HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1359
ACTS 9
page 989
32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this:
33
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter.
And as a lamb is silent before the
shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
He was humiliated and received no justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”*
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was
the prophet talking about himself or someone
else?” 35 So beginning with this same Scripture,
Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.
36 As they rode along, they came to some
water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s
some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”* 38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down
into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39 When they came up out of the water, the
Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The
eunuch never saw him again but went on his
way rejoicing. 40 Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He
preached the Good News there and in every
town along the way until he came to Caesarea.
Saul’s Conversion
Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats
with every breath and was eager to kill
the Lord’s followers.* So he went to the high
priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the
synagogues in Damascus, asking for their
cooperation in the arrest of any followers of
the Way he found there. He wanted to bring
them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
3 As he was approaching Damascus on this
mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone
down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and
heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why
are you persecuting me?”
5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one
you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into
the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for
they heard the sound of someone’s voice but
saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the
ground, but when he opened his eyes he was
blind. So his companions led him by the hand
to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three
days and did not eat or drink.
10 Now there was a believer* in Damascus
named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord!” he replied.
9
8:32-33 Isa 53:7-8 (Greek version). 8:36 Some manuscripts
add verse 37, “You can,” Philip answered, “if you believe with all
your heart.” And the eunuch replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God.” 9:1 Greek disciples. 9:10 Greek disciple; also
in 9:26, 36. 9:13 Greek God’s holy people; also in 9:32, 41.
11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to
the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for
a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying
to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision
of a man named Ananias coming in and laying
hands on him so he can see again.”
13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard
many people talk about the terrible things this
man has done to the believers* in Jerusalem!
14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to
arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of
Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must
suffer for my name’s sake.”
• Opportunities
A C TS 8:26-38
It might be a conversation at the office
watercooler. It could come in the form
of a surprising question from a stranger
in the supermarket. It might develop
through the patient cultivation of a genuine friendship with a neighbor. Sooner
or later, every follower of Jesus Christ
has an opportunity to be a witness to
who Jesus is and what he has done. For
Philip, the opportunity came as the Spirit
prompted him to strike up a conversation with a foreigner who happened to be
struggling to understand the Scriptures.
Sharing our faith does not always bear
such immediate fruit, but we are to be
alert for opportunities to minister to
others. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your
eyes, mind, and heart to the opportunities that lie in the days ahead.
• Pride
A C TS 8:30-31
The Ethiopian man was faced with a
question we all face regularly: Should
I open myself up to the help being
offered? Pride says, “No, I can do it
myself” or “I don’t want to admit I don’t
know everything.” Humility says, “Please
help me. I don’t know what to do.” If
the Ethiopian had succumbed to pride,
he would have missed possibly his only
opportunity to become a Christian. Pride
could have kept him out of the Kingdom
of Heaven. Has pride kept you from
receiving help lately? Has pride kept you
from accepting Jesus into your life?