Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
The verse pictures the Ethiopian treasurer of great authority under Candace, returning from worship at Jerusalem and sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah on the desert road south toward Gaza. Though influential, he was a sincere seeker who believed what light he had, prayed and searched the prophecies, yet could not fully understand and was only half converted. His reading without understanding shows that heavenly truth is learned through human fellowship, so God answered his desire by attending him with angels and the drawing of the Spirit and by sending Philip through angel and Spirit to join his chariot and explain the Word. Beginning at the prophecy of the sheep led to slaughter, Philip preached Jesus as its fulfillment until the eunuch gladly believed Jesus Christ is the Son of God and was baptized without letting rank hinder him. He stands for the large class who read Scripture without grasping its meaning, whom God still joins to informed, consecrated believers to teach them, through whom the light then shines to others even to Ethiopia.
The Reader and Journey
The reader was a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasure. He was an Ethiopian official holding high office, a man of great authority and influence.
He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home, sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet. He was seated in his chariot reading Esaias while traveling the desert way south from Jerusalem to Gaza.
Seeking, Guidance and Conversion
Though high-ranking and influential, the man in the chariot was a sincere, honest-hearted seeker after light who believed the Scriptures, held fast what light he had, prayed for understanding, and diligently searched the prophecies. He had charge of all the treasure under Candace queen of the Ethiopians and had come to Jerusalem to worship, yet he was only half converted and could not fully understand what he read. His reading while returning showed an honest heart wanting clearer light rather than groping in darkness.
His confusion was increased by conflicting priestly interpretations and by troubled reports about Jesus, so that diligent belief was mixed with perplexity about the Messianic prophecies. He had become interested by hearing Christ's preaching to the people, and he searched the Scriptures because he desired light and was interested and inquiring. While he studied with an inquiring, newly awakened mind his acceptance of the Saviour hung in the balance.
The verse shows that a person may read Scripture without understanding it, because God has ordained that people learn heavenly things through communicating with one another. He represents a large number who read but cannot understand the import of what they read and need someone knowledgeable to explain the Word. In God's providence the uninformed, honest-hearted one is brought into connection with informed believers fitted by knowledge and training to meet individual needs, and this work continues in every age.
Heaven was closely connected with earth in his case, for this is an example of that close connection. Angels who minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation attended him, took notice of him, and watched him, cooperating with human workers to win him to Christ. The Holy Spirit drew him to the Saviour, and God answered his prayer and desire for light and knowledge by sending help to explain the truth about Christ. At the decisive moment evil angels also worked to draw his mind elsewhere, interpose obstacles, confuse him, press in falsehoods, and divert him from truth, so that if left at that critical point he might never have accepted the Saviour.
God directed Philip by an angel toward the south to the desert way and by the Spirit to go near and join the chariot as God's representative. A heavenly messenger showed Philip his work for the Ethiopian and directed him to go to him where he would be invited into the chariot. That reading gave the opening to ask whether he understood, to be invited up to sit with him and guide him, and to be recognized as the sent helper.
Beginning at that same scripture about the sheep led to slaughter, Philip explained that Isaiah's prophecy concerning Christ pointed to Jesus and His mission to save sinners. His diligent search prepared him to receive that teaching, and Philip preached Jesus to him from that scripture until the question of whom the prophecy described was answered. The preaching led to confession of belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and to baptism upon that belief.
He did not resist the drawing to the Saviour, did not make his high position an excuse for not accepting the crucified One, and did not let standing and wide influence keep him from receiving truth. He held fast what light he had and held the truth he believed unyieldingly, yet was not satisfied to grope in darkness and wanted clearer light. When Christ was revealed to him from the prophecy he received Him with gladness and accepted the Crucified One.
His prompt acceptance led to conversion through the gospel of the Word preached to him. God saw that because of high standing and wide influence his conversion would enable him to share the gospel with others. Through him the light of truth shone to the higher classes and was carried to others, and it reached Ethiopia, where many accepted Christ.
Pattern for Mission Work
The man in the chariot represents a large class who read the Scriptures yet cannot grasp their import and need someone to teach them their true meaning. They need missionaries like Philip who hear God's voice, go where He sends them, explain His Word, guide such readers, and preach Jesus from it. Doing this work is God's call to His people, and neglecting that heritage brings His judgment.
God puts forth great effort for even one person, and workers are to be on watch and ready to help every case that comes to their notice. God does not do the work without human instrumentality but works through men connecting with fellow men as His instruments in behalf of others, with heavenly angels watching and cooperating to win seekers to Christ. In His providence He brings uninformed, honest-hearted ones into connection with informed believers who by special knowledge and training are best fitted to reach the individual needs of each case, and this work continues in every age. Today just as much as then angels lead and guide those who will be guided and led.
His mind was inquiring and newly awakened, seeking to understand the Word, with acceptance of the Saviour hanging in the balance. At that moment heavenly angels were working for his enlightenment while Satan and evil angels were working to draw his mind elsewhere, interpose obstacles, confuse him, press in falsehoods, and divert him from truth. If left at that critical point he might never have accepted the Saviour and his mind could be lost, so God's human agents must be wholly consecrated, quick to understand their work, and take advantage of every circumstance to teach the grace of God and draw men to Christ.
