Two Roadside Conversions

Acts 8:25-9:22

Two Roadside Conversions: Ethiopian and Saul

Two conversions are recorded here. They are spectacular and wonderful and yet remind us of the significant changing elements that occur during the salvation process. We could focus on several different issues in these verses, but we will first contrast and compare the two roadside conversions and then narrow down our topic to discuss the nature of conversion itself.

• After reading the two passages what is different about the two conversions (i.e. Ethiopian eunuch (ET for Ethiopian Treasurer) and Saul)?

• What is similar about the two accounts?

Below are more specific questions and comments for each account as time and discussion allows.

The Message   (Acts 8:25, 31-36)

• What is the message here referred to?

Interestingly the passage that ET (Ethiopian Treasurer) was reading is a very special prophetic chapter clearly describing the purpose and horror of Christ’s death on the cross. ET shows us how important it is to read scripture with a view to understanding what it means.  Cf. For a detailed study on Isaiah 53.

• Do we have the knowledge to speak God’s message?

• Do we have the boldness to speak God’s message?

Isaiah 53:7-8

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

         Yet He did not open His mouth;

         Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,

         And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,

         So He did not open His mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away;

         And as for His generation, who considered

         That He was cut off out of the land of the living

         For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?

The Person: Philip's Character  

(Acts 6: 3-5; 8:4-5, 13, 26, 35, 39)

• What kind of person was Philip?

Philip was one of the seven ‘deacons’ that was scattered about because of the persecution (8:1-2). When he went forth, he faithfully preached the gospel where he went. Because of his faithfulness he was sensitive to the Lord’s special words to him. He was used to preaching in the cities with lots of people. Now God sent him on a mission to the desert!

Some people have concerns regarding ‘an angel of he Lord spoke to Philip,’ but in fact angels or special messages from God are very common in the scriptures. Perhaps what is uncommon is that God’s people try to limit God from so doing!  Instead we should gather from this two important facts. The first is that God is not limited to simple or straightforward means. He can upon His will and purpose simply let people know by words what he wants us to do. We agree people can take this to an excess and ask for a ‘word’ for purchasing a table or a mate. This passage shows God speaking with regards to a place to speak the gospel. The other topic is discussed below: the urgency.

The Urgency  (Acts 8:26-29, 39)

• Why the urgency?  Is it not true that the Lord doesn’t do a miracle unless it is needed?

We see the urgency with which the Lord wants us to evangelize not only by instigating a persecution (if He didn’t instigate it, He sure did use it), but also by the special way He saved ET and Saul. These miracles clearly let us know that God is caring for His mission shared in Acts 1:8. Here the Lord is preparing messengers for the foreign fields. We can expect the Ethiopian Eunuch (ET) to bring the gospel to Ethiopia. It is interesting that Ethiopia has such a long history of Christianity there. We can guess that somehow this incident brought the gospel to North Africa (south and west). Saul on the other hand went to the Roman Empire (north and west).

• Does the same urgency exist today?

The urgency of making disciples still exists today. We should still sense the deliberateness of the Lord to save people from all the nations. We need to regularly make ourselves open to reaching out to whom the Lord would put us in contact with.

The Work (Acts 8:1-40)

• Notice how much evangelism was accomplished through Philip’s life in a relatively short amount of time.  Trace his trip.   How did it happen?

 

• If bringing the truths of the gospel to others is our main goal in life, then why are we so slothful?

 

• How can we strategically work towards completing the goal of mass discipling in our generation?


Other insight

When God’s people do what is expected, Satan’s forces dwindle. We first of all note that the Lord can use a few people to bring the gospel to whole unreached areas. This is exciting. Churches are getting excited in being part of this process to be used to bring the gospel to the 1000+ unreached people groups. As we go we should expect big opponents of the gospel not only can be converted but will be used of the Lord to reach out to others.

God’s Spirit is very able to lead people to the Lord.  Are we open to be used this way by the Lord? I would encourage you not to fear God’s assignment. Don’t be like Moses who in the end had Aaron speak for him. If God sends you, then go. If He wants you to speak, trust Him for the words. Some people can speak more quickly than others. God made you. He knows your limitations. Just speak what He wants in love and trust Him with it. Pray without ceasing.

 

What is the Lord’s goal?  Is it not to save many people?  Why then are we content with a few?

One of the problems with our churches is that we get into standstills. We accept the stage of ‘non-advance’ as normal. With an urgent mission we must focus the purpose of our churches, business and families to spread the gospel. If we can gain from God’s sense of urgency, then we will look for a special work and word from the Lord to go forward even into impossible situations. May more people cry out to have a spirit like Philip who went where the Lord said.


Acts: Other BFF Articles

Acts                Introduction and Outlines
Acts Map:       Paul's 1-2 Journeys

Acts Map:       Paul's 3 & Rome Journeys

Acts_07_        Stephen's Defense

Acts_8.2-25    Persecution & Evangelism
Acts_8.14-24  Simon & Gnosticism

Acts_8.25-40  Ethiopean Eunuch

Acts_9:1-22   Saul the Terrorist

Acts_8-9        Perspectives on Conversion

Acts_10:1-48:       Intersecting in Time: Vision #1
Acts_10:9-16        Vision #2 Peter

Acts_10:17-48      The Meeting that Changed History

Acts_10:34-44      The Christian Historical Message

Acts_13-14           Paul's First Missionary Journey

Acts_13:1-3          Sending Out Missionary Church

Acts_13:4-12        Power Encounter in Cyprus

Acts_13:13-50      Gospel Message in Antioch

Acts_13:51-14:28 Other Missionary Stops

Acts 20:28-30       
Detecting Error in the Church


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Biblical Foundations for Freedom

Paul J. Bucknell