Philip baptizes an Ethiopian Eunuch on the road to Africa. Egypt claims even earlier Christian visitors: Jesus and his parents, who fled to Egypt to escape the murderous King Herod (Matthew 2:13-18). It also produced some variations deemed heretical by early councils, including Arianism, Monophysitism, Nestorianism, and Donatism. 4:16-17). It was south of Egypt and was a mercantile kingdom that brought goods from the sea trade by caravan north through Israel, Damascus, and Syria. Was Philip transported miraculously after the Ethiopian was baptized? This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Ethiopian eunuchs story starts out with an angel of the Lord telling Philip to travel along the desert road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is similar to v.26 at the beginning of the account where an angel told Philip to go to the road to Gaza. Learn how your comment data is processed. Shine a little light on it. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. Copyright 2001 by the author or Christianity Today/Christian History magazine.Click here for reprint information on Christian History. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. God bless u all! So grab your Bible, notebook, and a cup of coffee or tea, and lets dig deep into the Scriptures to learn more about the Ethiopian eunuch! It was a sudden and miraculous departure that only the Spirit of the Lord can do! The shortest route between Jerusalem and Ethiopia is 2,480.14 mi (3,991.39 km) according to the route planner. Did Jesus use any of His divine power when He was on earth? 6. 3 In this 33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. He undoubtedly had a very devoted and dedicated heart that was seeking after a true relationship with God. Philip travels in the area, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea (8:40). In both cases someone is suddenly moved away from where they were it is as though someone has seized them. We need the same type of mentorship in our spiritual lives. We have no clue). Distance from Jerusalem to Gaza is 6,069 kilometers. 34The eunuch asked Philip, Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?35Then Philip beganwith that very passage of Scriptureand told him the good newsabout Jesus. For it says the Eunuch could not see him [Philip] anymore. Welcome! How long was the road from Jerusalem to Gaza? The verse says, And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:39ESV). Enoch lived a life that showed the confidence that remained in his heart. Sign up for our newsletter: (The road from Jerusalem to Gaza is 50 miles long, and also results in the primary coastal trade route mosting likely to Egypt.) You can discover a new path for living. Finally he is directed by the Spirit to approach the chariot carrying the Ethiopian Eunuch. Yet, the Ethiopian eunuch didnt wait until he was back at home to get baptizedhe saw water in the desert and took the opportunity to get right with God immediately. Yet this didnt intimidate Philip, and he had enough boldness to ask the eunuch,Do you understand what you are reading? (Verse 30). How long is the flight from Ethiopia to Israel? If you read verses 27 through 29, you get a quick glimpse about this Ethiopian eunuchhe was in charge of the treasury for the queen of the Ethiopians, he was reading the book of Isaiah, and he was on his way back from Jerusalem. Id like to believe Philip was taken away by supernatural means. Acts 8:26 -39 (NKJV) shares the tale of Philip satisfying the Ethiopian eunuch: Currently an angel of the Lord spoke with Philip, stating, Occur as well as go towards the south along the roadway which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is desert. Copyright 2021 WHOLLYHEARTED. Eunuch is a term used to define a male whose testicles have not created, been ruined or eliminated. How Far Did The Ethiopian Eunuch Travel To Jerusalem. I so wish that Jesus may miraculously transport ministers so they could not be lords over Gods heritage, building their kingdoms. In Biblical times Ethiopia encompassed the territory of what we now see as Ethiopia, as well as Sudan and Somalia. Many of their miracles are recorded in the book of Acts: many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles (Acts 2:43ESV). Required fields are marked *. He was most likely a black man. This is also the same word that is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 referring to what most call the rapture. Big thanks . God, who knew this mans heart, had already decided to intervene. How did the people of Ethiopia respond to his preaching? He did not understand what the Prophet was saying. As explained above, just because the Lord suddenly took Philip away doesnt necessarily mean that miraculous transport was involved. The Ethiopian eunuch was around 40 years old when he was converted. M4i:?y_d%HeqmVP5#'m6yfe.6X+ w>JTAfl He is an amazing, Biblical example of what it means to seek after God wholeheartedly, so we wanted to do a deep dive into Acts 8: 26-39 for todays Bible study. How many are there, and which one is Jesus in? How many miles did Jesus walk during his ministry? Glorious is the church that walks rejoicing after believing in the Lord than waiting on the man of God to come back and preach, again and again. What was Philips job before he met Jesus? Immediately after coming out of the water, the Spirit caught Philip away. Philip asks for a spoken affirmation of his faith and upon hearing that he now believes Jesus