The chapter containing the traveler sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah is to be carefully studied as the pattern for missionary work in unworked cities. Simple Bible reading and Bible lessons open the way for personal instruction, with much spreading about by division and subdivision instead of centering workers and means in a few places, large schools, and extravagant buildings. Small schools are to be established in new places to prepare workers, and workers are to be educated by being taken along to be instructed in different lines of work. Unpretentious buildings are to be put up in the cities, books and papers dealing more fully with the simplicity of Bible lessons are to be dispensed, and physicians and humble workers are to be used in ways that can do a far greater work than is supposed, beginning missionary work in several places and merging in one city and then dividing to enter the next city, until several cities are being worked and earnest effort joined by the Holy Spirit makes the truth a converting power to thousands.
God has a special work for servants to do for even a few souls in needy, out-of-the-way fields who have never heard the last gospel message. To them the precious light of Bible truth is to be presented in obedience to the will of God, as Philip was sent by God to enlighten the understanding of the returning reader. Men and women seeking preparation for service in the byways and hedges should be given hearty encouragement and support to go where there are only a few, because God may have sent them there as He sent Philip to the Ethiopian.
The same divine care reaches those starving for the Word from Cooranbong to Queensland who search the Scriptures while ignorant of them and as sheep having no shepherd, needing someone to come and explain the truth to them. It reaches colored people, for as God looked down upon the seeking Ethiopian of the colored race, a man of influence whose interest in the Scriptures He saw, and sent His servant to his help to bring the gospel light given for all mankind to him, so He will raise up workers today to carry the message of truth to those who greatly need it, calling both white people and colored people to engage in His service as laborers together with Himself. It provides the pattern for opening doors to enter new fields among people who have an advanced acquaintance with temperance principles, by uniting with them on temperance and then by their own request leading them to the Bible and to light on the Sabbath, doing a special work for this time rather than entangling the work of God in a supposed beneficent work that consumes means and closes doors.
Philip going to the man sitting in his chariot reading the prophet on his return journey is true Christian home missionary labor. It shows that the Lord does not leave in darkness a sincere seeker who pleads with the Father in heaven for light to know the truth, holds fast what light he has and the truth he believes unyieldingly, is not satisfied to grope in darkness, and wants clearer light. God's people should be earnest seekers for the truth and do this kind of personal home missionary work, and workers are urged to read this record of how wonderfully the Lord worked for one who was seeking after light.
The verse pictures the Ethiopian treasurer of great authority under Candace, returning from worship at Jerusalem and sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah on the desert road south toward Gaza. Though influential, he was a sincere seeker who believed what light he had, prayed and searched the prophecies, yet could not fully understand and was only half converted. His reading without understanding shows that heavenly truth is learned through human fellowship, so God answered his desire by attending him with angels and the drawing of the Spirit and by sending Philip through angel and Spirit to join his chariot and explain the Word. Beginning at the prophecy of the sheep led to slaughter, Philip preached Jesus as its fulfillment until the eunuch gladly believed Jesus Christ is the Son of God and was baptized without letting rank hinder him. He stands for the large class who read Scripture without grasping its meaning, whom God still joins to informed, consecrated believers to teach them, through whom the light then shines to others even to Ethiopia.
The Reader and Journey
The reader was a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasure. He was an Ethiopian official holding high office, a man of great authority and influence.
He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home, sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet. He was seated in his chariot reading Esaias while traveling the desert way south from Jerusalem to Gaza.
Seeking, Guidance and Conversion
Though high-ranking and influential, the man in the chariot was a sincere, honest-hearted seeker after light who believed the Scriptures, held fast what light he had, prayed for understanding, and diligently searched the prophecies. He had charge of all the treasure under Candace queen of the Ethiopians and had come to Jerusalem to worship, yet he was only half converted and could not fully understand what he read. His reading while returning showed an honest heart wanting clearer light rather than groping in darkness.
His confusion was increased by conflicting priestly interpretations and by troubled reports about Jesus, so that diligent belief was mixed with perplexity about the Messianic prophecies. He had become interested by hearing Christ's preaching to the people, and he searched the Scriptures because he desired light and was interested and inquiring. While he studied with an inquiring, newly awakened mind his acceptance of the Saviour hung in the balance.
The verse shows that a person may read Scripture without understanding it, because God has ordained that people learn heavenly things through communicating with one another. He represents a large number who read but cannot understand the import of what they read and need someone knowledgeable to explain the Word. In God's providence the uninformed, honest-hearted one is brought into connection with informed believers fitted by knowledge and training to meet individual needs, and this work continues in every age.
Heaven was closely connected with earth in his case, for this is an example of that close connection. Angels who minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation attended him, took notice of him, and watched him, cooperating with human workers to win him to Christ. The Holy Spirit drew him to the Saviour, and God answered his prayer and desire for light and knowledge by sending help to explain the truth about Christ. At the decisive moment evil angels also worked to draw his mind elsewhere, interpose obstacles, confuse him, press in falsehoods, and divert him from truth, so that if left at that critical point he might never have accepted the Saviour.
