Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

 I love the story in Acts 8—it’s so full of layers. There’s something about how God’s plan unfolds in the most unexpected ways that always catches me. Philip is just going about his day, and then God says, "Go south to the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza." Philip doesn’t ask questions—he just goes. It’s one of those moments where God’s direction doesn’t always make sense at first, but Philip follows, trusting. And that’s the thing. We often don’t know why we’re being led somewhere, but God’s purpose is bigger than we realize.

As Philip is walking down the road, he spots the Ethiopian eunuch, who’s sitting in his chariot, reading from the scroll of Isaiah. Now, this eunuch is interesting for a lot of reasons. He’s from Ethiopia, he’s a court official, and he’s obviously a person of stature. But there’s also a weight to his story—he’s a eunuch, which means he’s someone who, according to Jewish law, would have been considered ceremonially unclean and excluded from full participation in temple worship (Deuteronomy 23:1). But here he is, traveling all the way to Jerusalem to worship. That speaks volumes about his hunger for God and his desire to connect with the divine, even though there was a cultural and spiritual barrier that separated him.

And then, the Spirit tells Philip to "go near" the chariot and stay close to it. The word "stay near" in Greek (προσεγγίζω – prosegizo) means to draw near with purpose. It’s not just about being physically close—it’s about being present, with intention. Philip is drawn into the eunuch’s world in a way that’s not just about proximity but about understanding the moment.

Now, this is where the story gets really beautiful. Philip, walking alongside this chariot, hears the eunuch reading out loud from Isaiah 53—the famous passage about the suffering servant. And Philip, probably catching his breath from running to catch up, asks, "Do you understand what you are reading?" In the Greek, when the eunuch responds, "How can I unless someone explains it to me?" (Acts 8:31), the word "explain" (ἐξηγέομαι – exēgeomai) means to bring something to light, to lead someone to understanding. It's a word that suggests not just passing on information, but opening someone’s eyes to deeper truth. And that's exactly what happens here. The eunuch is seeking, but he needs help. He's reading, but he’s missing the connection between the prophecy and its fulfillment in Jesus.

Philip then climbs up into the chariot and starts explaining the Scripture, showing the eunuch that the passage he’s reading is about Jesus, the one who suffered for all of humanity. Can you imagine how that must have felt to the eunuch? To suddenly realize that this person he was reading about, this "suffering servant," wasn’t just some distant figure but the very one who came to bridge the gap between him and God? It’s such a pivotal moment. For the eunuch, it’s like the whole Bible suddenly makes sense. All that longing, all that searching, finds its fulfillment in Jesus.

And then, after this revelation, the eunuch, full of joy and understanding, asks to be baptized. And here’s where it gets really cool. The word for "baptize" (βαπτίζω – baptizo) means to immerse, to be completely submerged. It’s about being fully changed, about walking away from the old and stepping into the new. The eunuch, after hearing the gospel, doesn’t just want to understand; he wants to be transformed.

What’s incredible here is the eunuch’s boldness. He’s in the middle of nowhere—on a desert road, away from Jerusalem, away from any official places of worship—and yet he sees water and says, "What’s stopping me from being baptized?" That’s a moment of pure faith. It’s like he’s saying, "If this truth is real, I’m in."

Philip baptizes him, and the very next moment, the Spirit of the Lord carries Philip away, and the eunuch goes on his way rejoicing. The word for "rejoicing" (χαρά – chara) here is profound—it’s not just happiness, it’s an inner, deep joy that comes from knowing you’ve been completely changed. The eunuch’s life is transformed, and he walks away filled with this unshakable joy that comes from understanding who Jesus is.

The story closes with Philip being found in Azotus¹, and the eunuch continuing on his way, no longer an outsider but someone who is now part of the family of God. There’s this beautiful sense of mission being accomplished. Philip, through simple obedience, becomes part of something that’s much bigger than himself. And the eunuch, through his openness and willingness to learn, steps into a new identity in Christ.

In the end, Acts 8 is a beautiful picture of how God works in unexpected ways—leading Philip to a person who was seeking, guiding him to a place where the gospel could be shared, and through one simple act of obedience, transforming a life. The eunuch goes back to Ethiopia, undoubtedly sharing the good news, and we don’t even know how far that seed of faith would spread. It’s a story of trust, transformation, and the far-reaching power of the gospel.

For us today, there’s a parallel here. We may not have the same supernatural transportation as Philip did, but we do have the opportunity to be "carried" by the Spirit into the lives of people who are searching—whether it’s through a conversation, a relationship, or a moment of vulnerability. Philip didn’t force the gospel on the eunuch; he was sensitive to the Spirit’s guidance and spoke when the opportunity arose. That’s what we are called to do as well.

It’s easy to feel like we have to have all the answers or make some big dramatic effort, but Philip’s example shows us that often, it’s about being faithful in the small moments. It’s about listening, understanding where someone is coming from, and meeting them where they are. Like when Philip ran to catch up with the chariot—he was there, present, with an openness to what God was doing in that very moment. We, too, can be that presence for others, just by being available to listen, to share the love of Christ when we see someone searching, or simply by offering a word of encouragement.

And think about the eunuch’s response. After hearing the gospel, he didn’t hesitate—he wanted to take that next step, to be baptized, to publicly declare his new identity in Christ. That’s something we can help others understand too: that responding to the gospel is not just about intellectual assent but about transformation. When we help others come to Christ, we’re helping them step into something completely new, offering them a new identity, a new joy, and a new hope.

The beauty of this story is that the work didn’t end with the eunuch’s conversion. He went on his way, rejoicing, no longer an outsider, but part of the family of God. And that’s how we can see our role today—not just in sharing the gospel but in helping others become carriers of that message too. We can guide them, equip them, and watch them go on to share that same joy with the world around them.

In our own daily lives, whether through a small act of kindness, an open conversation about faith, or sharing our own story of transformation, we can play the same role as Philip. Just as he was used to bring someone into the fold, we are invited to be part of the ongoing work of God, seeing the Kingdom grow one person at a time.

1The name "Azotus" is the Greek form of the Hebrew name "Ashdod," which was one of the cities the Philistines had controlled and is mentioned in various Old Testament accounts, such as in the story of the Ark of the Covenant being captured by the Philistines (1 Samuel 5).