Reading and Understanding

Acts 8:27 "And he (Philip) 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, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 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. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth..." (Isaiah 53:7).

When the apostles and Jesus refer to "scripture" it is the Old Testament (OT) to which they are referring.  We read the New Testament  (NT) looking backwards to what occurred, while they of patriarchal times read the OT and looked forward to what will occur. Obviously, it takes more belief for what will be than what was. In apostolic times they read what was prophesied as it was happening. Even with the reading of past events,  most people don't even believe what did happen!

Some throw out the OT as unnecessary scripture of The Law, and it is no longer applicable to the "Covenant of Grace".  My contention is that salvation was always by grace, then and now! (Read my blog Grace and The Law). Grace is not a new thing with its own new covenant. Salvation was always through Jesus Christ. Many souls have been saved in apostolic times by mere hearing and reading of the OT.  Everything therein is about Jesus. It's a picture of him who is to come and it's always his shadow providing grace to all who hear and understand!

An eunuch was reading scripture. Is it significant that he was a man who was sterile by nature or by force? Yes. Because eunuch's were dedicated to the queens they served. They became the eyes and ears of royalty. If the eunuch believed, being close to the queen, it's likely that the queen, not named Candace, but titled Candace, heard about Jesus. This area in Africa is not present-day Ethiopia, it's likely Nubia (See Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians for more detail). This encounter may have contributed to the "Great Commission", because one black man wanted to know more about Jesus! This points toward Nubia (Ethiopia) being the southern extremity of Christianity in apostolic times!

Philip chanced nearby and the spirit spoke to him! (verse 29). Unlike Jonah, Satan didn't plant rejection in the heart of Philip. Because of the Spirit, Philip ran to his prey! He beat Satan to the draw!  (He was fishing for men!). He didn't worry about offending or "correctness"; he just obeyed!  This eunuch was a powerful administrator in the queen's court, but Philip wasn't intimidated!

The eunuch was reading scripture, but failed to understand! Does that sound familiar? It should because we have all "been there and done that!". Scripture can be hard to understand, but if one remembers one thing it makes it easier" "Scripture is always about Jesus!" Let me explain.

One day while driving I had an epiphany. I was thinking on the sacrifice which Abraham was about to make of Isaac as directed by God. I thought "How cruel! To have him sacrifice his own son!" That one thought was followed by the "voice of the spirit", the same voice which spoke to Philip, which through HSP (Holy Spirit Perception; my coined term), illuminated me. "This is a picture of God's sacrifice of his own son!!" I was then clear: "Scripture is all about Jesus!" Thereafter, when I read the OT it was no longer reading, but UNDERSTANDING!  Everything that I read, I ask "What's this got to do with Jesus?"

Ask that question of Acts 8:32 above.  It's Isaiah 53:7 written hundreds of years before and still pertinent! What is it about? "It's all about Jesus!"

Jesus was the lamb of God. He was the sheep who was led to the crucifixion.  He was innocent, but he (Jesus) was to make no defense. This OT verse is "all about Jesus" and Philip explained that to the eunuch!

Philip guided the eunuch, explaining the OT to him. It was the OT which led the eunuch, not only to salvation, but to baptism! Reading scripture alone isn't as effective as having it taught! The job of preachers is to preach the truth! Those failing to teach the truth of the OT are amiss in their training. Just knowing that the OT is "all about Jesus" increases my faith. Christianity wasn't and isn't a new thing nor a modern invention. Christianity is the completion of God's plan for mankind!  It makes me more confident when I realize that Isaiah worshiped Jesus just as I do! It assures me that Isaac was a type of Jesus who would have been a sacrifice for me, if he could have been!

We must not only read scripture, but understand it. Many preachers fail to teach what The Word has been from the beginning! It seems that most fail to do that. My commentary for the most part is to impart understanding that salvation was always through Jesus and always will be! Nothing has changed. There is no new covenant. The Covenant of Grace has always been the Way to salvation!

It's good that the plan of salvation is preached. Most baptists have an altar call every Sunday. That's good, but confidence and faith is instilled by teaching scripture fully. The eunuch incident demonstrates that OT scripture does draw people to Jesus Christ because it truly is "all about Jesus"!