The Ethiopian Eunuchs Conversion, Commentary on Acts 8
The Ethiopian EVNVCHS Conuerſion.
ACTS 8.26, 27, &c.
AND the Angell of the Lord ſpake vntounto Philip, ſaying, ariſe and goe towards the South, vntounto the way that goeth down from Ieruſalem to Gaza, which is deſert.
27 And he aroſe and went, and behold a man of Ethiopia, an Eunuch of great authority, vnderunder Candace, Queene of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treaſure, came to Ieruſalem to worſhip.
28 And ſitting in his Chariot, he read Eſayas the Prophet.
29 Then the Spirit ſaid to Philip, goe neere and ioyne thy ſelfe to this Chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him reade Eſayas the Prophet, and ſaid, vnderſtandeſt thou what thou readeſt?
31 And hee ſaid, how can I without a guide? and hee deſired Philip that be would come vp and ſit with him.
32 The place of Scripture that he read, was this: He was led as a Sheepe to the ſlaughter, and like a Lamb dumb before the Shearer, ſo opened he not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation, his iudgement was taken away, and who ſhall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the Eunuch anſwered Philip, and ſayd, I pray thee, of whom ſpeaketh the Prophet this? of himſelfe, or of ſome other man?
35 And Philip opened his mouth, and began at the ſame Scripture, and preached vntounto him Ieſus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came vntounto a certaine water. And the Eunuch ſaid, ſee here is water. What doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip ſaid, if thou beleeueſt with all thy heart, thou maiſt. And he anſwered and ſayd, I beleeue that Ieſus is the Sonne of God.
38 And hee commanded the Chariot to ſtand ſtill, and they went downe into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch, and hee Baptized him.
39 And when they were come out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the Eunuch ſaw him no more, and hee went on his way reioycing.
IN theſe words now read, to the end of this Chapter, is ſet forth the Hiſtory of a certaine Ethiopian that came to Ieruſalem to worſhip, and therein how God in mercy did conuey the knowledge of the Goſpell, and ſo of Ieſus Chriſt, vntounto the Gentiles, and that by the miniſtery of Philip.
And the firſt fruits of the ſame, is this Eunuch, or great Noble man, being Lord Treaſurer to the great Queene Candace, Queene of the Ethiopians.
The Hiſtory hath in it
1 The Preface or Introduction into the Hiſtory.
2 The Hiſtory it ſelfe.
The Preface hath in it
1 The Angels meſſage or command vntounto Philip, v. 26.
2 Philips obedience, v. 27.
The Hiſtory it ſelfe deſcribeth vntounto vsus,
1 The Ethiopian with his adiuncts:
2. Philip with his Miniſtery, and the effects thereof.
The Ethiopian deſcribed.
1 By his perſon, (Eunuch.)
2 Country, (Ethiopian.)
3 Office, (Lord Treaſurer.)
4 Religion, (came to Ieruſalem to worſhip.)
Whoſe religion, or religious diſpoſition is further commended,
1 By his diligence in reading the Scriptures, loſing no time, therein, but euen in his Chariot, he read the ſame, v. 28.
2 By deſiring Philip further to inſtruct him in the knowledge of Chriſt, v. 31.
Philip his Miniſtery deſcribed.
1 By asking him a queſtion, and Catechiſing him, v. 30.
2 By preaching and expounding the ſame Scripture, v. 35.
3 By Baptizing him, v. 38.
4 By the effects of his Miniſtery, Conuerſion and ioy, v. 39.