Citation of Sources

1
Citation of Sources

• Bible Texts
• NASB, KJV, ASV
• Sermon Notes, Outlines, Charts
• Bill Reaves
• Commentaries
• Acts Stringer
• Acts McGarvey

2
The Two Ethiopian Eunuchs

• The Ethiopian Eunuch of
• Acts 826-39 and Jer. 382-13 3915-18

3
Matthew 1912

• 12"For there are eunuchs who were born that way
  from their mother's womb and there are eunuchs
  who were made eunuchs by men and there are also
  eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake
  of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to
  accept this, let him accept it."

4
Matthew 1912

• 12"For there are eunuchs who were born that way
  from their mother's womb and there are eunuchs
  who were made eunuchs by men and there are also
  eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake
  of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to
  accept this, let him accept it."

5
Matthew 1912

• 12"For there are eunuchs who were born that way
  from their mother's womb and there are eunuchs
  who were made eunuchs by men and there are also
  eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake
  of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to
  accept this, let him accept it."

6
Matthew 1912

• 12"For there are eunuchs who were born that way
  from their mother's womb and there are eunuchs
  who were made eunuchs by men and there are also
  eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake
  of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to
  accept this, let him accept it."

7
The Two Ethiopian Eunuchs

• The Ethiopian Eunuch of Acts 826-39

8
Acts 826-28

• 26But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip
  saying, "Get up and go south to the road that
  descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a
  desert road.) 27So he got up and went and there
  was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of
  Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in
  charge of all her treasure and he had come to
  Jerusalem to worship, 28and he was returning and
  sitting in his chariot, and was reading the
  prophet Isaiah.

9
Acts 829-31

• 29Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join
  this chariot." 30Philip ran up and heard him
  reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you
  understand what you are reading?" 31And he said,
  "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?"
  And he invited Philip to come up and sit with
  him.

10
Acts 832-33

• 32Now the passage of Scripture which he was
  reading was this "HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO
  SLAUGHTER AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS
  SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH. 33"IN
  HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY WHO WILL
  RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED
  FROM THE EARTH."

11
Acts 834-36

• 34The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please
  tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of
  himself or of someone else?" 35Then Philip opened
  his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he
  preached Jesus to him. 36As they went along the
  road they came to some water and the eunuch
  said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being
  baptized?"

12
Acts 837-39

• 37And Philip said, "If you believe with all your
  heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I
  believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
  38And he ordered the chariot to stop and they
  both went down into the water, Philip as well as
  the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39When they came
  up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord
  snatched Philip away and the eunuch no longer
  saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

13
Acts 826
26But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip
saying, "Get up and go south to the road that
descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a
desert road.)

• Some today fail to recognize the hand of the
  Lord. True salvation demands preaching!
• 21For since in the wisdom of God the world
  through its wisdom did not come to know God, God
  was well-pleased through the foolishness of the
  message preached to save those who believe. 1
  Corinthians 121

14
Acts 827
27So he got up and went and there was an
Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace,
queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all
her treasure and he had come to Jerusalem to
worship,

• Philip had preached the message of the cross to
  many (88), but now he preaches to one needy soul!

15
Acts 827
27So he got up and went and there was an
Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace,
queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all
her treasure and he had come to Jerusalem to
worship,

• He was a high government official.
• 26For consider your calling, brethren, that
  there were not many wise according to the flesh,
  not many mighty, not many noble 1 Corinthians
  126
• He was not a Gentile, but a Jew or proselyte.

16
Acts 827
27So he got up and went and there was an
Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace,
queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all
her treasure and he had come to Jerusalem to
worship,

• Eunuchs are limited to outer courtyard,
• 1No one who is emasculated or has his male organ
  cut off shall enter the assembly of the LORD.
  Deuteronomy 231

17
Acts 828
28and he was returning and sitting in his
chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

• He had traveled far to worship God!
• He was interested in spiritual things
• Notice Matthew 56
• 6"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
  righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
• He was one seeking to be satisfied
• Are you a Bible reader? Do all in your family
  bring their own Bibles to the assembly? Do they
  use them?

18
Acts 829
29Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join
this chariot."

• The supernatural work of God affected only
  Phillip
• Some today erroneously wait on God to speak to
  them directly, rather than seeking God first

19
Acts 830-31

• Souls who have an honest Love for the Truth Seek
  the Truth
• We must also endeavor to Understand Gods Will.
• 8They read from the book, from the law of God,
  translating to give the sense so that they
  understood the reading12All the people went away
  to eat, to drink, to send portions and to
  celebrate a great festival, because they
  understood the words which had been made known to
  them. (Nehemiah 88,12)

20
Acts 830-31

• The Roman Catholic Church teaches that one cannot
  understand the word of the Lord without a
  magisterial body to explain it to him.
• 17So then do not be foolish, but understand what
  the will of the Lord is
• This is a command! We must understand Gods will
  and we can understand his will

21
Acts 832-34
"HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER AND AS A
LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT
OPEN HIS MOUTH. 33"IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT
WAS TAKEN AWAY WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION?
FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH." 34The
eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me,
of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or
of someone else?"

