Stroll through Scripture for May 11, 2025

Based on Acts 8:26-39

After the stoning of Stephen, we now turn to Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.  Let’s take care of something right off the bat.  A eunuch is a castrated male.  In ancient societies, it would not be totally uncommon for there to be eunuchs who worked with women who held important royal positions – whether we’re talking about the Kandake (queen of the Ethiopians), or in charge of the king’s haram.  It was assumed that eunuchs could be trusted with the women because castrating a man would affect their sex drive.  Eunuchs were trusted individuals.  

In the selected passage, the eunuch oversaw the treasury of the queen of the Ethiopians – a pretty important position where trust was essential.  

When Philip is sent to the eunuch, he finds him reading Isaiah.  He’s unsure of the meaning of the passage and Philip stays with the eunuch and explains the passage to him.  As they go along, they come across some water and the eunuch wanted to be baptized.  

Notice what doesn’t happen.  There’s no discussion about the eunuch’s sexuality.  There’s no jumping through hoops for the eunuch to be baptized.  There’s no condemning the eunuch.  There’s a desire to be baptized and Philip fulfills the request.  And afterward, there is rejoicing.  If only modern Western Christianity could follow suit instead of a constant culture war arguing over so many things that have nothing to do with God’s saving work in the world.  

The eunuch is one of the first converts in the early church.  He wasn’t Jewish from what we can tell.  He certainly wasn’t from Israel either.  He was a foreigner, who’s body had been altered in service of a royal throne.  Yet there was no hesitation on the part of Philip to baptize the eunuch.  There was just radical openness.  How refreshing.  Because if there is room for the eunuch in God’s kingdom, then there’s room for a whole lot of other people as well.  Let’s not forget, it was God who directed Philip to the eunuch – God chose the eunuch as he was to be a part of God’s kingdom.  And that’s good news.  

Questions for further reflection:

• If we were to rewrite this passage to a modern American context, why type of persons would God be sending Philip to?  I imagine the list would be long and diverse.  Why do you think that is?  
• What lessons does this story from Acts have for us today in modern day America?  
• How does God call us, like Philip to talk with people who have questions about Scripture and God?