It would benefit you to read (Acts 8:26-39) before you read further in this tract. Also it would be of assistance if you would take time to read the “Great Commission” passages as given by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. They are found in (Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:45-49). Whatever we learn from the cases of conversion in the Acts of the Apostles will of necessity be in harmony with this commission as given by Christ or one will automatically know that one has misunderstood either (1). The “Great Commission” passages, or (2). Has a misunderstanding of the case of conversion under consideration. There is to be no disunity between the two. Scripture isn’t supposed to be arrayed against Scripture so as to create a contradiction or to promote disharmony. Such would not be “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul affirms that “God is not the author of confusion..” (1 Corinthians 14:33). When one “twist” or “wrest” the Scriptures, one does so to one’s own eternal destruction unless one learns the truth, repents and is obedient to the truth which makes men free (2 Peter 3:9,16; 1 Peter 1:22-25; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; John 8:31-32;  1 Timothy 2:1-5).

In the case of the conversion of the Ethiopian treasurer, we can learn that the Old Testament has a proper usage for those of us living this side of the cross of Christ. When Philip taught this man about Jesus the record says that he began at the very Old Testament Scripture that was the focus of the Eunuch’s study. Reading it today we know it was (Isaiah 53:7-8; Acts 8:32-35). The New Testament was in the process of being revealed at this time. These inspired Apostles and Evangelist used the prophecies especially that referred to Christ and His kingdom, to lead people to Jesus as the fulfillment of those prophecies. This is still a proper use of the Old Testament. Another proper use is to read examples of God’s dealings with His covenant people, Israel and profit from the many mistakes they made. Paul shows both of these as proper usages in (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13). Our authority to act so as to please Christ however must find its origin in the last will and Testament of Jesus Christ See (Acts 3:22-23; Matthew 17:1-7;Hebrews 1:1-3; John 12:48; Luke 6:46). Many not having learned these truths will to this good day, fail to “rightly divide the word of truth,” and will come up with all kinds of unscriptural positions believing themselves to be faithfully following Jesus. It is to such that the following passages will apply come judgement day unless they learn better (Matthew 7:13-29). Yes, many will never have been “known” in the sense of acceptability to Christ for having failed to learn and do our Father’s will! Surely you do not desire to be among those whom the Lord will never have known for a failure to learn how conversion to Christ is consummated. If you are among those who have used the “conversion of the penitent thief” whom Jesus saved while hanging on the cross to offset the need for one to “obey the gospel” of Christ which involves as the final act of the “New Birth”, water baptism for the forgiveness of alien sins, you have been deceived and will be unable to see the significance of the case of conversion presently under consideration. Likewise, you will be unable to reconcile the other cases of conversion to Christ in the Acts of the Apostles while holding the view that salvation comes “at the point of faith in Jesus Christ,” or when you “ask Jesus into your heart” etc. Neither position follows the instructions found in the “Great Commission” of Christ. Consequently today the Protestants do not refer to these cases of conversion in the Acts of the Apostles as patterns for conversion to Christ today. When they do refer to them they often stop short of the “rest of the story” as Paul Harvey would say. For example in (Acts 16:22-34) the Protestant preachers and members will stop at V-31 and claim that the Jailer was saved at the point of faith in Jesus. Read on and you will learn that in keeping with the commission of Christ to His Apostles, Paul taught the man and his house, and he (the Jailer) took them (Paul & Silas) and washed their stripes (where they had been beaten) and was baptized, he and all his, straightway” (Acts 16:32-33). This was past midnight I will remind you! Why so urgent in their minds, while so minimized and denigrated in the minds of modern preachers among the Protestants? Their “faith only” theology gets in the way of Bible teaching and they opt for their own theology and traditions above what is clearly taught in the word of Christ. See (Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:5-13). It is my hope and prayer that you will stop and take inventory of your spiritual position on these matters and look with us at the case of conversion of an Ethiopian Eunuch, the treasurer of the Queen of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-39) as if you had never read or heard about it before. Can you do this? Will you do this? If I interpret this in such a way that it is at odds with Jesus’ “Great Commission” then don’t you dare accept what I teach here! Conversely, if what I teach here is in perfect harmony with said commission, you would do well to realize that your previous interpretation is faulty and this one correct. This will call upon you to make a change in your thinking, practice, and church affiliation! Many do not have the strength of their convictions to make such a needed change. I pray you aren’t among that number, for they are selling out their souls (Matthew 16:23; Matthew 10:32-34; Luke 14:25-35).

