Can you comment on Acts 8: 35?
Introduction. Acts 8: 35 says: "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, was instructed by an angel to intercept a high ranking official from Ethiopia who had been to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home (vss. 27-28). When Philip reached him, the Ethiopian was reading aloud from Isaiah 53 (vss. 28, 32, 33). Philip asked him if he understood what he read and the man asked for help (vss. 30-31).
An examination of Acts 8: 35. The text of Isaiah 53 is full of prophecy regarding Jesus' life and death - an excellent sermon text. It should be stressed that while the Ethiopian was religious and was worshipping according to the Law of Moses, that system had been replaced by the gospel of Christ (Col. 2:14) and he was in need of salvation under the new covenant.
Our worship must be in spirit and in truth (John 4: 24). Preaching Jesus as Philip did is necessary (cf. 1 Cor. 1: 18-31). But what did Philip preach when he "...preached unto him Jesus."? It is obvious that preaching Christ involves facts regarding His life, death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 15: 1-4). It is also correctly inferred that Philip preached the promises of the gospel and the associated commands to obey (cf. Acts 2: 38; 3: 19).
Preaching Jesus includes the necessity of baptism. Many will concede that preaching Jesus includes facts to be believed along with promises to motivate which must not be omitted. But notice verse thirty-six. Upon preaching Jesus, the man immediately wanted to be baptized (immersed) in water, an act foreign to the Law of Moses. Therefore, obedience to the command to be baptized must also be part of preaching Jesus (Acts 10: 47). When preceded by faith, repentance, and confession of Jesus, such baptism is for the remission of sin (Acts 2: 38; 22: 16). With that act, Philip's mission was complete and he was "caught away" by the Holy Spirit while the Ethiopian "went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:39).
The situation which occasioned Acts 8: 35. Philip, the evangelist, was instructed by an angel to intercept a high ranking official from Ethiopia who had been to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home (vss. 27-28). When Philip reached him, the Ethiopian was reading aloud from Isaiah 53 (vss. 28, 32, 33). Philip asked him if he understood what he read and the man asked for help (vss. 30-31).
An examination of Acts 8: 35. The text of Isaiah 53 is full of prophecy regarding Jesus' life and death - an excellent sermon text. It should be stressed that while the Ethiopian was religious and was worshipping according to the Law of Moses, that system had been replaced by the gospel of Christ (Col. 2:14) and he was in need of salvation under the new covenant.
Our worship must be in spirit and in truth (John 4: 24). Preaching Jesus as Philip did is necessary (cf. 1 Cor. 1: 18-31). But what did Philip preach when he "...preached unto him Jesus."? It is obvious that preaching Christ involves facts regarding His life, death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 15: 1-4). It is also correctly inferred that Philip preached the promises of the gospel and the associated commands to obey (cf. Acts 2: 38; 3: 19).
Preaching Jesus includes the necessity of baptism. Many will concede that preaching Jesus includes facts to be believed along with promises to motivate which must not be omitted. But notice verse thirty-six. Upon preaching Jesus, the man immediately wanted to be baptized (immersed) in water, an act foreign to the Law of Moses. Therefore, obedience to the command to be baptized must also be part of preaching Jesus (Acts 10: 47). When preceded by faith, repentance, and confession of Jesus, such baptism is for the remission of sin (Acts 2: 38; 22: 16). With that act, Philip's mission was complete and he was "caught away" by the Holy Spirit while the Ethiopian "went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:39).