The Gospel Comforts Insufficient People

Acts 8:25-40

There was once a storm that caught a vessel off a rocky coast. As the story goes, it threatened to drive the boat and passengers towards dangerous rocks. If it did, there would be certain destruction. In the midst of the terror, one daring man, contrary to safety, went to the deck, to make his way to the bridge - where the helm was. He braved winds, waves, and tossing of the boat. Finally he got there and found the pilot tied to the helm steering the wheel, inch by inch, away from the rocks and back to open sea. The pilot saw the man and smiled. The daring passenger went below and said these comforting words: “I’ve seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled. All is well.” We all need that kind of comfort. We need to know that in the storms of life, those who have Christ as their pilot will escape destruction. Everyone is on the ship headed for that eternal destruction. Unless we have Christ as our pilot - as our savior, we will certainly perish.

Jesus exemplified the gospel of comfort. He said - come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Everywhere he went, he gave comfort and release to those who believed. Not only was the paralyzed man healed, but his sins were forgiven. The woman who bled 12 years was healed when she sought Jesus and clung on to him. Mary Magdalene was delivered from 7 demons. Zacchaeus was sick of all his sins, lies, and cheating. He was despised. But Christ dined with him - received him and forgave him. Jesus did this with his disciples too. Peter was an uncouth fisherman living a life of sin. He had little success in fishing - but Jesus told him to haul up his largest catch he realized Jesus was not ordinary. He knew how holy Jesus was and got sinful he was. But Jesus forgave him and received him as a disciple. All of us are sinful, but Christ assures believers that we are forgiven. This is the work of the gospel. It’s the only message that brings comfort to those who see their need for salvation. Today, we see Philip bring that comfort to someone who needed it. Firstly, he obeyed his all-sufficient LORD. Secondly, he loved this insufficient lord. Thirdly, he pursued suffering lives.

Firstly, he obeyed his all-sufficient LORD. After ministering in Samaria, showing love to historic enemies, Philip was directed by Christ elsewhere. And we see that he was responsive to God. Someone else needed the gospel. Verse 26 says, “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.” He was instructed to go to the desert road between Jerusalem and Gaza. He obeyed. When Peter and John left for Jerusalem, God’s plan for Philip was also to go elsewhere. God would send others to Samaria but Philip’s destination was a desert road. Christ was powerful. He knew how to grow his church and direct his people. He is all-sufficient and powerful. We learn that Philip -“he arose and went.” There, he was instructed by God again. Verse 29 - “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.” Philip was again responsive. In verse 30, Philip ran to the chariot and ministered to the Ethiopian eunuch. After he was done, God led him away again. He was responsive. Just as he was led to Samaria, and led away to Samaria; just as he was led to the desert road, he was led away from the desert road to Azotus. Verse 39 says, “the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip.” This is what Jesus himself did - he went from city to city, town to town, bringing the message of comfort. At times, he stayed longer - like with the children of Simon the Leper. He loved Lazarus, his friend; he spent time teaching Mary and Martha his sisters. Jesus was in the Galilee region, going everywhere, but he spent the most time in Capernaum. Paul did the same. He travelled to many places, but stayed longest in Ephesus - 2 years and 3 months, then next longest in Corinth - 18 months. Similarly with Peter and John in verse 25 - en route to Jerusalem, they preached in villages along the way. They were being responsive to God to bring words of comfort and salvation.

And we see that they were also courageous. Peter and John preached in the villages of Samaria, which had in the recent past, just rejected Jesus. This took courage. Same with Philip. He headed down to the road leading south from Jerusalem to Gaza and onwards to Africa. After Jerusalem and Judea, the gospel was preached in Samaria - bringing relief to the demon oppressed - and now was going to the uttermost parts of the earth. When he got there, he met this Ethiopian eunuch. Verse 27 - “behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship.” The word “behold” is not an expression of shock at something unexpected; rather it tells us there was a special but expected encounter. When we avail ourselves, God leads us, we expect to be used. Now it was a well-travelled road, so it wasn’t surprising there were people. But behold, there was a special and significant man. But this was a man that was troubled. He needed gospel comfort. Now, he was special in that he had great authority. He was the finance minister of the kingdom of Ethiopia. Technically, it was not Ethiopia but Meroë. These were the Nubian people. The queen of Meroë was called the Candace. Like the king of Egypt was called Pharaoh and the emperor of Rome was called Caesar. This was her title. We learn that he had come to Jerusalem to worship. Meaning, he was a God-fearer - a believer who hasn’t received circumcision - like believers who haven’t been baptized.

