Storytellers, pt. 2
Shawn Colacchia | August 7, 2022
We hope this guide will help you take the good news you hear today into your daily lives.
In this week’s message, Student Ministry Director Shawn Colacchia continues our Storytellers series by exploring the account of Philip and the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch found in Acts chapter 8.
Scripture and Notes
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
Acts 8:26-33 (NIV)
Going Deeper: Life to the Full
As the story of Philip and the Ethiopian unfolds, we see the immense love of Jesus in active pursuit of the longing traveler and His passionate prompting to experience the free “waters” of eternal life. By responding to the Holy Spirit’s callings, not only are both men indelibly marked by the baptism encounter, but ripples of restoration and rejoicing are sent throughout the world...
The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
Acts 8:34-39 (NIV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10 (NIV)
Spend some time this week reading, praying about, and perhaps journaling in response to the passages above. Do you find yourself searching for satisfaction in things that end up stealing life instead of fulfilling it? In these moments, what are some ways you can re-orient your focus toward Jesus? How might God be leading you to walk alongside someone else who is longing to experience Jesus’ freedom? Does baptism fit into any of this for you?
