²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. ²⁷ And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”  ³⁰Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.  ³¹“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.  ³²The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,  so he did not open his mouth. ³³In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants?      For his life was taken from the earth.”

³⁴The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” ³⁵Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Meditation

1. After Stephen was martyred, persecution of the Church increased and Christians scattered.  The Spirit led Philip to the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch.  The eunuch believed quickly and wanted to be baptized.
2. Philip’s experience reminds us that when we share the gospel with other, we come in the love of the Holy Spirit to those who honestly seek God, trusting that the Spirit began the work before we did and will carry it on after us.
3. Who, among your closely acquainted, can you begin to pray for his/her salvation?  Is there anyone around you who has been asking “spiritual” questions—questions about life’s meaning, belief, purpose, etc.?  Write the name down and pray regularly, taking note of the Holy Spirit’s work and asking for wisdom to share the gospel with him/her.

Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)

Philip was a missionary who went to different places to preach the gospel.  Who are the missionaries that our church is praying for and supporting?  What places are they in?  Pray for these missionaries.  Can you be a missionary?  Write in your Family Devotional Journal the missionaries and include their photos, too.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today 12:25-28

²⁵ Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.  ²⁶ One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.  ²⁷ Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.  ²⁸ In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.