• He asked the right question(about the text) and
  was given the right answer! Isaiah prophesied
  about Jesus Christ.

22
Acts 835-36
35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning
from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
36As they went along the road they came to some
water and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What
prevents me from being baptized?"

• Notice from Acts chapter 8 how the oratory Philip
  is described
• Verse 4 Word Verse 5 Christ Verse 12 good
  news Verse 25 word of the Lord
• Here in verse 35 Jesus. They are all one and
  the same!

23
Acts 835-36
35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning
from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
36As they went along the road they came to some
water and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What
prevents me from being baptized?"

• How did he learn about baptism?
• It is impossible to preach Jesus and not preach
  the conditions of salvation that he has
  commanded!
• 15And He said to them, "Go into all the world
  and preach the gospel to all creation. 16"He who
  has believed and has been baptized shall be
  saved but he who has disbelieved shall be
  condemned. (Mark 1615,16)

24
Acts 835-36

• In many denominations, one is accepted for
  baptism by vote. There is nothing like that
  recorded in the text of the inspired word.
• 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the
  nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
  and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 2819)
  
• 38Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you
  be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
  forgiveness of your sins and you will receive
  the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 238)

25
Acts 837
37And Philip said, "If you believe with all your
heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

• Having real faith and being willing to confess
  that faith must precede baptism.
• This precludes infant baptism, for we know that
  the infant hath not sinned 4Everyone who
  practices sin also practices lawlessness and sin
  is lawlessness (1 John 34)
• Some translations omit verse 37, but our
  confession of Christ's deity taught elsewhere

26
Acts 837
37And Philip said, "If you believe with all your
heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

• 32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before
  men, I will also confess him before My Father who
  is in heaven. 34"But whoever denies Me before
  men, I will also deny him before My Father who is
  in heaven (Matthew. 1032,33)

27
Acts 837
37And Philip said, "If you believe with all your
heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

• 9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as
  Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised
  Him from the dead, you will be saved 10for with
  the heart a person believes, resulting in
  righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses,
  resulting in salvation. (Romans 109-10)

28
Acts 837
37And Philip said, "If you believe with all your
heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

• 12Fight the good fight of faith take hold of
  the eternal life to which you were called, and
  you made the good confession in the presence of
  many witnesses. (1 Timothy 612)

29
Acts 837
37And Philip said, "If you believe with all your
heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

• Christ being a Son of God is equal to being
  God!
• 18For this reason therefore the Jews were
  seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not
  only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was
  calling God His own Father, making Himself equal
  with God. (John 518)
• 33The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do
  not stone You, but for blasphemy and because
  You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.
  (John 1033)

30
Acts 838-39

• By the very definition of the word, Baptism is
  immersion
• bapti,zw baptizo
• Meaning to dip, sink
• Origin from 911
• Usage Baptist(3), baptize(9), baptized(51),
  baptizes(1), baptizing(10), ceremonially
  washed(1), undergo(1).
• Luke records that Philip and the eunuch went down
  into the water and came up out of the water!

31
Acts 838-39

• Matthew records 16After being baptized, Jesus
  came up immediately from the water and behold,
  the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of
  God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,
  (Matthew 316)

32
Acts 838-39

• In Romans 6 Paul writes 4Therefore we have been
  buried with Him through baptism into death, so
  that as Christ was raised from the dead through
  the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in
  newness of life
• And again in Colossians 12having been buried
  with Him in baptism, in which you were also
  raised up with Him through faith in the working
  of God, who raised Him from the dead

33
Acts 838-39

• Sadly, many churches say that baptism is
  sprinkling or pouring.
• Who is right?
• The Bible shows that rejoicing always follows
  baptism, that is because it is for the remission
  of sins!

34
Acts 838-39

• As an example, Baptists teach
• saved, rejoice, baptized.
• But, where does the Bible place rejoicing?
• Before or after baptism?
• Look at Acts 1633,34 33And he took them that
  very hour of the night and washed their wounds,
  and immediately he was baptized, he and all his
  household. 34And he brought them into his house
  and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly,
  having believed in God with his whole household.

35
No church of Christin Ethiopia! What should he
do?

• What is the rest of the story for this man, well
  what should any Christian do?
• Preach Jesus and convert souls to Christ!
• Teaching them to observe all of Christs commands
• Today, some Christians, if there is no
  congregation near to where they now live, will
  attend just about any group, or quit attending
  altogether.

