Missionary Work at Home and Abroad
59
Verse 14
. The Spirit of God was waiting to enlighten souls and convert
them to the truth.
Notice how much effort was put forth for just one man, an
Ethiopian. “The angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise,
and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem
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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 thyself to this
chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet
Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 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....
“Then Philip ...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 doth hinder me to be
baptized? 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.
“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.
“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. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing
through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.”
Acts
8:26-40
.
In the experience of Philip and the Ethiopian is presented the work
to which the Lord calls His people. The Ethiopian represents a large
class who need missionaries like Philip, missionaries who will hear
the voice of God and go where He sends them. There are those in
the world who are reading the Scriptures, but who cannot understand
their import. The men and women who have a knowledge of God are
needed to explain the word to these souls.
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