walking by the side of the chariot,
inquired of the eunuch if he understood the prophecies he was reading.
He answered that he needed instruction, and invited Philip to take a
seat beside him.
The scripture he was studying was
Isaiah 53:7
. Philip understood
the desire of his heart, and preached unto him Jesus Christ revealed
in prophecy, and his mission to the earth to save sinners. He showed
him the steps necessary to take in conversion—repentance toward
God because of transgression of the Father’s law, faith in Christ as the
Saviour of men, and baptism in the likeness of his death. The eunuch’s
heart was all ready to receive the light and truth, and he accepted with
gladness the gospel preached by Philip.
“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? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou
[305]
mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God.” The answer of the eunuch was prompt and decided. He
commanded the chariot to be stopped, “and they went down both into
the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when