It shows Philip the Evangelist baptising an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, traditionally marking the start of the Ethiopian Church (Acts 8:2639). To become a eunuch for the sake of a job (career) was probably not something this man took lightly. 31How can I, he said, unless someone explains it to me? So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. There is so much to unpack here! Though no churches or converts were linked to this episode, it is remembered in the Coptic liturgy, which states, "Be glad and rejoice, O Egypt, and her sons and all her borders, for there hath come to Thee the Lord of Man." Content may not be taken from this site without written permission. It records the burial of Stephen, the beginnings of Christian persecution, and the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Samaria and Ethiopia. There he instructed and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch; next he was caught away by the Spirit and found at Azotus (Ashdod); and then passing through he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea (Acts 8). I think it happened exactly how the Bible explained it after all we are talking about the Holy Spirit. It also produced some variations deemed heretical by early councils, including Arianism, Monophysitism, Nestorianism, and Donatism. How many were baptized on the day of Pentecost? After Philip baptized the Ethiopian treasurer, 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. Ethiopia was a long way from Jerusalem and the eunuch would have had to travel through hostile territory. Copyright 2021 WHOLLYHEARTED. There are a few major references to Ethiopia found in Isaiah, 18:1, 20:3-4, and 45:14. This explanation is very reasonable. Was Philip transported miraculously after the Ethiopian was baptized? 26 8). How far is Ethiopia from Jerusalem by chariot? for less than $4.25/month. The Bible states that he strolled with God for 300 years! After the episode recorded in the first part of this chapter, Peter and John stay in this city of Samaria for an apparently short time. Eunuchs would usually be servants or slaves who had been castrated to make them reliable servants of a royal court where physical access to the ruler could wield great influence. The text doesnt say that he appeared there instantly. In Ethiopia there were many Black Jews, who claimed the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as their God. Serious Christian missionary efforts did not begin again until the sixteenth century. It is believed that the eunuch was a court official in the Ethiopian royal court. Gaza is also mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as the place where Samson was imprisoned and met his death. According to this tradition, the Queen of Sheba (called Makeda) visited Solomons court after hearing about his wisdom. There is no clear evidence in the text that any other miracle was involved and such a miracle is not necessary to explain what happened. 3. He undoubtedly had a very devoted and dedicated heart that was seeking after a true relationship with God. Glorious is the church that walks rejoicing after believing in the Lord than waiting on the man of God to come back and preach, again and again. Miriam and Aaron were jealous because Moses had two wives and because more of his attention would have been taken by the newly married woman. The city was on the border of Israel and Egypt in the southwest part of Israel near the Mediterranean Sea. Gaza is Zipporah is mentioned for the last time when she, her sons, and her father join Moses at Mount Horeb (Exod. Why did Jesus tell the paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven? Taking A Trip during Roman Times According to The New Testimony, the primary areas for the ministry undertaken by Jesus were Galilee and Judea, with activities additionally taking area in bordering locations such as Peres and Samaria. It shows that this man was truly seeking after God and wanted to get his life togetherso much so that he was willing to spend big money for access to the Scriptures. Peace be unto you all! He desperately wishes for someone to unravel all this mystery. She stayed and learned from him for six months. Now, this Ethiopian eunuch was one of their proselytes. The owner of this website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. In reality, there are more castrated men alive today that at any other point in history. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and travelled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea (Acts 8:39-40NIV). 6. This is similar to v.26 at the beginning of the account where an angel told Philip to go to the road to Gaza. Why Did So Many Christians Support Slavery? Subscribers receive full access to the archives. So this eunuch travelled a round trip of 3200 miles just to stand outside the temple to worship! But this is an inference, and not a certainty. The total straight line distance between Jerusalem and Bethlehem is 6713 KM (kilometers) and 657.23 meters. After all, thats what happened when Paul was directed by the Holy Spirit to travel to Macedonia instead of to Asia and Bithynia (Acts 16:6-10). 22:16). One interpretation of this verse is that Moses wife Zipporah, daughter of Reuel/Jethro from Midian, was black. Answer: That baptism is a powerful act that can change a persons life and lead them to share the gospel with others. Perhaps he went on reading and found Isaiah 56:3-5! 