The Sabbath School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Sep 23, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 37.

The Sabbath School

International Series.

LESSON II.—SABBATH, OCTOBER 9, 1897.

THE GOSPEL SENT TO ETHIOPIA.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 8:25-40, R. V.

25 "THEY therefore, when they had testified and spoken the Word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

26 "But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from 27 Jerusalem unto Gaza; the same is desert. And he arose and went; and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all 28 her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem for to worship; and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading 29 the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran to him, and 30 heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understand31 est thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up 32 and sit with him. Now the place of the scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth; 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away; His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other? 35 And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scrip36 ture, preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, 37 here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. 38 And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still; 39 and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the 40 eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus; and passing through he preached the Gospel to all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea."

QUESTIONS.

What did Peter and John do after preaching in Samaria?
Where was Philip told to go, and by whom? What was the nature of the place to which he was to go?
Did he obey the voice? Give the words of the text.
Who was passing that way just as he reached the place? What was this man's position and influence? Where had he been, and for what purpose?
Where was he going, and what was he doing as he journeyed?
What command did Philip receive? From whom?
What did Philip do?
As Philip approached the chariot, what did he hear? What question did he ask?
What was the eunuch's answer? What did he desire?
Repeat the scripture that he was reading. Where is it found?
What question did the eunuch ask Philip?
What did Philip then do?
To what did they come as they passed on? What did the eunuch exclaim? What did he desire?
On what condition did Philip say baptism could be administered? What was the eunuch's confession of faith?
What did he then do? Where did both Philip and the eunuch go?
What took place when they had come up out of the water? With what feelings did the eunuch proceed on his journey?
Where was Philip found, and what did he do?

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

With what did Philip show himself to be well acquainted?
Mention the different things by which he showed his quick perception of the voice of the Spirit.
It speaks highly for Philip's promptness and obedience that he willingly turned from his brilliant success in the city of Samaria to go into the desert.