Day 15

Readings and Thoughts for Sunday, February 17, 2008

Acts 8:26-40 Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

When the angel of the Lord appears or speaks in Acts, people listen, even when the angel demands that you go out to a deserted road in the middle of the day, when nobody should be around.  Philip obeys.  When the angel says “Go over to that chariot” (Acts 8:29), Philip obeys again.  

Philip encounters a eunuch from Ethiopia, a court official of their queen.  In several popular Bible studies in recent years, much has been made of the man’s inferior status as a castrated male.  It has been argued that he could not have entered the temple in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 23:1) and could never have been fully part of the Jewish community, despite his obvious interest in their religion (as proved by his study of the Hebrew scriptures).  Notice, however, that the man is a court official, that he is reading (he can read!) in his chariot (he’s not walking!).  He is, perhaps, not so much a person of lowly status deserving of pity as someone of power and rank representing “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  First the gospel has spread to the Samaritans, now it is reaching even further out into the world.  Ancient historian Eusebius tells us that the Ethiopian returned home and further spread the gospel into Africa. Soon (in chapter 9), the gospel will reach the heart of the greatest enemy of the church, Saul.  

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Philip has no trouble interpreting the Hebrew scriptures to the man from Ethiopia and explaining the good news of Jesus Christ to him.  Coming to belief, the man asks to be baptized (water is miraculously found in the desert wilderness for this) and Philip is then teleported to Azotus (beam me up!), where he continues his preaching uninterrupted.  Amazingly, neither the Ethiopian nor Philip seem alarmed, confused, or upset by this sudden departure.  

Have you ever been asked a spiritual or Biblical question by a non-believer?  Were you able to give a good answer, or did you feel stumped?  What would you have to do to feel prepared for the next time someone asks you about what you believe?  

Day 14

Readings and Thoughts for Saturday, February 16, 2008

Acts 8:1b-3 Saul Persecutes the Church

“And the witnesses [to the stoning of Stephen] laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul (Luke 7:58).”  “And Saul approved of their killing him (Luke 8:1a).”  

We know nothing yet about this young man, Saul.  We do not know the source of his hatred for the church.  We do not know what kind of righteousness compels him to “drag off both men and women, committing them to prison (Luke 8:3).”  And while Saul is first mentioned here, we won’t learn any more about who he is or why he is important until chapter 9.  

Did you notice the language of this passage and the language I used in the previous paragraph?  “That day a severe persecution began against the church.”  This is the first time Luke has ever used this word to describe the followers of Jesus. Until now they have mostly referred to themselves as “the way.”  Right at the moment persecution begins in earnest; just as the first follower of Jesus has died in much the same manner as Jesus himself (forgiving his enemies), the community earns its own name.  

Saul began as the church’s most feared enemy, but within a few chapters we will learn that he has been specially chosen by God to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the gentiles (non-Jews).  

Have you ever had your opinion of someone completely reversed, for good or bad?  Was the adjustment hard to make?  

Acts 8:4-25 Philip Preaches in Samaria

The disciples have been scattered “throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria (Luke 8:1)” after the stoning of Stephen.  We should not really be surprised, for Jesus himself said “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Luke 1:8).”   The disciples are going just exactly where Jesus had said they would go, but who would have expected that it would be fear and persecution that would further their ministry?  This is another occasion in which God’s apparent non-intervention to help or protect the disciples actually works to spread his word further into the world.  

As you know from the parable of “the good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37) and from the story of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), Jews and Samaritans are not generally on good terms.  Actually they are closely related, and this is the source of much of their conflict.  Like Jews, Samaritans worship the God of Israel, understand themselves to be descended from Abraham, follow the laws of Moses, and are waiting for a Messiah.  But they are not fully part of the covenant community of Israel; they were considered by many Jews to be racially impure and religiously inferior.  They are neither fish nor fowl - not quite Jews, not quite gentile, either.  For Philip to be spreading the Gospel in Samaria is not only a geographical change, then, but a theological one.  For the first time, the message of Jesus is being spread intentionally beyond the community of Jews.  

Philip demonstrates the power of the apostles as he preaches, heals, and works wonders.  He is so successful that he attracts the attention of Simon, a magician.  To us, a magician is an entertainer who practices the art of illusion, but to ancients, a magician was more akin to a physician - someone to whom people might appeal for help or healing.  Magicians were thought to have the ability to manipulate spiritual power at will. Simon was both powerful and respected, and he liked it that way.  Seeing the miracles that Philip has accomplished and witnessing his great public support, Simon himself becomes convinced that Philip does indeed have amazing power (as well as the charisma to draw people to himself and to his message).  Perhaps wanting part of the action for himself, Simon agrees to be baptized.  When Peter and John follow Philip to Samaria and lay hands on the newly baptized (to give them the gift of the Holy Spirit), Simon offers them money to have this same power.  Peter sharply chastises him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! (Acts 8:20)”  

Wherever there is power, people seek ways to own and control that power.  Simon is not unusual in this respect.  But the passage reminds us that God’s activities in the world to save and heal are free gifts, not to be controlled or owned by anyone.

Have you ever bargained with God?  What was your side of the bargain? Have you ever been tempted to make a charitable gift in order to win God’s favor or help?