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Sermon of the Week
Look up the passage

11/4/04

Please Explain Acts 8

In a few minutes we'll say the creed, as we do most weeks, and we'll repeat these words almost without thinking: "For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again - in accordance with the Scriptures." I wonder whether we ever stop to think about that last phrase. What do we mean when we say "in accordance with the Scriptures"? We might mean "in accordance with the gospel records supplemented by the writings of the Apostles." That probably what most people think we mean. But in fact I think that's an insufficient understanding. As a matter of fact as we read through this passage today we discover that it's all of the Scriptures that are meant by that phrase. All of the Scriptures point to Jesus death and resurrection. And as the Ethiopian Eunuch is puzzling over the meaning of Isaiah, Philip comes along to explain to him how those Scriptures have suddenly come alive for the Jewish people of his time.

But first let's look at how all this comes about.

We read at the start of ch. 8: "On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem." Not only do we discover in this book how Jesus' work is continued through his disciples, we also see how those followers of Jesus receive the same treatment as Jesus. The result of Stephen's speech and subsequent martyrdom is that the Jewish leaders, led by Saul, are motivated to wipe out this heretical sect. As a result Jerusalem becomes a dangerous place to be if you're a follower of Jesus Christ. That is if you want to avoid his fate. And so the believers are scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

   But as I mentioned briefly last week, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Do you remember why? Because as the Christians were scattered the gospel spread with them. No longer was gospel proclamation the exclusive domain of the apostles. Now every believer became a missionary, forced onto the mission field as a result of this persecution by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.

   One of them, Philip, like Stephen one of the seven deacons, ended up in Samaria. It may be that he remembered Jesus' command to preach the gospel in Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth and so he took this opportunity to go there. Or perhaps he was led there by the Holy Spirit as he was later to the Gaza Road. Or perhaps that's just as far as he got before the opportunity came to speak about Jesus Christ. In any event, when he got there, what did he do? He proclaimed Christ. He did great signs and wonders - just like Stephen.

   Again we discover an ordinary man doing extraordinary things - in his own way as the Spirit leads and empowers him.

   Philip stays there in Samaria preaching the gospel, until the apostles hear of his great success and send Peter and John to give him their support. In fact what they do is to lay hands on these Samaritan converts. The Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit in the same way the disciples had on the day of Pentecost, as a sign that the gospel has now come to them as well as to the Jews. Philip's preaching, you see, has led to the formation of a new branch of the Church. The people of Samaria are now on equal terms with the Jerusalem converts. They too have the Holy Spirit who will enable them to share the gospel with others. And so Philip moves on. Well more accurately he's told to move on.

   An angel is sent to tell him to go south to the Gaza Road, where a 'chance' encounter becomes an opportunity to send the gospel to Africa.

   Now I guess you haven't had many occasions when an angel has come to you to tell you to go somewhere, though there may be some who could recount such an occasion. But I'm sure all of us have had these sorts of chance encounters with people. Moments when someone has said something or asked a question and you've thought, "I wonder should I say something about my faith?" Or "should I pick up on this and continue the conversation to see where it'll go?"

   Well that's what happens here.

   Philip doesn't know why he's there. But as he walks along he comes across an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official of the queen of Ethiopia. Apparently he only sees him from a distance at first. Perhaps they're on opposite sides of the road - the eunuch sitting in his chariot as it moves slowly along the road, Philip walking by the side of the road. But the Holy Spirit prompts him to go over to the Ethiopian and walk beside him. This is what might be called "intentional loitering." Just walking alongside to see what will happen. Well this man's reading out loud from Isaiah 53, one of the so-called 'Servant Songs'. So Philip asks a perfectly natural question: "Do you understand what you're reading?" Now if you think about it, that's not a bad question to have up your sleeve when issues of religion and particularly Christianity come up is it?

   Do you understand why Christians do that or think that? Do you understand why Easter is still relevant? Do you understand why people are so interested in spirituality? More recently the question might be 'Do you understand why Jesus' suffering was emphasised so much in "The Passion of the Christ"?'

   If they don't want to know they'll say so, but you may be surprised at how many people have questions that no-one has ever bothered to answer for them. There are so many things that are just assumed by Christians. There are so many basic Christian beliefs that are actually foundational to our culture or to our way of life that people take for granted without ever understanding where they come from. There's such a strong interest in spirituality without any foundation to build on. Even terms we use often have a Christian meaning that's been forgotten. E.g. something as simple as why we call the day before Good Friday, Maundy Thursday, I only found out that one last week.

