Sometimes in this life, even when you have a map, you can get lost. Sometimes you need your phone’s GPS to help out. A man in the bible got a little lost, but he got help that led him to the better of life’s final destinations. He was a man of great authority riding in a chariot under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians. He was over all of her nation’s treasures and was returning from Jerusalem. Philip, a Christian man, was ordered to overtake this chariot. For what reason, we don’t know yet in this story starting in Acts 8:26, but it seems the official was lost.
In Acts 8:30-35 we read, So Philip ran to him and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the scripture which he read was this:
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from this earth.”
34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?”
The official was indeed lost. Not on the road but in the bible, specifically the Old Testament book of Isaiah the prophet. That happens a lot. People, even with a map, GPS, or the bible get lost. Let’s see what Philip does in verse 35:
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
Philip used this opportunity to not only discuss the passage in Isaiah, but to share the good news (the gospel) with the official. How did the official respond? Read Acts 8:36-40 to find out:
36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
The official was taught the gospel, he responded by asking to be baptized for the remission of his sins, and Philip did so after the study. The official continued on his way rejoicing. Philip went to another place to help others who were lost.
The official chose to follow the directions given by Philip and chose one of the two destinations in life. He could have chosen the other and continued down life’s journey lost or later he may have diverted to being lost again.
