Philip Teaches the Man from Ethiopia

Scripture Reference: Acts 8:26-40

Suggested Emphasis: Teachers, preachers, elders, and other Christians can help us understand the bible.

Memory Verse: Obey your leaders and be under their authority. These men are watching you because they are responsible for your soul. Hebrews 13:17, ICB

Story Overview:

Philip followed instructions from an angel of the Lord and went to a very important man riding in a chariot. The man was a chief official of the Queen of Ethiopia. He was reading from a scroll of Isaiah but could not understand it. Philip joined him in the chariot and explained that the Scripture was talking about Jesus. The man began to believe in Jesus, and when the chariot passed by some water, the official asked Philip to baptise him (and he did!)

Background Study:

Click here for an overview of the Book of Acts

Philip was a respected and faithful man who was one of the seven helpers first appointed in a congregation of disciples of Jesus. The church first began in Jerusalem among the Jews, but following the Stoning of Stephen, a great persecution rose up against the followers of Jesus, and they left Jerusalem in large numbers. Followers of Jesus, like Philip, began teaching people about Jesus wherever they went. This meant the good news of King Jesus spread out from Jerusalem to a wider and wider circle of people. Philip’s first stop was Samaria, where he taught many, including Simon the Sorcerer.

Ethiopia probably refers to ancient Nubia, which is present-day southern Egypt and northern Sudan. “Candace” was a title used for the leading woman of the country, so this Ethiopian man would have had a trusted position as “an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Queen. Men placed in charge of the living quarters, the harem in particular, were sometimes made eunuchs (castrated) but the term “eunuch” could also be used in a more general way for an official or officer.

Special Note to Teachers: More than one teacher has been flustered when a child asks the completely natural question, “What is a eunuch?” For younger children, I have just answered that a eunuch was a special servant to the queen and was not allowed to have girlfriends, wives or children. For the older child, I have just said that a eunuch is a man who has had an operation that makes him unable to father children. If an older child were genuinely curious (and not asking to seek attention), I would consider telling him or her that castration involves removing the testicles. But, in that case, I would mention it to the parents after class so they can follow up at home if needed. We want to encourage children to ask questions about God’s Word, so never make them feel it is unacceptable to ask. Be a teacher that children can trust to give straight answers.

The Ethiopian was probably a proselyte (a Gentile who has converted to Judaism) but would not have been allowed full privileges at the temple because he was a eunuch (Deuteronomy 23:1). Interestingly, he chose to read from Isaiah. As a eunuch, he must have been drawn to Isaiah’s writing because Isaiah talks about God’s acceptance of those, including eunuchs, who worship him (Isaiah 56:3-5).

The Ethiopian was on his way home from Jerusalem. His chosen reading to pass the hours away was from the prophet Isaiah, and he must have wondered about the servant lamb Isaiah was referring to. When Philip ran up beside the chariot, the eunuch told Philip that he was confused by what he was reading in Isaiah 53:7-8.

Philip went on to explain the good news of Jesus Christ. His words aren’t recorded, but he probably explained the whole context of Isaiah and connected the suffering and sacrificial lamb in Isaiah dying on behalf of the people in order to rescue them to the suffering and sacrificial death of Jesus, who died on behalf of the people to rescue them. See John 1:29-31 and Hebrews 9:24-28.

Part of the good news that Philip shared must have included a discussion about being baptised into King Jesus to become members of the forgiven people of God. It was the Ethiopian eunuch who requested to be baptised. See Acts 2:22-39 and Romans 6:3-10.

As soon as they came up out of the water, the Spirit took Philip away so that Philip “finds himself” in the town of Azotus. He continues preaching in the area and finally settles in the town of Caesarea (88.5 kilometres/55 miles northwest of Jerusalem). We next read about Philip 20 years later when Paul stops in Caesarea on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 21:8-9). At that late date, he is referred to as “Philip the Evangelist” with “four unmarried daughters who prophesied.”

Understanding the Bible:
Children can relate to the man from Ethiopia because they often hear preaching or read Scripture they do not understand. Just as the Spirit sent Philip to help the Ethiopians understand, God provides a family of faith to surround children and help them learn what is needed for a growing and maturing faith. Think of the people in your congregation who provide this for children. This can be elders, preachers, teachers and other Christians. The children might also have other people, like relatives, who help them understand what the Scripture says. And you are that person to the children in your class.