   In fact this is one of the great opportunities we have as Christians today. People no longer know the basic stories and teaching of Christianity. There was a time when people had had enough Christian teaching as children that they thought they understood what Christianity was all about, and so they didn't listen any more. But it's no longer the case. People are often more open to hearing the Christian gospel today than they were in the heyday of Christendom. There's a growing interest today in things spiritual. There's a growing desire to get back to something real and substantial. So we have a new opportunity to explain our faith to them, if we're willing to take it up.

   Well, the Ethiopian Eunuch was certainly eager to hear Philip's explanation. He invites Philip to come and sit next to him in his chariot as it moves along. You can imagine them sitting there bumping along the road as Philip explains about this human sufferer who is like a sheep led to the slaughter, like a lamb who before it's shearer is silent. He begins where the Ethiopian is, in this piece of Scripture from Isaiah 53 and he begins to tell him the gospel of Jesus.

   We're not told what he said about Jesus, but you can imagine that he might have spoken about the idea of the lamb that was sent out into the wilderness on the day of atonement bearing away the sins of the people. He might have told him how Jesus had reinterpreted the idea of the servant of the Lord with these words from Mark 10:45: "For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." (NRSV) He might have talked about the new covenant that Jesus had instituted at the last supper, a covenant sealed by his blood, just as membership in the old covenant was shown on the night of the Passover by the blood of a lamb splashed on the door posts. And I'm sure he would have talked about the fact that this lamb who was slain had been raised on the third day, to show that death had been defeated, that the effect of sin had been overcome.

   Whatever it is that he said to him, the effect was immediate. The Eunuch believed. It's as though the scales had fallen from his eyes. Actually it's a bit reminiscent of the response of the couple from Emmaus to their encounter with Jesus. One moment they're confused and the next they're rejoicing at the fact that Christ is risen. In this case it's almost as if the eunuch interrupts Philip to say, "What's to stop me becoming a Christian right now. Here's some water. Baptise me!" He's so excited by this new revelation of the grace of God that he can't wait to be made part of this new covenant people of God. And you can imagine him returning to Ethiopia to tell his friends and family this marvellous news about Jesus Christ, about what he's done to cleanse them of their sins, to bring them back to God to create a renewed people for himself. And again, the gospel continues it's outward movement to the ends of the earth.

   But there's one other marvellous thing about this conversion. And it's especially marvellous to think about it today, because Easter is the time when we often read John 20, and the incident with Thomas and his questioning about whether Jesus has really risen from the dead. (In fact I think we'll read it next Sunday.) Do you remember what Jesus said to Thomas when he finally discovered the truth for himself? (John 20:29 NRSV) "Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.'" For Thomas seeing was believing. But here is one of those who didn't see but who believed. He's just one of many, but he's a significant example, because it's so clearly the work of the Holy Spirit who enlightens his mind, who opens his eyes to see the truth, not of the risen Christ standing before him, but of the Scriptures that point clearly to that same risen Christ.

   So you see, when we say, in a few moments, "On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;" we're thinking about the whole of God's word. And we can say we believe that Christ rose from the dead on that first Easter Day because God's Holy Spirit has shown us it's true. And that's not just the truth of the Apostles' proclamation, or the truth of the Gospel writers' accounts, but the way all of the Old Testament was pointing to Christ, was moving towards that single moment of history when God's only Son would give up his life like a lamb led to the slaughter, never opening his mouth in complaint, but willingly giving his life so that we might live. What's more, we believe it because we can see how his risen life has been passed on to this new people of God, represented here by the Ethiopian Eunuch, a man who is blessed because he believes even though he hasn't seen directly.

   Let's pray that we might believe the Scriptures, that God's Holy Spirit would convince every one of us, would take away any doubts we might still be harbouring, so we too can share the gospel with others.



   Questions for discussion Acts 8

What is the significance of the words Luke uses for Philip's proclamation of Christ (8:1-4)?

Philip preaching to the Samaritans was a bold move. Why do you think he went there?

8:9-25: What did Simon get wrong? How is he similar yet different to Ananias and Sapphira?

Why do you think Peter and John were sent to Samaria? Read Luke 9:51-56 to see the irony of this assignment.

What is the significance of the Holy Spirit being poured out on the Samaritans as a result of Peter and John laying hands on them?

How is Philip a good example to us of Christian witness?

What do you think Philip might have said as he began with the passage from Isaiah and told him the good news about Jesus Christ (v.35)? What other Old Testament references or ideas might he have used?

Why do you think God took Philip away so suddenly?

