Articles
Important Questions - 8
“Do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8:30)
This question differs from Jesus’ rebuke of self-satisfied ignorance: “Have you not read?” Here, Philip has been directed to a man who was genuinely interested in God’s word but at a loss for an explanation. The Ethiopian’s response, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (8:31), speaks for many. People can read Scripture on their own, but sometimes we all need further instruction to put it all together.
The evangelistically-minded crave opportunities like this! Sadly, they are all too infrequent. How thrilling for Philip to hear a genuine request for help in understanding the Scriptures: “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” (8:34). “This,” of course, is Isaiah 53 which speaks of the vicarious suffering of the Messiah. This is Philip’s cue to “preach Jesus to him” (8:35).
This is not a story merely about Philip’s teaching; it also highlights the treasurer’s initiative in seeking further truth. The hard part of evangelism is not usually the actual teaching of a prospect but finding an inquisitive soul searching for truth amid a seething mass of theological contradictions. But Christians sometimes need to take a chance and offer help to the wayward.
