Les Feldick Bible Study

What had Philip been telling the Ethiopian eunuch right before he asked to be baptized?

Philip had been telling him that if he believed Isaiah 53 spoke of Jesus—who walked three years in Palestine, was put to death, raised from the dead, and was still ready to be Israel’s King—and that Israel was to repent especially of the sin of crucifixion. This prompted the eunuch’s baptism request.

Les explains that Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture—Isaiah 53—and preached unto him Jesus. Because the New Testament wasn’t written yet, Philip could only use the Old Testament; he couldn’t take him to Romans or Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Les is a stickler for what the book says and doesn’t say, noting it does not say Philip preached Jesus crucified and resurrected from the dead. Yet from the eunuch’s question, we gather Philip was telling him that if he believed Isaiah 53 was speaking of Jesus—who a few years earlier walked three years in Palestine, was put to death, raised from the dead, and God was still ready to let him be the King of Israel—then baptism followed. Israel’s responsibility under the law was to repent especially of the sin of crucifixion.

Acts 8:36

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?