Way to Introduce the Story:

Before class, use a sheet of paper to write the words from Isaiah that the Eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the 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.” (Acts 8:32b-33) Roll the paper up to form a scroll. When the children arrive, open the scroll and have one of the children read it. It is expected that this will be difficult to understand.

Ask them what this verse means and then discuss the fact that sometimes the word of God can be difficult to understand. Elders, preachers, bible class teachers, and others who study their Bibles can often help us to understand what we read. In today’s story, we are going to read about a man who read the very same verses that we just read. Someone helped him to understand.
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The Story:

To persecute someone is to cause harm to them on purpose so that they suffer. A man named Saul was one of the Jewish leaders who persecuted followers of Jesus. He even went from house to house and dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Soon, many followers of Jesus began to leave Jerusalem and move to other places.

It was sad that they had to leave Jerusalem, but the good thing was that wherever the followers of Jesus went, they preached about King Jesus. Because of that, many more people heard the good news. One of these followers of Jesus was named Philip. He was a man who was wise and lived according to the Holy Spirit. Philip travelled to Samaria and told the people there about Jesus.

After this, an angel of God came to Philip and gave him special instructions to go to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. Philip knew that angels were servants of God who sometimes delivered messages from him. So he did just as the angel directed. When he arrived at the road, Philip looked up and saw an important-looking man in a chariot.

The man was from Ethiopia. At that time, this country was very rich and powerful. The man was an important official in charge of the Queen’s treasures. He was on his way back home after going to Jerusalem to worship. The man was reading from a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He was reading about a suffering lamb that was sacrificed on behalf of others, but he did not know what that meant.

The Holy Spirit of God told Philip to go up to the chariot, so Philip ran up to it. Philip asked the Ethiopian, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

Sometimes, it is difficult to understand what we are reading in the word of God. Sometimes, we need help from people who understand the Bible better than we do. The man had many questions and asked Philip to help him understand.

The Ethiopian showed Philip the Scripture he was reading, and Philip explained it to him.

Then Philip went on to tell him more and more about Jesus Christ so that man could understand that Jesus was the Lamb of God. The man must have thought, “Oh, I see, now I understand what Isaiah was talking about.” The Ethiopian was so happy to hear the Good News of Jesus.

The Ethiopian was so excited. He wanted to have his sins forgiven so that he could be a follower of Jesus and be part of the people of God. When the chariot passed near some water, the Ethiopian said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptised?”

The Ethiopian ordered the chariot to stop, and he and Philip went down into the water so Philip could baptise him. As soon as they came out of the water, the Holy Spirit took Philip away. He later appeared in another town and taught many other people about Jesus.

Even though the Ethiopian man never saw Philip again, the Bible says he “went on his way rejoicing.” He was now a follower of Jesus and part of the people of God. His life would never be the same.

Philip helped this man understand the Scriptures. When you have questions about what you read in the Bible, who can help you understand?
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Ways to Tell the Story:

This story can be told using a variety of methods. Always remain true to the facts found in the Bible but help children connect to its meaning by using drama, visual aids, voice inflection, student interaction and/or emotion.
Click here for visual aids and story-telling methods.

Click here to download the slideshow, or click here to download the pictures to print.
Each teacher is unique, so only use the illustrations that best relate to the way YOU are telling the story in THIS lesson. Too many illustrations can be confusing, so eliminate any that cover other stories or details you do not wish to emphasise in this lesson.
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Review Questions:

Who told Philip to go to the desert road to Gaza? An angel of the Lord
What was the Ethiopian Official riding in? A chariot
What was the Ethiopian Official doing when Philip first saw him? Reading a scroll of the Book of Isaiah
What did the Ethiopian Official want to do after Philip taught him about Jesus? He wanted to be baptised.

Song Suggestions:

Roll Roll Chariot Roll Song
We Will Roll the Gospel Chariot Along
Love is Something if You Give it Away
Refer to the Song Page on this website for more options.

Learning Activities and Crafts:

(How to choose the best learning activities for my teaching situation)

Activities:

Have one of the elders or preachers visit class today to tell the children what they do to help explain God’s word to people as Philip did. They may explain their education and experience. Ask them to show the class some sermon outlines or bible study courses.
Direct the children to mime the story today as a review
Play a simple word game. Bible Wordz Game is an adaptable game where children form words from letter tiles. The words relate to words found in the Bible lesson.

Crafts: