"When the apostles which were at Jerusalem
heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto
them Peter and John." Verse 14. The Spirit of God was waiting
to enlighten souls and convert them to the truth.
Notice how much effort was put forth for
just one man, an Ethiopian. "The angel of the Lord spake
unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the
way that goeth down from Jerusalem
unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold,
a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace
queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure,
and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and
sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
"Then the Spirit said unto Philip,
Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither
to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest
thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man
should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up
and sit with him. . . .
"Then Philip . . . began at the same
scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their
way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See,
here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip
said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And
he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God.
"And he commanded the chariot to stand
still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and
the eunuch; and he baptized him.
"And when they were come up out of
the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the
eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But
Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in
all the cities, till he came to Caesarea." Acts 8:26-40.
In the experience of Philip and the Ethiopian is presented the work to which the Lord calls His people. The Ethiopian represents a large class who need missionaries like Philip, missionaries who will hear the voice of God and go where He sends them. There are those in the world who are reading the Scriptures, but who cannot understand their import. The men and women who have a knowledge of God are needed to explain the word to these souls.