So how did Philip feel when instructed in verse 29 to go to this diplomatic chariot? Many would feel inadequate. But Philip brought the gospel to this Lord. To be finance minister, he had to be intelligent, trusted, and influential. He came to Jerusalem from Nubia - traveling by land in a chariot. This was 2000 kilometers. On unpaved roads, it would’ve taken 6 months one way. So he could leave for 1 year likely because he had his own cabinet of civil servants. Possibly, he twinned the worship with an official trip to see his counterpart. Whatever it was, he had an entourage. Verse 38 says he commanded the chariot to stop - which means he had people with him. He was not driving the chariot himself. He was also intelligent and rich. He was reading the scroll of Isaiah. It’s the largest scroll - being nearly 8 meters in length and copied by hand, It was expensive. Not many could own one. And he could read Hebrew - not just his native Nubian. And he spoke to Philip - the Jewish deacon with a Greek name - likely in Greek. Now, possibly his Isaiah copy was the Greek translation.

And he was also strange - at least to a Jew in those times. Nubians were different in appearance and a rare sight in Judea. He was also a eunuch. Philip’s only commonality with him was their similar occupation - both were treasurers. Both worshipped God, except Philip believed Jesus, but the eunuch had not. So here was Philip running after and talking to this great and powerful Lord in obedience to his all-sufficient LORD. How responsive are we to bring the gospel of peace to those who need it? Even powerful people. Most of us don’t know such people, but some of you do. And we may not be bold - but boldness comes by God’s grace. When we are obedient to God, when we love, when we dare to attempt, God gives us boldness.

And here secondly, we see Philip loving that insufficient Lord. Yes, he was rich, powerful, and smart - but he was troubled. When Philip approached, he heard him reading Isaiah. Verse 30 - “And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?” He asked if he understood. God had led him to this person. He was not a Jew. He was not even a Samaritan - a half Jew. He was a Nubian - a non Jew. He was not the Samaritan woman - but this eunuch was not even a man. But he was a soul needing comfort. Philip was asking if he understood the significance of what he read. And the eunuch showed confusion - how can I, except someone explain it to me? One of the themes of Isaiah was the comfort that God would give to sinners through his servant. But here, the eunuch was reading Isaiah 53 and he was stumped. Acts 8:32-33 say, “The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.” He didn’t understand this. How could that servant of God give comfort if he was put to death?

Now, why was he reading Isaiah? I believe there was turmoil in his heart. The book of Isaiah speaks about how in the last days, the Ethiopians will be welcome into the kingdom of God through that servant. All people would be. But he wasn’t welcome in Jerusalem. We can know this. It took him 6 months to travel. He was a Gentile but he feared God - he worshiped the only living and true God. But as soon as he got to the temple, he couldn’t worship. He couldn’t bring an offering. He could only stay outside the temple. He came so close, but yet he was still so far. For Gentiles, they were able to enter the Court of the Gentiles. But the temple guardsmen had clear instructions to run through with the sword anyone who dared to cross the middle wall of partition. Josephus the historian described this wall. It was made of pillars. In the year 1871, excavations on the temple mount found one of the pillars. Today, it’s in a museum in Istanbul. On it was inscribed these fragmented words in Greek - “No man of another nation, to enter within the fence and enclosure round the temple, and whosoever is caught will have himself to blame that his death ensues.”

But the eunuch could not even enter as the Courts of the Gentiles. Even if he was circumcised and became a Jew, he could also still not enter. He came to worship, but could not worship. Why? It’s because he was a eunuch. Deuteronomy 23:1 forbade any castrated man from entering into the congregation of the Lord - “He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.” He was wounded in his stones - as a eunuch. He was imperfect. And that’s why, he had no access to God. In the Old Testament, the temple taught that only perfect people could have access to God. Clean hands and pure hearts! Now how do you think he felt? The turmoil in his heart to go to worship, to offer a sacrifice for his sins, and not being able to - never being able to. In all areas of his life, he was that intelligent, powerful, capable, and rich man - but here at the temple, he was insufficient. How could he ever be accepted by God? And so when he read Isaiah 53 about a savior who would take the sins of the people, he asked Philip in verse 34 - “please please tell me - who is Isaiah speaking about?”

And so Philip showed theLORD’s compassion to this Lord. He explained. Now, it’s very encouraging to know that half the work was done. The eunuch saw the poverty of his spirit and was humble to ask. Not everyone wants comfort. God had prepared the heart of this man to hear. We learn in verse 35 - “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” He preached Jesus. He wanted him to understand that the Old Testament pointed to Christ. In fact, you can only understand it in Christ. Christ is the cipher. Now, we’re not told exactly what Philip explained, but verse 34 says he began at the same Scripture. So he started at Isaiah 53 and continued from there. And in chapter 54 Isaiah introduces a new kingdom for the people of God. Chapter 55 gives an invitation to all people in the world to be part of this kingdom. And chapter 56 gives hope to all eunuchs. It says that all foreigners and eunuchs who were before excluded could now become the people of God because of Christ. He’s the perfect one - only he can enter into the presence of God - but anyone who believes in him has the same access. Verse 3-5 - “neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.” So there was this promise - I will give him a place in my temple, in my house. He was physically broken - it made him insufficient. We’re also all broken - insufficient because our sins make us outcasts. We’re unfit. But by Christ, God has purged our imperfections. And instead of the temple at Jerusalem, God has raised up another house, that those who were on the outside, can now become family members of God through Christ. And what a comfort for that eunuch. So having been catechized and taught further, he was baptized at a desert oasis. Philip’s compassion and love for souls caused him to preach Christ to bring comfort to one who knew his insufficiency.

