Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word. This week's question:

Just before Jesus ascends into heaven to be at the right hand of God, He tells His disciples, "…but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). And so the Holy Spirit does come upon them in Jerusalem where Peter preaches the first gospel sermon (Acts 2: all) and then after Stephen is stoned and a great persecution comes upon the church in Jerusalem so that the disciples scatter throughout the regions of Judea, Samaria, and even into Damascus (Acts 8:1 & 9:1-19), fulfilling much of the prophecy that Jesus told His disciples concerning the spreading of the gospel. Philip went into Samaria to preach the good news, performing many miracles there which amazed the people who believed and were baptized so that there was much rejoicing in that city (Acts 8:5-13).

That bring us to our question, "Who did Philip see on the desert road?". Soon an angel of the Lord told Philip, "'Arise and go south of the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.' (This is a desert road.)' (Acts 8:26). As he went to this desert road which descends from Jerusalem to a city called Gaza close to the Mediterranean Sea, he came upon a man sitting in a chariot. The Spirit told Philip to go up to the chariot and as he did he heard him reading from the book of Isaiah and then he said to him, "'Do you understand what you are reading?' And he said, 'Well, how can I unless someone guides me?' And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.'". The scripture he was reading said, He was led as a sheep to slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He does not open His mouth. In humiliation His judgment was taken away; who shall relate His generation? For His life is removed from the earth." (Acts 8:32-33).

Then the chariot rider says to Philip, "'Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself, or of someone else?' And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture he preached Jesus to him. And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, 'Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?' And Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him. And they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing." (Acts 8:34-39).

So there we have the answer to our question as Philip saw the eunuch, "…an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship." (Acts 8:27).

May we have the same humility as the Ethiopian eunuch who although held I high position did not hesitate to invite this traveler who questioned his ability to understand the scripture he was reading. But wanting to understand the truth, he was more than willing to be taught the good news and then he responded to the teaching of Jesus which included baptism as they both went fully into the water where Philip buried the eunuch in that watery grave, washing away his sins (Acts 22:16), which is in a like manner of the death of Jesus and as He was raised from the dead we too will be in the likeness of His resurrection and are to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:3-6)!