Can you comment on Acts 8: 35?
Introduction. Acts 8: 35 reads thus: "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." The particular thrust of our question concerns "...preached unto him Jesus."
The situation which occasioned Acts 8: 35. Philip, the evangelist, encountered a man from Ethiopia who had been to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home (vss. 27, 28). He was a religious man and was reading Isaiah 53 (vss. 28, 32, 33). Philip asked him if he understood what he read and the man asked for help (vss. 30, 31). The text of Isaiah 53: 7, 8 concerned Jesus.
An examination of Acts 8: 35. The text of Isaiah 53 is rich regarding prophecy of Jesus' life and death - an excellent sermon text. It should be stressed that while the man was religious, he was in need of salvation. The man was worshipping according to the Law of Moses, an antiquated system (Col. 2: 14). Our worship must be in spirit and in truth (John 4: 24). Preaching Jesus - this is what Philip did - is necessary (cf. 1 Cor. 1: 18-31). What did Philip preach in preaching Christ? It is obvious that preaching Christ involves His death, burial, and resurrection, the facts of the gospel (1 Cor. 15: 1-4). It is also correctly inferred that Philip preached the promises of the gospel and the necessary commands (cf. Acts 2: 38; 3: 19).
Preaching the gospel included baptism. Many will concede that preaching Jesus' death and resurrection and the promises of the gospel are part of preaching Jesus and, therefore, must not be omitted. Let us now notice verse thirty-six. Upon preaching Jesus, the man immediately wanted to be baptized. Baptism, then is also part of preaching Jesus (one of the commands, Acts 10: 47). Baptism, when preceded by faith, repentance, and confession, is for the remission of sin (Acts 2: 38; 22: 16).
The situation which occasioned Acts 8: 35. Philip, the evangelist, encountered a man from Ethiopia who had been to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home (vss. 27, 28). He was a religious man and was reading Isaiah 53 (vss. 28, 32, 33). Philip asked him if he understood what he read and the man asked for help (vss. 30, 31). The text of Isaiah 53: 7, 8 concerned Jesus.
An examination of Acts 8: 35. The text of Isaiah 53 is rich regarding prophecy of Jesus' life and death - an excellent sermon text. It should be stressed that while the man was religious, he was in need of salvation. The man was worshipping according to the Law of Moses, an antiquated system (Col. 2: 14). Our worship must be in spirit and in truth (John 4: 24). Preaching Jesus - this is what Philip did - is necessary (cf. 1 Cor. 1: 18-31). What did Philip preach in preaching Christ? It is obvious that preaching Christ involves His death, burial, and resurrection, the facts of the gospel (1 Cor. 15: 1-4). It is also correctly inferred that Philip preached the promises of the gospel and the necessary commands (cf. Acts 2: 38; 3: 19).
Preaching the gospel included baptism. Many will concede that preaching Jesus' death and resurrection and the promises of the gospel are part of preaching Jesus and, therefore, must not be omitted. Let us now notice verse thirty-six. Upon preaching Jesus, the man immediately wanted to be baptized. Baptism, then is also part of preaching Jesus (one of the commands, Acts 10: 47). Baptism, when preceded by faith, repentance, and confession, is for the remission of sin (Acts 2: 38; 22: 16).