36
The Two Ethiopian Eunuchs

• The Ethiopian Eunuch of Jer. 382-13 3915-18

37
Jeremiah 382-3

• 2"Thus says the LORD, 'He who stays in this city
  will die by the sword and by famine and by
  pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans
  will live and have his own life as booty and stay
  alive.' 3"Thus says the LORD, 'This city will
  certainly be given into the hand of the army of
  the king of Babylon and he will capture it.'"

38
Jeremiah 384-5

• 4Then the officials said to the king, "Now let
  this man be put to death, inasmuch as he is
  discouraging the men of war who are left in this
  city and all the people, by speaking such words
  to them for this man is not seeking the
  well-being of this people but rather their harm."
  5So King Zedekiah said, "Behold, he is in your
  hands for the king can do nothing against you."

39
Jeremiah 386-7

• 6Then they took Jeremiah and cast him into the
  cistern of Malchijah the king's son, which was in
  the court of the guardhouse and they let
  Jeremiah down with ropes. Now in the cistern
  there was no water but only mud, and Jeremiah
  sank into the mud. 7But Ebed-melech the
  Ethiopian, a eunuch, while he was in the king's
  palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the
  cistern. Now the king was sitting in the Gate of
  Benjamin

40
Jeremiah 388-9

• 8and Ebed-melech went out from the king's palace
  and spoke to the king, saying, 9"My lord the
  king, these men have acted wickedly in all that
  they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they
  have cast into the cistern and he will die right
  where he is because of the famine, for there is
  no more bread in the city."

41
Jeremiah 3810-11

• 10Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the
  Ethiopian, saying, "Take thirty men from here
  under your authority and bring up Jeremiah the
  prophet from the cistern before he dies." 11So
  Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and
  went into the king's palace to a place beneath
  the storeroom and took from there worn-out
  clothes and worn-out rags and let them down by
  ropes into the cistern to Jeremiah.

42
Jeremiah 3812-13

• 12Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to
  Jeremiah, "Now put these worn-out clothes and
  rags under your armpits under the ropes" and
  Jeremiah did so.13 So they pulled Jeremiah up
  with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern,
  and Jeremiah stayed in the court of the
  guardhouse.

43
Jeremiah 3915-16

• 15Now the word of the LORD had come to Jeremiah
  while he was confined in the court of the
  guardhouse, saying, 16"Go and speak to
  Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, 'Thus says the
  LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Behold, I am
  about to bring My words on this city for disaster
  and not for prosperity and they will take place
  before you on that day.

44
Jeremiah 3917-18

• 17"But I will deliver you on that day," declares
  the LORD, "and you will not be given into the
  hand of the men whom you dread. 18"For I will
  certainly rescue you, and you will not fall by
  the sword but you will have your own life as
  booty, because you have trusted in Me," declares
  the LORD.'"

45
The Ethiopian Eunuch of Jer. 382-13 3915-18

• l,m, db,, Ebed Melek
• Meaning 'servant of a king,' an official under
  King Zedekiah
• This Eunuch is one who lived up to his name!
• He was a man of principle and righteousness,
  serving God when most were disobeying him.
• Christians are no less bondservants of Christ and
  of righteousness (in a world of unbelievers)

46
Christians as Servants

• 22For he who was called in the Lord while a
  slave, is the Lord's freedman likewise he who
  was called while free, is Christ's slave. 23You
  were bought with a price do not become slaves of
  men. (1 Corinthians 722,23)
• 17But thanks be to God that though you were
  slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart
  to that form of teaching to which you were
  committed, 18and having been freed from sin, you
  became slaves of righteousness.(Romans 617,18)

47
Christians as Servants

• 15Now I urge you, brethren (you know the
  household of Stephanas, that they were the first
  fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted
  themselves for ministry to the saints), 16that
  you also be in subjection to such men and to
  everyone who helps in the work and labors. (1
  Corinthians 1615,16)
• 16The Lord grant mercy to the house of
  Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was
  not ashamed of my chains 17but when he was in
  Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me--
  18the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the
  Lord on that day-- and you know very well what
  services he rendered at Ephesus. (2 Timothy
  116-18)

48
Jeremiah 381-4

• God has many Ebed-Melechs in the world today.
  Are you one? Am I?
• Consider his courage in time of great personal
  danger, vv. 1- 4
• Jeremiah was preaching the truth, v. 1-3 go to
  the Chaldeans, and live stay in Jerusalem, and
  die.

49
Jeremiah 386
6Then they took Jeremiah and cast him into the
cistern of Malchijah the king's son, which was in
the court of the guardhouse and they let
Jeremiah down with ropes. Now in the cistern
there was no water but only mud, and Jeremiah
sank into the mud.

• The King gave in to the whims of his advisors
  and Jeremiah was tossed out into in the dungeon.

