Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch - Acts 8:26-40
By Simon Ashton on 26 April 2026 at Morning Service on Zoom with Communion
Simon recollects a similar situation as the encounter the Ethiopian has with Philip in his own life, and tells a little of his past life at the start and includes other stories later in his talk.
He refers to Luke 24:47, Acts 1:8 and Revelation 7:9 to show the good news of Jesus is to be taken to the whole world, desptie Jesus leaving the message with a twelve scallywags! He mentions where in the world the message has reached and where it is growing fastest.
Then he compares us with the twelve disciples, and that it is our responsibility to spread the good news now, with the help of God’s Holy Spirit. He says the work of the Spirit in us is to help us to:
1. Make a start, take a step (as Philip did), perhaps not knowing where God would take us
2. Explain the gospel, as revealed in all of the bible -compare Isaiah 53 (which the Ethiopian was reading) with Jesus’ experiences
3. Work of the Spirit in others is to cut people to the heart -help them realise their need of Christ
We should have a target to work towards and take a step towards it.
He finishes with a story in his life where he wanted to stand in court in the place of the accused, which is what Jesus did for us.