Acts 8:26-40
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 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
It always interests me when I gather with others to read and discuss Scripture. Some people will point out issues I completely miss. Others will offer insights that make me want to dive deeper. Some, however, will suggest things I cannot see in the text. I then have to control myself so that I don’t shut down the conversation and forfeit any further possible influence.
Once, however, after a graveside funeral service a young man approached me in an excited state. “I really liked how you talked about the resurrection,” he said. “Yes,” I replied, it is a vital aspect of our Christian faith.” His reply really puzzled me: “Do you know that they have bred a pure red calf in Israel?” I don’t remember much more of the conversation, but I do remember how that fact colored his interest in the resurrection. And I remember how sad I was that he was more interested in a red heifer than the promise of eternal life and the hope of the resurrection.
The starting point of our study of the Bible makes all the difference in the conclusions we draw as we read. That’s why I love Lutheran hermeneutics, for they start with Jesus. The key to Martin Luther’s (re)discovery of the gospel is that we are justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. God’s gift of righteousness (justification) is given through Jesus and received by faith. That colors all of Scripture.
This is so clearly seen in the conversation between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip asks if the official understands what he is reading. The chariot driver says he needs someone to guide him if he is to understand it. Then comes the beautiful passage from Isaiah and beginning with that passage he told him the good news about Jesus.
We’ll be considering this good news this week. Everything from its Old Testament foundation to the blessings of baptism. Jesus is right in the center – just as the diagram below shows. Centered in Jesus: That’s how I want to live, read, teach, and discuss.
Six tools for Bible Reading
Tool #1: Christ-Centered: It’s All About Jesus
Tool #2: Read in Community
Tool #3: Law & Gospel
Tool #4: Scripture Interprets Scripture
Tool #5: The Hidden & Revealed God
Tool #6: Two Kinds of Righteousness/Relationships
David Bahn - Reflections 
Leave a comment