is the Messiah, the prophetic fulfillment of Isaiahs writings, he promptly baptizes the Eunuch in the water. This was unknown to the outside world until the 18th century, the Ethiopian believers proclaimed the message, because one man heard from God and left a revival to walk along a desert road. Honestly, many of us are ready to be the Philip in other peoples lives. This explanation is very reasonable. Its easy to gloss over the fact that this man had become a eunuch for the purpose of serving the queen, but this is actually one of the first clues we get about his characterthis man was wholehearted in whatever he did. If you continue reading it says that Philip found himself at Azotus. He is not told why, but he knew enough to obey when God so ordered. I at least better have a confirmation to personally meet him! Sometimes its easy to read through the Scriptures and use them as a power thought or motivational quote for the day, but we can fail to actually implement what we learn in our everyday lives. Distance from Jerusalem to Ethiopia The shortest distance (air line) between Jerusalem and Ethiopia is 1,598.32 mi (2,572.24 km). Zipporah is mentioned for the last time when she, her sons, and her father join Moses at Mount Horeb (Exod. 36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, Look, here is water. There is an interesting quotation in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia that states, The Sabean inscriptions found in Abyssinia go back some 2,600 years and give a new value to the Bible references as well as to the constant claim of Josephus that the queen of Sheba (Saba), was a Queen of Ethiopia.. Private devotion, community service, and entertainment arent what the local congregation is for. The verse says, And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing (Acts and as a lamb before its shearer is silent. Yes i belief this because if ungodly men normally do so how much more believers. During the early life of Moses there was an ongoing battle which was finally won by Moses as general of the Egyptian Army. A eunuch of either kind is not to be judged as a rebellious son (see Deut. Some believe that it was miraculous. The eunuch, we are informed, is an Ethiopian authorities that has travelled to Jerusalem to prayer and is now going back to Ethiopia (vv. However Christianity came to Alexandria, it quickly grew strong. If he was willing to give his whole heart to his job, surely he could give his whole heart to God. Philip works his way north along the coastal road that runs through the coastal plain. The Ethiopian eunuch was a court official of Queen Candace. LEARN MORE. (LogOut/ Basically, this man wasnt just some basic guyhe had access to some of the most influential people in his country. Instead, with humility, he says, How can I, unless someone explains it to me? (Verse 31). The story of this event is recorded by Dr. Luke in Acts 8:26. Answer: That anyone can be used by God to spread the gospel no matter their background or circumstances. Wholly Hearted is a Christian blog that wants you to be inspired by Gods word and love Him wholeheartedly through insightful Bible studies. What did Jesus mean when He said He would not eat the Passover again until it was fulfilled in the kingdom of God (Lk. 26, 36), and, after his conversion, he advances his way ( , v. He later on was informed by an angel of the Lord to go to the roadway between Jerusalem as well as Gaza. WebThis Eunuch returned to his land, and began to spread abroad the news that the awaited Messiah had come and fulfilled the Prophetic writings and that salvation was the gift of God And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. So they went is opposite directions. Second, he was a Gentile, and at best could have only entered the Court of the Gentiles, but that too was now unattainable. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away,and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. for less than $4.25/month. Your email address will not be published. How Far Did The Ethiopian Eunuch Travel To Jerusalem by Arna Bee February 8, 2021 According to the Bible the Ethiopian eunuch travelled a great distance to The Bible says that, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away (Acts 8:39). The tradition produced such spiritual giants as Origen, Antony, and Augustine. We hope youll come back again and again! Acts 5:19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying, Acts 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks (Acts 23:10). What did the Ethiopian Eunuch do after being baptized? Questions are good! Think about it As was mentioned before, the Ethiopian eunuch had access to things that the average person back then didnt. The Scriptures say that the Ethiopian eunuch was an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (and if youre using the 1984 NIV, it says, in charge of all the treasury of Candance, queen of the Ethiopians). This seems minor, but if you did an initial, full reading of Acts 8:26-39, you know that the Ethiopian eunuch ended up being taught the true gospel message and he responded to that message by becoming a true Christian and getting baptized. The air travel (bird fly) shortest distance between Jerusalem and Gaza is 6,069 km= 3,771 miles. 