Story 62 · Ages 6–12
Philip and the Ethiopian - Sharing Good News
Philip tells an Ethiopian official about Jesus and baptizes him.
Philip was one of the seven men chosen to help in the early church. He had been preaching the good news about Jesus in Samaria, and amazing things were happening! Many people were being healed and set free from evil spirits, and the whole city was filled with great joy! But then an angel of the Lord gave Philip a surprising instruction: "Go south to the road - the desert road - that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This was an unusual command! Philip was leaving a successful ministry in a city full of people to go to a lonely desert road. But Philip obeyed immediately.
The story
As Philip traveled along the desert road, he saw a chariot in the distance. In the chariot sat an important Ethiopian official - a eunuch who was in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means "queen") of Ethiopia! This was a very powerful and wealthy man! He had traveled all the way from Ethiopia to Jerusalem - a journey of more than a thousand miles - to worship God! Now he was heading home, sitting in his chariot and reading from a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
The Holy Spirit spoke to Philip: "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Philip ran up to the chariot, and as he got closer, he could hear the Ethiopian reading aloud from the scroll. The words were from Isaiah chapter 53: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth."
Philip called out, "Do you understand what you're reading?" The Ethiopian looked down at Philip with a puzzled expression. "How can I," he said honestly, "unless someone explains it to me?" Then this important official did something remarkable - he invited Philip to come up and sit with him in the chariot! Here was a humble man who wanted to learn, even though he was powerful and rich!
The Ethiopian asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about - himself or someone else?" This was the perfect opportunity! The passage the Ethiopian was reading was one of the most beautiful prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament! It described how Jesus would suffer and die for our sins!
Philip's heart was full of excitement as he began to explain! Starting with that very passage of Scripture, Philip told him the good news about Jesus! He explained how Jesus was the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world. He told about how Jesus was crucified, even though He was innocent, to pay the price for our sins. He shared how Jesus rose from the dead and now offers eternal life to all who believe in Him!
The Ethiopian listened eagerly, his heart opening to the truth about Jesus! As they traveled along the road, the chariot came to some water - probably an oasis in the desert. The Ethiopian pointed to the water and said with excitement, "Look! Here is water! What can stand in the way of my being baptized?" He wanted to follow Jesus right away!
Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." The Ethiopian declared, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!" He ordered the chariot to stop right there! Both Philip and the Ethiopian went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. What a joyful moment! This man from Ethiopia, who had traveled so far searching for God, had found the truth about Jesus on a desert road!
When they came up out of the water, something miraculous happened! The Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away! The Ethiopian didn't see him anymore - Philip just disappeared! But the Ethiopian wasn't sad or confused. Instead, he went on his way rejoicing! His heart was full of joy because he had found Jesus! And tradition tells us that this Ethiopian official brought the good news about Jesus back to his own country, becoming one of the first missionaries to Africa!
Meanwhile, Philip appeared at a town called Azotus, about twenty miles away! From there, he traveled along the coast, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. God had used Philip in a powerful way, and Philip was ready for whatever God wanted him to do next!
This story teaches us beautiful lessons about sharing our faith! First, we should be ready to obey God even when His instructions seem unusual. Philip left a successful ministry to go to a desert road - and there he met one man who needed to hear about Jesus! God's ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best! Second, we should be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. Philip listened when the Spirit told him to approach the chariot. Sometimes God puts someone in our path who needs to hear about Jesus - we need to be paying attention!
Third, we should be ready to explain the gospel to anyone who asks! Philip was prepared to share about Jesus from the Scriptures. We should know God's Word well enough to share it with others! Fourth, we shouldn't judge people or think they're "too different" to care about Jesus. The Ethiopian was from a different country, a different culture, and had a different background - but he was hungry for truth! Fifth, God can use one conversation to change someone's life forever! Philip's willingness to share led to the Ethiopian finding Jesus and possibly taking the gospel to an entire nation!
Remember this
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
What did we learn?
Are you ready to share the good news about Jesus with someone who needs to hear it? You might not disappear miraculously like Philip did, but God can use you to bring someone to Jesus! Keep learning about Jesus from the Bible, listen to the Holy Spirit's promptings, and be ready to share when God gives you opportunities. You never know - your simple act of sharing Jesus might change someone's life forever!
Big idea: beautiful lessons about sharing our faith!