A Bible Study on the Book of Acts Session 20
The Church of the Holy Apostles;
Based upon the Homilies of St John Chrysostom (SJC)
Study Guide – Acts 8.26-9.9, Homily 19
Chapter 8 v. 26-29 – Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
Philip the Deacon
Eunuch was no ordinary man – had great authority
SJC “Great also was his studiousness.” Even in his chariot he read the Scriptures
Angels, Angels, Angels! Always “assisting the preaching, and not themselves preaching, but calling them to the work.”
Philip speaks softly which allows for the Eunuch to confess his ignorance.
Chapter 8 v. 30-31 – So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
Eunuch has great piety. Even though he doesn’t understand, he reads the Scriptures. WE should read whether or not we understand because God speaks!
SJC “Look how free he is from haughtiness; the outward appearance announced nothing splendid. So desirous was he of learning.
Chapter 8 v. 32-35 – The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
Providential encounter! Eunuch was reading Isaiah about the Passion and Resurrection.
This is the same passage read by the Priest as he prepares the Gifts for Holy Communion. (Isaiah 53.7-8)
Chapter 8 v. 36-40 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
Historical Note: v.37 missing from St John Chrysostom’s text and other ancient authorities, but was cited by Saint Irenaeus (late 2nd Century) and St Cyprian (early 3rd Century)
Eager desire leads to confession of faith.
SJC “See his modesty: he does not say, Baptize me, neither does he hold his peace; but he utters somewhat midway between strong desire and reverent fear.” WE should be ashamed by such modesty!
Holy Spirit rushes Philip away to convey the wonder of the event
SJC “It was well and expedient therefore that the Spirit caught Philip away; else the eunuch would have desired to go with him, and Philip would have grieved him by declining to comply with his request, the time being not yet come.”
Chapter 9 v. 1-2 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Great persecution ushered in by Saul’s frenzy
SJC “He was not glutted with the persecution of the Church, and the dispersion. Lo, this was fulfilled which was spoken by Christ, that ‘they which kill you shall think they offer worship to God.’ … and how strictly according to the Law he went to work: he goes not to the governor, but to the priest.”
Chapter 9 v. 3-4 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
The vision takes place between Jerusalem and Damascus so that Saul is the only narrator. The others did not hear the words spoken by Christ.
Chapter 9 v. 5-6 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Saul admits himself to be a servant of Christ.
Christ speaks softly to Saul which opens a dialogue – draws Saul in.
Goads are like cattle prods.
Chapter 9 v. 7-9 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
SJC “But why did this take place not at the very first, but after these things? That it might be shown that Christ was indeed risen. This furious assailant of Christ, the man who would not believe in His death and resurrection, the persecutor of His disciples, how should this man have become a believer, had not he power of His resurrection been great indeed….It was not enough that he had never been in Christ’s company: the believers must be warred upon by him with vehement hostility: he left to none the possibility of going beyond him in fury: none of them all could be so violent. But when he was blinded, then he saw the proofs of His sovereignty and loving kindness: then he answers, ‘Lord, what will Thou have me to do?’” (Homily 19, page 124)
Teaching on the Importance of Reading the Holy Scriptures – (see Homily 19, pp 125-127)
- If you really knew the Prophets, you would not need miracles
- We should ALWAYS be reading, wherever we find ourselves, even in the car
- Ignoring the Holy Scriptures is a greater sin than hiding and burying them
- The Holy Scriptures are the mouth of God
- It is impossible to exhaust the mind of the Holy Scriptures
Life Application – Spiritual laziness should not be encouraged (Homily 19, pp 128)
SJC “I will not tell you the answers to any of these questions; not in private, not in public: only, if any find them out, I will nod assent. For this is the w ay we have made you good-for-nothing, by always telling you the things ready to your hands, and not refusing when we ought.”