God directed Philip by an angel toward the south to the desert way and by the Spirit to go near and join the chariot as God's representative. A heavenly messenger showed Philip his work for the Ethiopian and directed him to go to him where he would be invited into the chariot. That reading gave the opening to ask whether he understood, to be invited up to sit with him and guide him, and to be recognized as the sent helper.
Beginning at that same scripture about the sheep led to slaughter, Philip explained that Isaiah's prophecy concerning Christ pointed to Jesus and His mission to save sinners. His diligent search prepared him to receive that teaching, and Philip preached Jesus to him from that scripture until the question of whom the prophecy described was answered. The preaching led to confession of belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and to baptism upon that belief.
He did not resist the drawing to the Saviour, did not make his high position an excuse for not accepting the crucified One, and did not let standing and wide influence keep him from receiving truth. He held fast what light he had and held the truth he believed unyieldingly, yet was not satisfied to grope in darkness and wanted clearer light. When Christ was revealed to him from the prophecy he received Him with gladness and accepted the Crucified One.
His prompt acceptance led to conversion through the gospel of the Word preached to him. God saw that because of high standing and wide influence his conversion would enable him to share the gospel with others. Through him the light of truth shone to the higher classes and was carried to others, and it reached Ethiopia, where many accepted Christ.
Pattern for Mission Work
The man in the chariot represents a large class who read the Scriptures yet cannot grasp their import and need someone to teach them their true meaning. They need missionaries like Philip who hear God's voice, go where He sends them, explain His Word, guide such readers, and preach Jesus from it. Doing this work is God's call to His people, and neglecting that heritage brings His judgment.
God puts forth great effort for even one person, and workers are to be on watch and ready to help every case that comes to their notice. God does not do the work without human instrumentality but works through men connecting with fellow men as His instruments in behalf of others, with heavenly angels watching and cooperating to win seekers to Christ. In His providence He brings uninformed, honest-hearted ones into connection with informed believers who by special knowledge and training are best fitted to reach the individual needs of each case, and this work continues in every age. Today just as much as then angels lead and guide those who will be guided and led.
His mind was inquiring and newly awakened, seeking to understand the Word, with acceptance of the Saviour hanging in the balance. At that moment heavenly angels were working for his enlightenment while Satan and evil angels were working to draw his mind elsewhere, interpose obstacles, confuse him, press in falsehoods, and divert him from truth. If left at that critical point he might never have accepted the Saviour and his mind could be lost, so God's human agents must be wholly consecrated, quick to understand their work, and take advantage of every circumstance to teach the grace of God and draw men to Christ.
The chapter containing the traveler sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah is to be carefully studied as the pattern for missionary work in unworked cities. Simple Bible reading and Bible lessons open the way for personal instruction, with much spreading about by division and subdivision instead of centering workers and means in a few places, large schools, and extravagant buildings. Small schools are to be established in new places to prepare workers, and workers are to be educated by being taken along to be instructed in different lines of work. Unpretentious buildings are to be put up in the cities, books and papers dealing more fully with the simplicity of Bible lessons are to be dispensed, and physicians and humble workers are to be used in ways that can do a far greater work than is supposed, beginning missionary work in several places and merging in one city and then dividing to enter the next city, until several cities are being worked and earnest effort joined by the Holy Spirit makes the truth a converting power to thousands.
God has a special work for servants to do for even a few souls in needy, out-of-the-way fields who have never heard the last gospel message. To them the precious light of Bible truth is to be presented in obedience to the will of God, as Philip was sent by God to enlighten the understanding of the returning reader. Men and women seeking preparation for service in the byways and hedges should be given hearty encouragement and support to go where there are only a few, because God may have sent them there as He sent Philip to the Ethiopian.
The same divine care reaches those starving for the Word from Cooranbong to Queensland who search the Scriptures while ignorant of them and as sheep having no shepherd, needing someone to come and explain the truth to them. It reaches colored people, for as God looked down upon the seeking Ethiopian of the colored race, a man of influence whose interest in the Scriptures He saw, and sent His servant to his help to bring the gospel light given for all mankind to him, so He will raise up workers today to carry the message of truth to those who greatly need it, calling both white people and colored people to engage in His service as laborers together with Himself. It provides the pattern for opening doors to enter new fields among people who have an advanced acquaintance with temperance principles, by uniting with them on temperance and then by their own request leading them to the Bible and to light on the Sabbath, doing a special work for this time rather than entangling the work of God in a supposed beneficent work that consumes means and closes doors.
Philip going to the man sitting in his chariot reading the prophet on his return journey is true Christian home missionary labor. It shows that the Lord does not leave in darkness a sincere seeker who pleads with the Father in heaven for light to know the truth, holds fast what light he has and the truth he believes unyieldingly, is not satisfied to grope in darkness, and wants clearer light. God's people should be earnest seekers for the truth and do this kind of personal home missionary work, and workers are urged to read this record of how wonderfully the Lord worked for one who was seeking after light.