13. The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) | Bible.org Ethiopia is located nearly South side to Jerusalem. The King of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, claimed that the royal ancestry of the Kings of Ethiopia went back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The air travel (bird fly) shortest distance between Jerusalem and Gaza is 6,069 km= 3,771 miles. and how shall they hear without a preacher? Having invested a small fortune in this book, he commenced to read it as he traveled homewards. God is great! The tradition produced such spiritual giants as Origen, Antony, and Augustine. How many miles did Jesus walk during his ministry? Shine a little light on it. How many books are in the Ethiopian Bible? Government of Ireland Masters Scholarships 2023 + MBA Entrance Scholarships at Ryerson University, Canada 2023, 2023 MasterCard Fully Funded African Scholarships at University of California, Berkeley, How Much Health Points Does A Wither Have, How Do You Donate Food And Medicine To Camp Rdr2, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. It must have cost the Eunuch an enormous sum of money. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?[37] 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Quick Answer: How Far Did The Ethiopian Eunuch Travel We would love to answer any question you have or help suggest next steps on your journey. And also both Philip and also the eunuch dropped into the water, and he baptized him. He after that was told by an angel of the Lord to go to the road between Jerusalem as well as Gaza. What happened to the Ethiopian eunuch in the Bible? By the way, I do believe that the apostles did miracles. What are your initial impressions? First, the story begins with a miraculous intervention in the ministry of Philip. How Far Did The Ethiopian Eunuch Travel To Jerusalem, Quick Answer: How Far Did Philip Travel In Acts 8, Question: Why Do Ethiopian Look Different, How Does The Travel Charger Work For Philip Sonic Care, Quick Answer: What Do Ethiopian People Look Like, Quick Answer: When Will Ethiopian Airlines Resume International Flights, How Long Does It Take To Renew Ethiopian Passport In Usa. WebA reading of Acts 8:26-39. Was the eunuch unsatisfied? Did he think that there was something missing in his worship until he was baptized? No. The Ethiopian eunuch, as a Jewi It then says that the eunuch invited Philip up into the chariot to sit with him. By becoming a eunuch, he removed any possibility of having his own children, and he was committing his life to serving the queen. God opposes a prideful, arrogant, haughty heart (James 4:6). Required fields are marked *. Well, Ethiopia is a predominantly Christian country, and Id like to think that the person who started it all was this Ethiopian eunuch. Who Was the Ethiopian Eunuch in the Bible? - whollyhearted.com Acts 8 How long did it take Queen of Sheba to travel to Solomon? 18) because he is not considered as a man (Yeb. It was south of Egypt and was a mercantile kingdom that brought goods from the sea trade by caravan north through Israel, Damascus, and Syria. According to an ancient tradition, Mark was the first missionary to Africa. The rules and regulations of the Temple Worship had perplexed him, but he procured a copy of the holy writings upon which so much of the religion was based. Are you willing to sacrifice your time for him and love him wholeheartedly? Welcome! What is the significance of Gaza in the How long is the flight from Ethiopia to Israel? 0 The word describing what happened, harpazo (Strongs #726), occurs in 14 verses of the New Testament. As mentioned above, some believe that Philips leaving was miraculous. Are you willing to allow others to teach you the Scriptures? The Old Testament is a spiritual foreshadowing of what happens in the New Testament. It was filed under Answer, Christian, Spiritual and was tagged with astral travel, baptised, Ethiopian, Holy Spirit, miracle, Philip, teleport, transported. Second, he was a Gentile, and at best could have only entered the Court of the Gentiles, but that too was now unattainable. Required fields are marked *. Sign up for our newsletter: CBYKurCT1[?).d(-e]. 55 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[39 27]/Info 38 0 R/Length 84/Prev 72557/Root 40 0 R/Size 66/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream In Biblical times Ethiopia encompassed the territory of what we now see as Ethiopia, as well as Sudan and Somalia. We all should imitate his heart! After this, Philip was suddenly taken away by the Spirit of the Lord, and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing (verse 39). He was happy! Distance between Ethiopia and Jerusalem is 2564 KM / 1593.3 miles. This was unknown to the outside world until the 18th century, the Ethiopian believers proclaimed the message, because one man heard from God and left a revival to walk along a desert road. When he saw water (a rare thing in this desert place) he wished to make the best use of it. The Holy Spirit usually uses the normal means to move people around. God, who knew this mans heart, had already decided to intervene. The eunuch, we are informed, is an Ethiopian official who has journeyed to Jerusalem to prayer and is now going back to Ethiopia (vv. WebThe geography as well as distances included naturally allow the Jesus Route to be walked as a collection of day-hikes for a total amount of 4 days, with every days walk being in between There are two versions of his death, the first being that he died a natural death but the second one says he angered a local king who ordered him nailed to a bed, covered his whole body with paper, brimstones, oil, asphalt and brushwood and set him on fire. Instead, with humility, he says, How can I, unless someone explains it to me? (Verse 31). By the time Philip had explained the good news to the Eunuch, the chariot had reached the watered plain near Gaza, and there was the water needed for the new believer to make his Mikvah, being baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus. The angel told Philip to go near the chariot and stay with the Ethiopian eunuch. What did the Ethiopian eunuch ask Philip? Life is a journey we can travel together! Think about it As was mentioned before, the Ethiopian eunuch had access to things that the average person back then didnt. How did the people of Ethiopia respond to his preaching? From remote antiquity, eunuchs were employed in the Middle East and in China in two main functions: as guards and servants in harems or other