This man was not only a very good moral man being trusted to act as the treasurer of the queen of Ethiopia; In addition to this, his religion was so important to him that he had traveled by horse-drawn chariot to Jerusalem to worship after the Old Testament requirements which called for three annual trips to Jerusalem. Not content with having done this, he was reading his Bible on the way back to his homeland. God has always honored such dedication and desire to know and do His will and so sent the preacher Philip to teach him what he needed to know. This would demand a change from the Old to the New Testament religion to which the Old had pointed (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 10:1-10; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18).
Our text says simply, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:35). Please take special note of what Philip taught this gentleman from Ethiopia! The record says he “preached unto him Jesus.” What is involved when one “preaches Jesus?” The answer to this question is eternally important to you and me! Many “claim” to “preach Jesus” who do not teach nor practice what this evangelist did as recorded by Luke here in Acts chapter eight. While our context does not specify everything that may be involved when one “preaches Jesus,” it does give us some necessary implications of somethings that are involved. These necessary inferences are too plain to misunderstand, for the language is too plain to miss them. First he had to be taught. This is why God sent Philip to him. For brevity’s sake please read the following passages so I don’t have to write them out in full. They show that in conversion to Christ, teaching is essential! (John 6:44-45; Romans 10:8-10,17; Mark 16:15). Then it is evident that men must  “understand” the truth of the gospel. Philip asked this gentleman if he understood what he was reading ? (V-30). His heart was right for he “desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him” (V-30). Jesus has promised the truth seeker, those who “hunger and thirst” that they shall be filled (John 8:31-32; Matthew 5:6).  Prophecy has never been clearly understood until one inspired by the Holy Spirit revealed its fulfillment. This statement of the eunuch “how can I (understand) except some man should guide me?” Is not to say that the word of God is not understandable, only that interpretation of Old Testament prophecies were to be revealed by inspired men in the New Testament and this is what we are reading in this case, an inspired man telling another what Isaiah chapter fifty three really meant. It was speaking of Jesus about 750 years before the accounts took place which according to Philip was now fulfilled in Jesus. So he “preached Jesus” unto the eunuch.

