After leaving Samaria, Philip met a eunuch from Ethiopia traveling home from Jerusalem and reading from the prophet Isaiah (Acts 8:26-33). This man wanted to understand what he was reading so he asked Philip, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” (Acts 8:34). At this point, “Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35).
Every conversion, whether recorded in the New Testament or those that occur today, will begin with this. The story of Jesus is the heart of the gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus is the cornerstone of the foundation upon which we are built (Ephesians 2:19-21). Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). So Philip preached Jesus, just as we must do today.
The text implies the inclusion of baptism in Philip’s teaching about Jesus. The first thing we see after Luke recorded Philip preaching Jesus is this: “As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?’” (Acts 8:36). This would be an odd question if Philip had not already been discussing baptism with the eunuch.
We can see from other passages how baptism fits into the teaching about Jesus. In giving the Great Commission, Jesus said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). As the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is at the core of the gospel, we follow that pattern when we die to sin, are “buried with Him through baptism,” and are raised from the waters of baptism in order to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:2-4).
The eunuch knew he needed to be baptized. Many today might hear the message about Jesus and know they need to be baptized in order to put on Christ (Galatians 3:27) and have their sins forgiven (Acts 22:16), yet for one reason or another they fail to be baptized. Why? The eunuch wanted to know what prevented him from being baptized. There are certainly reasons that prevent people today from being baptized:
- They worry about what their friends and/or family will think of their decision.
- They are unwilling to change their lifestyle in order to meet the conditions of repentance.
- They are uncertain that the reward is worth the sacrifice that following Christ will entail.
- They hear conflicting teaching from others telling them that they do not need to be baptized.
- Like Felix, they are waiting for a convenient time (Acts 24:25), which likely will never come.
Those are just some examples of the things that prevent people from being baptized today. But notice how Philip answered the eunuch’s question. When the man asked him what prevented him from being baptized, Philip did not say, “If your family is supportive you may,” or, “If this time is convenient you may.” Rather he said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may” (Acts 8:37). This was the only thing standing between the eunuch and baptism – a wholehearted belief that “Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37).
That wholehearted belief in Christ is also the only thing standing between the alien sinner and the waters of baptism today. Any excuse or reason that may be given for not being baptized reflects a lack of faith. Notice again the examples listed above.
- Though our friends and/or family may not be supportive of our decision, a wholehearted faith will result in one applying Jesus’ teaching when He said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). Having this faith, we will put pleasing Christ ahead of pleasing others. As Paul said: “If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
- Though repentance is not always easy, because it is required for salvation (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38), one with a wholehearted faith will crucify the old man of sin in order to to become a servant of righteousness (Romans 6:6, 17).
- Though the earthy life of a Christian involves suffering (1 Peter 4:12, 16; 2 Timothy 3:12) and is one that appears pitiful to others (1 Corinthians 15:19), a wholehearted faith causes one to recognize that this “momentary, light affliction” will later become “an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
- Though many will teach that baptism is not necessary for salvation, one with a wholehearted faith will not put his trust in men, but in Jesus who said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). He will listen to the apostle Peter who told the Jews at Pentecost, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38), and who later wrote, “Baptism now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21).
- Though there will always be some reason to think the present would be an inconvenient time to be baptized, a wholehearted faith recognizes that “now is ‘the acceptable time,’” and “now is ‘the day of salvation’” (2 Corinthians 6:2). This one will seek to be baptized immediately, just as the eunuch did, rather than try to justify any delay.
Any reason that might prevent one from being baptized will be eliminated by a wholehearted faith. This type of faith causes one to recognize that these reasons do not matter. All that matters is being right with the Lord and following Him. Let us all have this type of faith and do all that the Lord expects us to do.