Thirdly, he pursued other suffering lives. In verse 39, when they came out of the oasis, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more. Having completed that work, Philip was teleported to Azotus, in verse 40. And there, he traveled to Caesarea, preaching the gospel in all the cities between. He went to Gentile lands. From the Jews, to the Greek-speaking Jews, to the half-Jews, to the God-fearing non-Jews - and now to Azotus, or Ashdod - one of the cities of Gaza which was inhabited by pagans. What would he do? He’d do the same thing. As a deacon, he’d comfort those who were lacking, as an evangelist, he’d bring the gospel to comfort sinners. Yes, he went here and there, but he did eventually settle down. He stayed and he taught. Philip stayed in Caesarea for a long time. In Acts 21:8 we find him still there - doing the work there. Soon enough we will learn of Cornelius being converted - his entire household being baptized. With all his invited guests, Philip had his hands full. These weren’t half-catechized like the Samaritans and the eunuch, these had to be further grounded. He had to do the full on work of spending time to teach and point them to Christ. He preached to pagan people. It was a family ministry - his 4 daughters taught.

Dearly beloved, what are some lessons we can glean from our passage? Firstly, all of us are insufficient. We are like that eunuch needing the comfort of Christ. Our children need it, our elderly need it, our people who are struggling with sin needed it afresh. But are we too proud or busy to admit it? You know there’s something that’s not quite right in your lives. Some of you know exactly what it is. But you haven’t come to Christ for relief. You just trudge along ignoring it’s there. Admitting a struggle is not shameful. The eunuch - as important he was, as high in station he was, he humbled himself to admit he didn’t understand. He was willing to ask a man running beside his chariot. Unless you seek help, there can be no comfort. Find yourself a Philip.

But secondly, are you willing to give that comfort? To speak that gospel to people who need it? It’s not just unbelievers but believers. Are you prepared to point some to Christ? You know an unbeliever who needs the gospel. Right now, you know someone in church that needs that comfort. Are you responsive to God to be led to minister to them? This requires effort. Perhaps what we need to do is to pray and to respond to that prompting. When we respond, the Lord gives boldness. And it takes time. Running after a chariot is one thing, but going the long haul with someone requires patience. Philip stayed on in Caesarea.

Thirdly, we are to be bold and patient. There are those who are strange - to us. There may be those who are difficult people, sensitive and easily offended people, prickly and spicy people. People of higher or lower stations. But we mustn’t be respecter of persons. No one is better than anyone else. All are insufficient. Philip ministered to the Samaritans - outcastes. He ministered to the eunuch - high class. Powerful people need Jesus too. Therefore, God’s people need to deal with their prejudices. John - the son of thunder - had be less spicy. Philip had to be bold. Yes, it’s easy to minister to someone who’s prepared to listen like the eunuch. But not everyone’s like that. It’s not their problem it’s ours. What are our prejudices? A person’s skin color? His education? His code of conduct? Perhaps we need to be reminded afresh of what we are. The sooner we see ourselves as unclean people who have been counted clean, we can be the kinds of comforters God wants us to be. As children of the king, why can’t we speak to the Candaces of this world?

Fourthly, we can only be comforted fully by Christ. Many of us are seeking what the eunuch had - position, honor, power, intelligence, closeness to the Candaces of our time. But he was concerned about acceptance by God. Dearly beloved - young and old - what do you care about? Some of you wish for security in your work and business - Christ and his church come second. Some of you wish for distinction - your position as a child of God is not enough. Some of you wish for closeness to important people - as if the Son of Man sitting on his throne is not sufficient. Never forget that he left his throne above so that God may bless us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Never forget that he suffered great anguish and humiliation so that we'd be made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ. If the magi would come thousands of kilometers to worship a baby bringing gifts that were priceless, if a tax collector would leave behind his table and wealth to follow him, if a ruler of Israel would come to him by night, if a centurion would declare him to be the son of God, if the Chief finance minister can submit to him, what is so aching in the world that prevents you from coming to him to receive comfort and everlasting joy? Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden & I will give you rest.