I recently came across a sermon starter (skeleton outline) from a Facebook group, written by Mark Posey. When I come across such items and borrow the material, I always try to give credit, but also typically change the title to something else. I couldn’t do it this time as the title best expresses the concept to be examined in the article.
The reference is, of course, to the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, covered in Acts 8:26-40. To summarize, an angel of the Lord sent Philip the evangelist to a road between Jerusalem and Gaza. There Philip met a eunuch of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians. He had come to Jerusalem to worship (indicating he was a proselyte), and was returning to Gaza in a chariot. He was reading from Isaiah 59, and Philip used the reading as a beginning point of their conversation.
The conversation led to preaching about Jesus, belief on the part of the eunuch, and his conversion. The account ends with the Spirit of the Lord taking Philip away, and the eunuch going “on his way rejoicing” (39).
In verse 38 the eunuch “commanded the chariot to stand still”, hence the title of article. Why? Why did the eunuch stop the chariot? The direct answer is simple, he wanted to be baptized. He stopped the chariot at the water they were passing, and Philip baptized him (cf. 38).
With these facts in mind, ask yourself the following questions:
- If goodness alone saves, why did the eunuch stop the chariot? In fact, if such is true, why would Philip even be sent by the angel to interact with the eunuch? He was already a Jewish proselyte. Already he was diligent to read God’s word. He was observing the call to worship in Jerusalem. According to some he was already acceptable to God. Such is not so. In fact, numerous proofs of this could be given, but consider the man Cornelius two chapters later. He was devout, and feared God. He gave alms and prayed to God always (10:1-2). And yet, there were still things that he had to DO! (cf. 10:6).
- If just being righteous is enough, then why did the eunuch stop that chariot? Well, this question is similar to the first, but to be honest, righteousness is defined by God and not by man. Many Jews of that day considered themselves righteous. Consider Paul’s words, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:1-3). Relying upon ourselves isn’t enough. We just don’t measure up. “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).
- If just reading the Bible were enough, then why did the eunuch stop the chariot? He was reading from Isaiah 53, which with Philip’s help brought faith. But, faith, if it is true faith, leads the believer to ask the same question as that asked by others in examples of conversion, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:38). Hearing (reading) God’s word is certainly the first step to salvation, but it is not the only step. Otherwise, they could have just continued their study as the chariot rolled.
- If preaching were all that was necessary, why was the chariot stopped? Philip was declaring Jesus to the eunuch, starting from Isaiah. As Romans 10:14 states, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” The gospel must be heard. It is the means God has given to salvation, but hearing must lead to a response!
- If faith only is required for salvation, why was the eunuch so quick to stop the wheels of the chariot? In truth, Bible faith leads to obedience. James wrote, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (2:17). Individuals who proclaim salvation at the point of faith discount the necessity both of repentance (cf. Luke 13:3,5), and confession (Romans 10:10).
- Finally, if baptism is not necessary for salvation, why was the eunuch so desirous of stopping the chariot at the water? His desire is clearly seen. “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” (10:36). Philip told him that if he believed he could. So, the chariot was stopped, and they went down into the water. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). This was one of the things that had to be DONE! (cf. Acts 2:38). Baptism is how we gain access to the blood of our Lord. As Romans 6 tells us, we are buried by baptism, to rise as a new creation, walking in newness of life (cf. Romans 6:4).
The significance of the fact that the eunuch stopped the chariot, then after baptism went on his way rejoicing is this — before baptism he was not yet saved, after baptism he was! Praise God that he stopped the chariot on that day.
