It had been a satisfying pilgrimage, but he still carried the bitter disappointment in his heart that even though he had risen to such a trusted and high position in the royal court of Ethiopia, he, being a eunuch, could not be a full member of the Jewish community. The Torah forbade this.

The Ethiopian was a searcher of truth. As he had studied the scriptures, the source of truth, he had grasped a shining ray of hope, a balm to his troubled heart. That hope was found in the prophets. They foretold of a coming Messiah who would bring peace, justice, and joy to the world. He felt fortunate to have copies of the scrolls and, because of the learning afforded him, he was delighted as he began to read from Isaiah, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government shall be on his shoulders; and His name will called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God . . .” (Isaiah 9:6, 7).

The Ethiopian then prayed, “O, Lord God, I believe you are the living God; would you help me understand who the prophets are speaking of and what this means?”

Phillip was seeing great things happen in the city of Samaria as he preached the Good News about Jesus and told the people about the Messiah. Crowds listened intently to what he had to say because of all the miracles of God that they had witnessed. The whole city was filled with joy. Many people believed Phillip's message of Good News concerning the kingdom of God and were being baptized. But suddenly God told Phillip to leave Samaria and go south, down the desert road. Phillip immediately obeyed. Sometimes God opens doors of opportunity in very unlikely places and at very unlikely times.

As the Ethiopian traveled down the dusty desert road, he continued reading from the scroll, “He was led, as a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth” (Isaiah 53:7-8 NLT).

As he thought on the scriptures before him a man ran along beside his chariot. Hearing him reading from the prophet Isaiah, Phillip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I when there is no one to instruct me?” He then asked Phillip to come up into his carriage and sit with him. He asked Phillip, “Was Isaiah talking about himself or someone else?” Phillip began with the same scripture and used many others to tell him the Good News about Jesus the Messiah who was prophesied in the sacred scriptures.

As they rode along, they came to some water and the Eunuch suddenly exclaimed, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” Phillip replied, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The Ethiopian answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” They stopped the chariot and both Phillip and the eunuch went down into the water and Phillip baptized him.

As the Ethiopian resumed his journey home, he once again read from the scroll, “And my blessings are for the Gentiles, too, when they commit themselves to the Lord. Do not let them think that I consider them second-class citizens. And my blessings are for the eunuchs. They are as much as mine as anyone else. For I say to the eunuchs who commit their lives tome, I will give them . . . a name far greater than they would have by having sons and daughters.” Tears streamed down his face as he continued to read, “The name I give them is an everlasting one. It will never disappear! . . . I will fill them with joy in my house of prayer” (Isaiah 56:3-8 NLT).

The Ethiopian eunuch came out of Africa and found the hope, peace, and everlasting life that he had searched so long for. He found it in Christ Jesus, who died for the sins of the world and arose from the dead.

What about you? Have you experienced that life changing, life giving power? You can receive it today by faith. “For as many as received Him, gave He power to become sons of God, even as many as believed on His name” (John 1:12). Call on the Lord Jesus today. (The story is based on Acts 8 paraphrased from the New Living Translation and the King James Version.)