Think of the people in your congregation who provide this for children.
Just as the Spirit sent Philip to help the Ethiopian understand, God provides a family of faith to surround children and help them learn what they need for a growing and maturing faith. He is then referred to as “Philip the Evangelist” who had “four unmarried daughters who prophesied.”Ĭhildren can relate to the man from Ethiopia because they often hear preaching or read Scripture that they do not understand. We next read about Philip 20 years later when Paul stops in Caesarea on his way to Jerusalem ( Acts 21:8-9). He continues preaching in the area and finally settles in the town of Caesarea (88.5 kilometres/55 miles north-west of Jerusalem). Īs soon as they came up out of the water the Spirit took Philip away until Philip “finds himself” in the town of Azotus. It was the Ethiopian eunuch who requested to be baptised. Part of the good news that Philip shared must have included discussion about being baptised into King Jesus to become members of the forgiven people of God. His words aren’t recorded but he probably explained the whole context of Isaiah and connected the suffering and sacrificial lamb in Isaiah dying on behalf of the people in order to rescue them to the suffering and sacrificial death of Jesus who died on behalf of the people to rescue them. Philip went on to explain the good news of Jesus Christ.
When Philip ran up beside the chariot the eunuch was reading Isaiah 53:7-8 and he was confused by what he was reading. His chosen reading to pass the hours away was from the prophet Isaiah and he must have wondered about the servant lamb Isaiah was referring to. The Ethiopian was on his way home from Jerusalem. As a eunuch he must have been drawn to Isaiah’s writing because Isaiah talks about God’s acceptance of those, including eunuchs, who worship him ( Isaiah 56:3-5). It is interesting that he chose to read from Isaiah.
Ethiopian bible full#
The Ethiopian was probably a proselyte (a Gentile who has converted to Judaism) but would not have been allowed full privileges at the temple because he was a eunuch ( Deuteronomy 23:1). Be a teacher that children can trust to give straight answers. We want to encourage children to ask questions about God’s Word so never make a child feel it is not acceptable to ask. But, in that case, I would mention it to the parents after class so they can follow up at home if needed. If an older child was being genuinely curious (and not asking to seek attention) I would consider telling him or her that castration involves removing the testicles. For the older child I have just said that a eunuch is a man who has had an operation that makes him unable to father children. Special Note to Teachers: More than one teacher has been flustered when a child asks the completely natural question, “What is a eunuch?” For younger children I have just answered that a eunuch was a special servant to the queen and was not allowed to have girlfriends, wives or children. Men placed in charge of the living quarters, the harem in particular, were sometimes made eunuchs (castrated) but the term “eunuch” could also be used in a more general way for an official or officer. “Candace” was a title used for the leading woman of the country so the Ethiopian Eunuch would have had a very important and trusted position as “an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Queen. Philip’s first stop was Samaria where he taught many, including Simon the Sorcerer.Įthiopia probably refers to ancient Nubia which is present day southern Egypt and northern Sudan. This meant the good news of King Jesus spread out from Jerusalem to a wider and wider circle of people. Followers of Jesus, like Philip, began teaching people about Jesus wherever they went. The church first began in Jerusalem among the Jews but, following the Stoning of Stephen, a great persecution rose up against the followers of Jesus and they left Jerusalem in large numbers. Philip was a respected and faithful man who was one of the seven deacons first appointed in a congregation of disciples of Jesus. Click here for an overview of the Book of Acts
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