An African official reads Isaiah in his chariot: Philip and the Ethiopian in Acts 8
On a desert road south of Jerusalem, a powerful African official sits in his chariot reading aloud from the prophet Isaiah. He does not understand what he is reading. A stranger runs up and asks a simple question. The conversation that follows is one of the most important stories for Christians in Africa.
Philip and the Ethiopian
Philip was one of the seven men chosen in Acts 6 to serve the early church, alongside Stephen. After Stephen’s death, believers scattered, and Philip preached in Samaria with great success. An angel told Philip to go south to the road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza, “which is desert”. Philip obeyed without knowing why. On the road was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home.
Reading Isaiah
He was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah. The Spirit told Philip to go near. Philip ran up and heard him reading, and asked, “Understandest thou what thou readest?” The official answered, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” He invited Philip to sit with him. He was reading Isaiah 53: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.” He asked whether the prophet spoke of himself or someone else.
Philip “began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus”.
Water by the road
As they travelled, they came to some water. The official said, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” They went down into the water, and Philip baptised him. When they came up, the Spirit took Philip away, and the official “went on his way rejoicing”. This story is treasured in Africa because it shows an African among the first believers in the book of Acts. Ethiopian Christian tradition holds that the faith spread in Ethiopia from early times.
The whole story turns on a humble question and an honest answer: “How can I, except some man should guide me?” It remains a model for sharing faith: listen first, then explain.