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	Sermon of the Week	Look up the passage
	11/4/04
	Please Explain	Acts 8

	In a few minutes we'll say the creed, as we do most weeks, and we'll repeat these words almost without thinking: "For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again - in accordance with the Scriptures." I wonder whether we ever stop to think about that last phrase. What do we mean when we say "in accordance with the Scriptures"? We might mean "in accordance with the gospel records supplemented by the writings of the Apostles." That probably what most people think we mean. But in fact I think that's an insufficient understanding. As a matter of fact as we read through this passage today we discover that it's all of the Scriptures that are meant by that phrase. All of the Scriptures point to Jesus death and resurrection. And as the Ethiopian Eunuch is puzzling over the meaning of Isaiah, Philip comes along to explain to him how those Scriptures have suddenly come alive for the Jewish people of his time.
	But first let's look at how all this comes about.
	We read at the start of ch. 8: "On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem." Not only do we discover in this book how Jesus' work is continued through his disciples, we also see how those followers of Jesus receive the same treatment as Jesus. The result of Stephen's speech and subsequent martyrdom is that the Jewish leaders, led by Saul, are motivated to wipe out this heretical sect. As a result Jerusalem becomes a dangerous place to be if you're a follower of Jesus Christ. That is if you want to avoid his fate. And so the believers are scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
	But as I mentioned briefly last week, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Do you remember why? Because as the Christians were scattered the gospel spread with them. No longer was gospel proclamation the exclusive domain of the apostles. Now every believer became a missionary, forced onto the mission field as a result of this persecution by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.
	One of them, Philip, like Stephen one of the seven deacons, ended up in Samaria. It may be that he remembered Jesus' command to preach the gospel in Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth and so he took this opportunity to go there. Or perhaps he was led there by the Holy Spirit as he was later to the Gaza Road. Or perhaps that's just as far as he got before the opportunity came to speak about Jesus Christ. In any event, when he got there, what did he do? He proclaimed Christ. He did great signs and wonders - just like Stephen.
	Again we discover an ordinary man doing extraordinary things - in his own way as the Spirit leads and empowers him.
	Philip stays there in Samaria preaching the gospel, until the apostles hear of his great success and send Peter and John to give him their support. In fact what they do is to lay hands on these Samaritan converts. The Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit in the same way the disciples had on the day of Pentecost, as a sign that the gospel has now come to them as well as to the Jews. Philip's preaching, you see, has led to the formation of a new branch of the Church. The people of Samaria are now on equal terms with the Jerusalem converts. They too have the Holy Spirit who will enable them to share the gospel with others. And so Philip moves on. Well more accurately he's told to move on.
	An angel is sent to tell him to go south to the Gaza Road, where a 'chance' encounter becomes an opportunity to send the gospel to Africa.
	Now I guess you haven't had many occasions when an angel has come to you to tell you to go somewhere, though there may be some who could recount such an occasion. But I'm sure all of us have had these sorts of chance encounters with people. Moments when someone has said something or asked a question and you've thought, "I wonder should I say something about my faith?" Or "should I pick up on this and continue the conversation to see where it'll go?"
	Well that's what happens here.
	Philip doesn't know why he's there. But as he walks along he comes across an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official of the queen of Ethiopia. Apparently he only sees him from a distance at first. Perhaps they're on opposite sides of the road - the eunuch sitting in his chariot as it moves slowly along the road, Philip walking by the side of the road. But the Holy Spirit prompts him to go over to the Ethiopian and walk beside him. This is what might be called "intentional loitering." Just walking alongside to see what will happen. Well this man's reading out loud from Isaiah 53, one of the so-called 'Servant Songs'. So Philip asks a perfectly natural question: "Do you understand what you're reading?" Now if you think about it, that's not a bad question to have up your sleeve when issues of religion and particularly Christianity come up is it?
	Do you understand why Christians do that or think that? Do you understand why Easter is still relevant? Do you understand why people are so interested in spirituality? More recently the question might be 'Do you understand why Jesus' suffering was emphasised so much in "The Passion of the Christ"?'
	If they don't want to know they'll say so, but you may be surprised at how many people have questions that no-one has ever bothered to answer for them. There are so many things that are just assumed by Christians. There are so many basic Christian beliefs that are actually foundational to our culture or to our way of life that people take for granted without ever understanding where they come from. There's such a strong interest in spirituality without any foundation to build on. Even terms we use often have a Christian meaning that's been forgotten. E.g. something as simple as why we call the day before Good Friday, Maundy Thursday, I only found out that one last week.
