August 21 // Baptism weekend

BAPTISM WEEKEND

“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.” 

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?

 Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all of your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’

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. 

Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. Acts 8:26-40

“If you believe with all your heart you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”  Acts 8:37

 “That all authority had been given to him and that he now charged them with the responsibility of going out into the world and preaching the gospel and baptizing those who believed in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:18 - 19

Repent and be baptized every one of you. Acts 2:38a 

 What must I do to be saved?   Acts 16:30b

‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and so will your household.’ Acts 16:31

 “And he arose and went… and at that very moment there was an Ethiopian who was heading in this direction.” Acts 8:27

Do you understand what you were reading?   Acts 8:30b

How can I unless someone guides me.   Acts 8:31a 

The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?’ Acts 8:34

 ‘He opened his mouth and beginning with this scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus.’ Acts 8:35

“Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34a

‘Here is water, what prevents me from being baptized?’ Acts 8:36b