womens quarters, and as chamberlains to kings. Currently when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him say goodbye to; as well as he went on his means being glad. Currently the Ethiopian eunuch prepared to hear the Scripture. It was an immediate departure. Did the Ethiopian eunuch Yet this didnt intimidate Philip, and he had enough boldness to ask the eunuch,Do you understand what you are reading? (Verse 30). A castrated adult male will lose muscle but gain fat. Must the needy be forgotten 4ever? Acts 5:19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying, Acts 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. Answer: That anyone can be used by God to spread the gospel no matter their background or circumstances. Book of Numbers 12:1 states that Moses was criticized by his older siblings for having married a Cushite woman, Aethiopissa in the Latin Vulgate Bible version. The quickest flight from Addis Ababa Airport to Tel Aviv Airport is the direct flight which takes 4h 5m. 23:1; Lev.22:25) So he could not fulfill his objective; to worship God directly, as he had purposed. LEARN MORE. What did the Ethiopian eunuch ask Philip when they met? Perhaps he used his influence to convert many high ranking officials to the true gospel message, and those influential people went on to convert others. Philip told the Ethiopian eunuch that he could understand what he was reading if he went with him. Just because he left suddenly doesnt mean he didnt use the normal means of transport. What impact did the Ethiopian Eunuch have on the spread of Christianity? Why did the Ethiopian eunuch go to Jerusalem? All Loves Excelling: How Romance Inspired Charles Wesleys View of God, Christian Conservationists Sue to Protect Ghana Forest, Subscribe to CT magazine for full access to the. Im a super huge Tom Hanks fan and have seen practically every movie of his, can quote the entire Forrest Gump movie, and nearly cried when we and Rita Wilson tested positive for the coronavirus. Verse 35 said that Philip took the passage of Scripture that the eunuch was reading (which was Isaiah 53:7-8), and from there was able to tell him about Jesus. Philip and the Ethiopian Home Travel Question: How Far Did The Ethiopian Eunuch Travel. 26Now an angelof the Lord said to Philip,Go south to the roadthe desert roadthat goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopianeunuch,an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means queen of the Ethiopians). the Ethiopian What did he have with him in the chariot? The outcome could be history making! I have heard there are seven heavens. This actually gives us the biggest clue as to how devoted this guy was: Despite all of the hurdles, the eunuch made it a point to go to the temple to worship in person. Some believe that it was miraculous. So the first Missionary to Africa seems to have been this dear African Convert to Christianity. Jesus performed signs and wonders to prove that He is the messiah. How long did it take Jesus to walk from Nazareth to Jerusalem? Since the 1995 Oslo Accords, Bethlehem has been administered by the Palestinian Authority. It really broaden my understanding. Barnes says, It is not wise to suppose the existence of a miracle except where the effect cannot otherwise be accounted for, and except where there is a plain statement that there was a miracle. 3. Philip, one of seven deacons chosen by the 12 Apostles of Christ to be of service to the widows in Jerusalem (Acts 6:5), the evangelist (Acts 21:8), went into Samaria after the murder of Stephen around 31-32 AD. By the 1st century A.D. there were around one and a quarter million Israelites living in Egypt, primarily in the northern cities such as Alexandria. Do you understand what youre reading? If not, feel free to check out our How to Read and Understand the Bible post to help you get started. It was a copy of the book of the Prophet Isaiah, a book that would have taken a scribe a year to write. Instead of being occupied with the person God used to assist in his conversion, he was occupied with Christ as he went on his way rejoicing, which is much more important than Philips mode of travel. In the days of the early church, very shortly after Jesus had been raised from the dead and ascended to His father in Heaven, an important Ethiopian Government Official came to Jerusalem to Worship the God of Israel. If you read verses 27 through 29, you get a quick glimpse about this Ethiopian eunuchhe was in charge of the treasury for the queen of the Ethiopians, he was reading the book of Isaiah, and he was on his way back from Jerusalem. The Ethiopian eunuch could have brushed Philip off or even questioned why some random guy would have the audacity to ask him if he understood what he was readingbut that wasnt the eunuchs response. Philip baptizes an Ethiopian Eunuch on the road to Africa. Acts 8:29 He was urgent in his response to the Gospel message. Philip He wanted to be baptized. Alexandria was one of the three most important "sees," or church centers, in the ancient world, along with Rome and Antioch. Churches in these areas maintained close ties to eastern Christendom and made many important contributions. There were many reasons for making eunuchs, including that boy singers should not lose their sweet soprano voices! CTWeekly delivers the best content from ChristianityToday.com to your inbox each week. For example, Philip could have been shown that he had to leave the Ethiopian immediately and then travelled by the normal means of transport to Azotus. It became important about 50 A.D. and reached its zenith between the 300s and 600s. Answer: His only companions were his charioteer and his Ethiopian Mussulman servants. Enoch lived a life that showed the confidence that remained in his heart. The Gospel According to John describes Philip as a fisherman from Bethsaida in Galilee, the same town as Andrew and Peter. What did the Ethiopian eunuch see as he went with Philip?

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