26 8). How Far Did The Ethiopian Eunuch Travel To Jerusalem, Quick Answer: How Far Did Philip Travel In Acts 8, Question: Why Do Ethiopian Look Different, How Does The Travel Charger Work For Philip Sonic Care, Quick Answer: What Do Ethiopian People Look Like, Quick Answer: When Will Ethiopian Airlines Resume International Flights, How Long Does It Take To Renew Ethiopian Passport In Usa. The word,Ethiopia Acts 8:37 Context And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? The apostle is said to have been martyred by flaying and beheading at the command of the Armenian king Astyages. We all should imitate his heart! It was the ancestor of Ethiopia. After the episode recorded in the first part of this chapter, Peter and John stay in this city of Samaria for an apparently short time. Philips sudden departure meant that the Ethiopian was unable to thank or reward Philip for his help. eunuch, castrated human male. From remote classical times, eunuchs were employed between East and in China in two primary functions: as guards as well as servants in harems or various other ladiess quarters, and also as chamberlains to kings. WebEthiopian Eunuch The. What did Philip tell the Ethiopian eunuch? At work, we all have mentors or peers that help us grow and flourish in our careers. Clearly the txt says, ethiopian did not see philip. This actually gives us the biggest clue as to how devoted this guy was: Despite all of the hurdles, the eunuch made it a point to go to the temple to worship in person. 26 8). Im a super huge Tom Hanks fan and have seen practically every movie of his, can quote the entire Forrest Gump movie, and nearly cried when we and Rita Wilson tested positive for the coronavirus. The eunuch responded to the Gospel message immediately and took action. Required fields are marked *. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Scripture index Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. But I dont ever plan on running across country to stand outside a Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant that Tom Hanks is eating at. Where did Philip go after he baptized the Ethiopian? 29The Spirit toldPhilip, Go to that chariot and stay near it.. The eunuch had been to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home. Gaza is also mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as the place where Samson was imprisoned and met his death. This is a prophecy concerning the Judgment and Crucifixion of Jesus. 39 0 obj <> endobj Philip works his way north along the coastal road that runs through the coastal plain. How long did it take Jesus to walk from Nazareth to Jerusalem? Perhaps he used his influence to convert many high ranking officials to the true gospel message, and those influential people went on to convert others. By this journey of his, he wished to show them all (how he would act): so far were they from being earnest in this matter. Instead, the eunuch was very humble in his response and admitted that he needed someone to teach him. These Wise Men were likely from Persia, from the court there in Susa. Philip preached the gospel to him and he was baptised. %PDF-1.5 % Scripture after scripture is paved with examples of those who are truly humble, compared with those that are not. Required fields are marked *. [While this post is about the Ethiopian eunuch, I do want to detour and note how knowledgeable of the Scriptures Philip actually was. How old was the Ethiopian eunuch when he was converted? He finds that on arrival in Jerusalem, he has several strikes against him. I remember being in college and having to re-read certain sections in my biology textbook because I just didnt understand what was going on. Thank You, this brings another good light to it, What a simplified and detailed explanation with regards to the sudden take off of Philip!!! Your email address will not be published. Are you willing to sacrifice your time for him and love him wholeheartedly? Jesus offers you forgiveness and a new life. More interesting than that, he was a eunuch he'd been castrated. The cases of conversion in the book of Acts provide us with a wealth of instructive teaching whether we are a Christian or non-Christian. One interpretation of this verse is that Moses wife Zipporah, daughter of Reuel/Jethro from Midian, was black. It is believed that the eunuch was a court official in the Ethiopian royal court. What do you see about the Ethiopian eunuch as you read the Scripture above? Sometimes we can treat God like hes our favorite celebrity. The Eunuch is reading aloud, as all the People of Jewish faith are instructed to do from Isaiah 53. God is great! What can stand in the way of my being baptized?[37] 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. It really broaden my understanding. As mentioned above, some believe that Philips leaving was miraculous. Home Travel Quick Answer: How Far Did The Ethiopian Eunuch Travel To Jerusalem. Peace be unto you all! The Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away so that the Ethiopian eunuch saw him no more. The story concludes with the words, he went on his way rejoicing. She stayed and learned from him for six months. To go away suddenly doesnt imply that it was a miraculous event. 23:1; Lev.22:25) So he could not fulfill his objective; to worship God directly, as he had purposed. [14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? 80b). Answer: They were receptive and many came to believe in Jesus. If we believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God (2 Peter 1:20-21), then that means that these minor details are in the Bible for a reason And if you dig deeper, it actually tells you a lot about this mans character.