50
Jeremiah 388-9
8and Ebed-melech went out from the king's palace
and spoke to the king, saying, 9"My lord the
king, these men have acted wickedly in all that
they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they
have cast into the cistern and he will die right
where he is because of the famine, for there is
no more bread in the city."

• Ebed-Melech demonstrated true courage when he
  spoke up about the sad condition of Jeremiah, and
  in his compassion, he placed his own life as risk.

51
God Calls Us To Courage

• 13Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act
  like men, be strong. (1 Corinthians 1613)
• Why is it that some feel it is wrong to be what
  God commands us to become!

52
Philippians 127-30

• 27Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of
  the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and
  see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that
  you are standing firm in one spirit, with one
  mind striving together for the faith of the
  gospel 28in no way alarmed by your opponents--
  which is a sign of destruction for them, but of
  salvation for you, and that too, from God. 29For
  to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not
  only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for
  His sake, 30experiencing the same conflict which
  you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

53
Jeremiah 389
9"My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly
in all that they have done to Jeremiah the
prophet whom they have cast into the cistern and
he will die right where he is because of the
famine, for there is no more bread in the city."

• His faith was a living faith! His belief in the
  truth was manifested in obedience during
  opposition!
• 14But even if you should suffer for the sake of
  righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR
  THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, (1
  Peter 314)

54
Christians must stand, even when it means
division in the family

• 34Do not think that I came to bring peace on the
  earth I did not come to bring peace, but a
  sword. 35For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS
  FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A
  DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW 36and
  A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS
  HOUSEHOLD. 37He who loves father or mother more
  than Me is not worthy of Me and he who loves son
  or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
  38"And he who does not take his cross and follow
  after Me is not worthy of Me. 39He who has found
  his life will lose it, and he who has lost his
  life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 1034-39)

55
Jeremiah 3810-11
10Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the
Ethiopian, saying, "Take thirty men from here
under your authority and bring up Jeremiah the
prophet from the cistern before he dies." 11So
Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and
went into the king's palace to a place beneath
the storeroom and took from there worn-out
clothes and worn-out rags and let them down by
ropes into the cistern to Jeremiah.

• Ebed-melech showed great compassion by saving the
  life Jeremiah.

56
Jeremiah 3812-13
12Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to
Jeremiah, "Now put these worn-out clothes and
rags under your armpits under the ropes" and
Jeremiah did so.13 So they pulled Jeremiah up
with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern,
and Jeremiah stayed in the court of the
guardhouse.

• Christians are called to do good like the
  Samaritan of Luke 1030-37 to all, and especially
  to their brethren
• 10So then, while we have opportunity, let us do
  good to all people, and especially to those who
  are of the household of the faith. (Galatians
  610)

57
Our Faith Must Be Active and Alive!

• 14What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he
  has faith but he has no works? Can that faith
  save him? 15If a brother or sister is without
  clothing and in need of daily food, 16and one of
  you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be
  filled," and yet you do not give them what is
  necessary for their body, what use is that?
  17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead,
  being by itself. (James 214-17)

58
Jeremiah 3915-18
15Now the word of the LORD had come to Jeremiah
18"For I will certainly rescue you, and you will
not fall by the sword but you will have your own
life as booty, because you have trusted in Me,"
declares the LORD.'"

• Ebed-Melech was remembered and rewarded by God
  for his trust in God, 3915-18,

59
No one is Excluded From Gods Blessings and Care

• 1Thus says the LORD, "Preserve justice and do
  righteousness, For My salvation is about to come
  And My righteousness to be revealed. 2"How
  blessed is the man who does this, And the son of
  man who takes hold of it Who keeps from
  profaning the sabbath, And keeps his hand from
  doing any evil." 3Let not the foreigner who has
  joined himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will
  surely separate me from His people." Nor let the
  eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree." 4For thus
  says the LORD, "To the eunuchs who keep My
  sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold
  fast My covenant, 5To them I will give in My
  house and within My walls a memorial, And a name
  better than that of sons and daughters I will
  give them an everlasting name which will not be
  cut off. (Isaiah 561-5)

60
Christians are assured of Gods blessings when we
put our trust in his Word

• 19Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God
  stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those
  who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name
  of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness. (2
  Timothy 219)
• 7But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the
  LORD I will wait for the God of my salvation. My
  God will hear me. (Micah 77)
• 10Do not fear what you are about to suffer.
  Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you
  into prison, so that you will be tested, and you
  will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful
  until death, and I will give you the crown of
  life. (Revelation 210)

61
Conclusion

• Can I find myself in these two men?
• At the first, have I obeyed the gospel like the
  one in found Acts chapter 8?
• If I have not, then why to I delay?
• If I am found in Christ,
• Let us imitate Ebed-Melech in Jer. 38,39.
• Let us live each day as one with conviction,
  courage, and action, living in the fear of God!