Having “preached Jesus” unto the eunuch, he made a request of Philip the evangelist. What was his request? Why did he make such a request do you suppose when Philip “preached unto him Jesus?” Total honesty will lead one to make some conclusions which are totally at odds with most religionist of our day, even those who claim an attachment to Christ. One has not “preached Jesus” who teaches that one is saved by faith alone! One has not “preached Jesus” who teaches that one is to kneel and pray the sinners prayer, asking Jesus to come into his heart and save him, for such isn’t in harmony with either the “Great Commission” or the accounts of conversion here in the Acts of the Apostles!  One isn’t “preaching Jesus” who teaches that one is saved before and without water baptism! That is the doctrine of every Protestant church of which I am aware. One isn’t “preaching Jesus” who teaches that the one saved should “join the church of their choice.” This too we hear on every hand. One cannot “preach Jesus” in the Biblical sense unless one gives the same answers that inspired men gave to folks desiring to become Christians in the first century AD. Each case of conversion takes into account exactly where the person being taught was when he desired salvation. If an unbeliever, one was told to believe as we saw in (Acts 16:30-33). If the person has already become a believer by the teaching of “Jesus” he has received, such a one is told to “repent and be baptized..for the remission of sins...” (Acts 2:36-38). If one has been taught “Jesus” and desires baptism, the teacher must know that the one taught believes in Jesus (John 8:21-14; Romans 5:1-3). How to find out if one believes? Ask them if they do not volunteer the information. This is the case under consideration. Philip taught this man “Jesus” and he requested baptism! Why did he request such a thing? Because involved in “preaching Jesus” is water baptism for the forgiveness of alien sins as first taught on Pentecost, (Acts 2:38). We know that “preaching Jesus” involves water baptism because it was the one taught Jesus, who requested baptism. He could not be properly baptized however until he confessed with his mouth the faith in his heart. This is virtually what Philip told this man when he asked “..what doth hinder me to be baptized? (V-36). Philip said, “If you believe you may..” (V-37). The eunuch did believe and confessed that he did. The record then says “And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” (Acts 8:37-38). The man went on his way rejoicing we are told in (V-39). His rejoicing came after coming up out of the waters of baptism. He had every reason to rejoice for now all past sins had been washed away in the blood of the sinless Son of God Almighty! This beautiful case of conversion to Christ is also perverted as are the others on record by our Protestant friends because they are convinced that one is “saved first and baptized later.” Don’t you believe it for it isn’t true! Dear reader, this was six hundred years before Roman Catholicism existed and fifteen hundred years before Protestantism existed. What did this man become when he was converted to Christ? Of what church was he a member? According to the Standard Manual for Baptist Churches by Edward T. Hiscox, “..no differing denominations existed...” Then what was this man? He was simply and only what conversion to Christ has always produced, a “Christian” (Acts 11:26b; 1 Peter 4:16; Acts 26:28; 1 Corinthians 1:10-12; Acts 4:10-12). As a Christian, of what church was he a member at this point?  It should be obvious to every candid reader that he was (as were those on Pentecost (Acts 2:38,41,47) “added by the Lord to His church.” When born again, one is automatically a citizen of Christ’s kingdom which is His church (Matthew 16:16-19; Colossians 1:13-14; John 3:3-5). One’s soul is purified when one “obeys the truth of the gospel” (1 Peter 1:22-25; Hebrews 5:9; Matthew 7:21).  Did you read anything about this man going before a group of folks who considered whether or not his conversion was valid and voted as to whether he was worthy of their fellowship? No, it isn’t here nor can it be found anywhere in the inspired record. You will have to read that from some Protestant creed. We can learn also from this account that one isn’t “baptized into a local congregation” not even a congregation of the New Testament order, and certainly not into some human Protestant or Catholic denomination. This man who was now a member of the body of Christ, His church, went on his way rejoicing.  We have no record of which local church of Christ (Romans 16:16) he may have identified with. In other cases we are told as in the case of Saul’s conversion (Acts 9:18-22; Acts 9:26-29). From multiple other passages we learn that the only organization known to the religion of Christ is the local congregation with her Bishops (elders) deacons, and other saints (Philippians 1:1-2). Every Christian must “place membership” with or “identify with” a local church of the New Testament order and there worship and work with others of “like precious faith” to please the Lord (Hebrews 13:7,17; Acts 20:17-28; Acts 14:23; 1 Peter 5:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-18; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). On the back page of this tract is the “plan of salvation” for the alien sinners with passages listed. I shall include a chart also for your to consider all that is said in these clear cases of conversion. This is too serious for you to lay it aside and disregard what is clearly taught in Scripture. Eternity is at stake. Heaven and hell are under consideration don’t you see. Those who “obey not the gospel” will be punished with “everlasting destruction..” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9). Obeying the gospel as can be seen when all cases of conversion are considered, falls into a logical sequence of steps “into Christ” and “into the church of Christ.” They are Hearing, believing, repenting, and confessing one’s faith in Jesus as the Christ and being immersed into Christ and into His one body, the church, where salvation and reconciliation to God are found (Ephesians 2:10-16; 3:1-3; 4:1-6; 5:22-23, 27; Galatians 3:26-29; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 12:13). If you have read this to this point and will now consider the chart on cases of conversion included; Why not give us a call and let us assist you in “putting on Christ” and becoming a member of His blood bought church?

Pentecost, Jews (Acts 2:22-38,40-41,47)
Samaritans (Acts 8:12)
Simon (Acts 8:13)
Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-39)
Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:1-6; 22:16; Acts 26 cptr.)
Cornelius, A Gentile (Acts 11:14; 10:1-2, 43,47,48)
Lydia (Acts 8:14-15)
Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:25-33)

    Study each case in carefully in the light of the "Great Commission" as given by Chrsit to His apostles and they in turn to others (Matt. 28:18-10; Luke 24:45-49; Mark 16:15-16). See how each  1). Heard.  2). Believed.  3) Repented. 4). Confessed Jesus.  5). Were immersed to have alien sins forgiven and to enter Christ's church.