	In fact this is one of the great opportunities we have as Christians today. People no longer know the basic stories and teaching of Christianity. There was a time when people had had enough Christian teaching as children that they thought they understood what Christianity was all about, and so they didn't listen any more. But it's no longer the case. People are often more open to hearing the Christian gospel today than they were in the heyday of Christendom. There's a growing interest today in things spiritual. There's a growing desire to get back to something real and substantial. So we have a new opportunity to explain our faith to them, if we're willing to take it up.
	Well, the Ethiopian Eunuch was certainly eager to hear Philip's explanation. He invites Philip to come and sit next to him in his chariot as it moves along. You can imagine them sitting there bumping along the road as Philip explains about this human sufferer who is like a sheep led to the slaughter, like a lamb who before it's shearer is silent. He begins where the Ethiopian is, in this piece of Scripture from Isaiah 53 and he begins to tell him the gospel of Jesus.
	We're not told what he said about Jesus, but you can imagine that he might have spoken about the idea of the lamb that was sent out into the wilderness on the day of atonement bearing away the sins of the people. He might have told him how Jesus had reinterpreted the idea of the servant of the Lord with these words from Mark 10:45: "For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." (NRSV) He might have talked about the new covenant that Jesus had instituted at the last supper, a covenant sealed by his blood, just as membership in the old covenant was shown on the night of the Passover by the blood of a lamb splashed on the door posts. And I'm sure he would have talked about the fact that this lamb who was slain had been raised on the third day, to show that death had been defeated, that the effect of sin had been overcome.
	Whatever it is that he said to him, the effect was immediate. The Eunuch believed. It's as though the scales had fallen from his eyes. Actually it's a bit reminiscent of the response of the couple from Emmaus to their encounter with Jesus. One moment they're confused and the next they're rejoicing at the fact that Christ is risen. In this case it's almost as if the eunuch interrupts Philip to say, "What's to stop me becoming a Christian right now. Here's some water. Baptise me!" He's so excited by this new revelation of the grace of God that he can't wait to be made part of this new covenant people of God. And you can imagine him returning to Ethiopia to tell his friends and family this marvellous news about Jesus Christ, about what he's done to cleanse them of their sins, to bring them back to God to create a renewed people for himself. And again, the gospel continues it's outward movement to the ends of the earth.
	But there's one other marvellous thing about this conversion. And it's especially marvellous to think about it today, because Easter is the time when we often read John 20, and the incident with Thomas and his questioning about whether Jesus has really risen from the dead. (In fact I think we'll read it next Sunday.) Do you remember what Jesus said to Thomas when he finally discovered the truth for himself? (John 20:29 NRSV) "Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.'" For Thomas seeing was believing. But here is one of those who didn't see but who believed. He's just one of many, but he's a significant example, because it's so clearly the work of the Holy Spirit who enlightens his mind, who opens his eyes to see the truth, not of the risen Christ standing before him, but of the Scriptures that point clearly to that same risen Christ.
	So you see, when we say, in a few moments, "On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;" we're thinking about the whole of God's word. And we can say we believe that Christ rose from the dead on that first Easter Day because God's Holy Spirit has shown us it's true. And that's not just the truth of the Apostles' proclamation, or the truth of the Gospel writers' accounts, but the way all of the Old Testament was pointing to Christ, was moving towards that single moment of history when God's only Son would give up his life like a lamb led to the slaughter, never opening his mouth in complaint, but willingly giving his life so that we might live. What's more, we believe it because we can see how his risen life has been passed on to this new people of God, represented here by the Ethiopian Eunuch, a man who is blessed because he believes even though he hasn't seen directly.
	Let's pray that we might believe the Scriptures, that God's Holy Spirit would convince every one of us, would take away any doubts we might still be harbouring, so we too can share the gospel with others.

	Questions for discussion Acts 8 What is the significance of the words Luke uses for Philip's proclamation of Christ (8:1-4)? Philip preaching to the Samaritans was a bold move. Why do you think he went there? 8:9-25: What did Simon get wrong? How is he similar yet different to Ananias and Sapphira? Why do you think Peter and John were sent to Samaria? Read Luke 9:51-56 to see the irony of this assignment. What is the significance of the Holy Spirit being poured out on the Samaritans as a result of Peter and John laying hands on them? How is Philip a good example to us of Christian witness? What do you think Philip might have said as he began with the passage from Isaiah and told him the good news about Jesus Christ (v.35)? What other Old Testament references or ideas might he have used? Why do you think God took Philip away so suddenly?