It’s important before we get into today’s passage from Acts to understand who Philip is and what his mission has become. If you recall last week, Stephen was one of seven men called to address a case of justice indifference that has caused a rift in an early Jerusalem-based Jesus follower church. Philip is another of the seven who is forced to leave after Saul aka Paul begins to persecute Jesus followers.
Philip flees to Samaria to preach about Jesus and 
the impact is dramatic. More and more begin to follow, are baptized and then filled with the Holy Spirit when Peter and John (two of the 12 disciples) come down from Jerusalem to Samaria to lay hands on them.
Something is happening because of Philip’s mission and ministry and this is where we pick up today’s story from Acts 8:26-39 from the CEB.
There are some really strange elements to this story – let’s list them and then think about what all of this says to us today.
First, why is an angel directing Philip to take a desert road to the middle of nowhere. These are often dangerous and deserted roads. Bad things can happen on these roads. I don’t know about you but I’m not too sure I would want to follow that directive. Philip goes willingly. What exponential amount of trust must Philip have had to say – sure, I’ll immediately head right out. Then the Spirit directs him to a carriage with a man who in appearance and stature is night and day different from Philip.
The man is a wealthy Ethiopian eunuch in charge of the Queen’s treasury. Five times the author of Acts mentions the latter. In the ancient world in which we find ourselves immersed today, men and boys were sometimes deliberately castrated so that they could become “harmless” guards for powerful women or groups of women.[1] Castrated men were often known by their physical appearance. Unfortunately, they were also excluded from the assembly – places of worship and communal gathering according to Deuteronomy 23:1. Philip in so many ways according to custom should have nothing to do with this man.
But that isn’t what happens. Philip hears this man reading verses from Isaiah and wants to know if he understands what he is reading and that begins a conversation where Philip has the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus, of God’s love and inclusion, of Jesus’ baptism, ministry, death and resurrection, of how death doesn’t have the last word. Philip continues his mission to evangelize (which simply means from the Greek to announce the good news and spread the gospel). Philip is directed to this carriage by the Spirit to share the good news.
Who among us feel the nudge of the Spirit to share the good news with someone we encounter? Are we afraid to do that because of how evangelism has been distorted as a way of saving someone? Has anyone here been asked: Are you saved by the blood of Jesus Christ? Or some variation? Is that what Philip is doing?
I think Philip is simply sharing what the Spirit has laid on his heart to do – testifying to the good news of who Jesus is to all of us. He is being the guide this person needed. And, he didn’t care if he was different from him – he doesn’t try to convert him, he doesn’t berate him for not understanding, he doesn’t say I can’t talk to you because you are wealthy or Ethiopian or a eunuch or taking care of the Queen’s treasury.
Philip is given an opportunity to be a witness to the power of God’s message of love, of the good news that the Psalmist calls this: Your Divine Plan, O Beloved, Your design, brought forth by Love! By love, not by hate or fear or anger, but by love.
Philip is showing the love of Jesus to this man – how do we do this in our everyday life and encounters with others? How do we let the Spirit lead us to share the good news in whatever way that looks like. Maybe it is eight women hammering one nail each into a board to raise money that will provide housing for people in need. Maybe it is being led to cheer and/or make a donation.
Maybe it offers hospitality and food to someone in need. Maybe it is growing food in a community garden that will supply local pantries. Maybe it is K Groups reading and studying books and/or the Bible to nurture their faith through doubt, questioning and/or curiosity, seeing where conversation and love might show up in this place and in the community. Maybe it is a one-on-one conversation with someone desperate to know they are loved without exception. Maybe…and you fill in the blank.
Finally, the two reach some water and the man wants to be baptized. There are no conditions to this ask – there is no verse 37 in the passage I read (look it up) asking him about his belief, conditions he must agree to, a renouncement of who he is, or a basic no dice on baptism because he is a eunuch. In the conversation they have, I imagine Philip has seen this man’s faith, his doubt, his questions, his “aha” moments and that is enough to stop the carriage and baptize the man.
Are we that verse 37less ourselves? What do we demand of people in their beliefs or behavior before we allow them to belong? Are we a place of welcome that encourages those conversations, doubts, concerns, questions? Are we a place of faith nurturing rather than strict faith adherence? I like to think we are but those are places where we can always grow and stretch more. Are we willing to do that? Are we willing to let the Spirit guide us down deserted and possibly dangerous roads because of who we might need to meet?
Are we willing to accept and really live out the Spirit’s invitation to be welcoming and affirming, because maybe all of this is what true welcome looks like – Spirit-led, no strings attached, honest conversation, healing water. Or are we the one needing to be met, welcomed, and affirmed? Wherever we are, let’s keep living this reality. Let’s let it grow stronger in each of us and in this community of faith. May it be so.
[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/ethiopian-eunuch-baptized/commentary-on-acts-826-39-4, accessed 5/5/2025