THE SIX QUESTIONS (ACTS 8:26-40): THE QUESTION ABOUT BAPTISM
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Six Questions
a) An Ethiopian, travelling by chariot on a lonely road, was reading Isaiah 53. He wondered who the prophet was speaking about. God answered his question.
b) We find six questions in Acts 8:26-40, and all of them are very important.
i) First, Philip asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
ii) Then the Ethiopian asks, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”
iii) He also asks, “Please, will you come up and sit with me in my chariot, and help me understand?”
iv) When Philip is seated, the Ethiopian asks the key question, “Who is the prophet speaking about — is it himself or someone else?”
v) After a while, the Ethiopian asks his fourth question, “Look! Here is water. What prevents me from being baptized?”
vi) Philip replies by asking the Ethiopian, “Do you believe with all your heart? If you do, you may be baptized.”
2. The Question About Baptism
a) This is not the end of the story however. There was more to the Ethiopian’s response than belief. He requested baptism without delay, and went into that baptism with a confession of Jesus Christ on his lips.
b) Philip must have included baptism in what he taught the Ethiopian. So when water came in sight, the Ethiopian wished to be baptized. Hence the question, "Look! Here is water. What prevents me from being baptized?" (Acts 8:36).
c) Philip told the Ethiopian that baptism would be right for him provided that he believed the whole message that Philip had preached to him, and believed it with his whole heart and no reservations.
The End ...
1. The Six Questions a) An Ethiopian, travelling by chariot on a lonely road, was reading Isaiah 53. He wondered who the prophet was speaking about. God answered his question.
b) We find six questions in Acts 8:26-40, and all of them are very important.
i) First, Philip asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
ii) Then the Ethiopian asks, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”
iii) He also asks, “Please, will you come up and sit with me in my chariot, and help me understand?”
iv) When Philip is seated, the Ethiopian asks the key question, “Who is the prophet speaking about — is it himself or someone else?”
v) After a while, the Ethiopian asks his fourth question, “Look! Here is water. What prevents me from being baptized?”
vi) Philip replies by asking the Ethiopian, “Do you believe with all your heart? If you do, you may be baptized.”
2. The Question About Baptism
a) This is not the end of the story however. There was more to the Ethiopian’s response than belief. He requested baptism without delay, and went into that baptism with a confession of Jesus Christ on his lips.
b) Philip must have included baptism in what he taught the Ethiopian. So when water came in sight, the Ethiopian wished to be baptized. Hence the question, "Look! Here is water. What prevents me from being baptized?" (Acts 8:36).
c) Philip told the Ethiopian that baptism would be right for him provided that he believed the whole message that Philip had preached to him, and believed it with his whole heart and no reservations.
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