Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19971102.htm

ACTS: THE LOCAL CHURCH AS GOD'S AGENCY FOR DISCIPLING MEN
Part XVII: God's Sovereign Discipleship Program In Spite Of Religious False Teachers
(Acts 8:26-40)
  1. Introduction
    1. Christians I know have expressed their concerns about the welfare of confused or unwary associates who are being taught error by religious leaders who falsely wear a robe of truth. For example, a family member may be taught by ministers of a major Protestant denomination that God loves all men so that all are saved, and that though they don't need then to believe in Christ. One may be taught by even an Evangelical leader or group of leaders that not every word in the Bible is really true. This may apply to views on subjects like marital or divorce states, church polity and the like of related "hot" issues.
    2. A great encouragement exists in Acts 8:26-40 that God sovereignly oversees the reaching of unwary but well-meaning religious people who are susceptible to such troubling influ ence:
  2. God's Sovereign Discipleship Program In Spite Of Religious False Teachers, Acts 8:26-40.
    1. In response to Christianity, Israel's leaders exegetically twisted Isaiah 53 to keep people from Christ:
      1. Up to the days of Jesus, the Jews felt Isaiah 53 spoke of Messiah," Ryr. St. B., KJV, ftn. to Acts 8:35.
      2. However, when the Early Church believers treated the "Servant of God" in Isaiah 53 to speak of Jesus as the Messiah, Israel's religious leaders changed their exegetical conclusion in order to keep people from converting to Christ. "Isa. 53 was then considered by the Jews to be referring either to Isaiah himself or to the people of Israel, who would be a light to the nations . . . " (Ibid.)
    2. This twist apparently had a confusing and troubling affect on a certain Gentile follower of Israel's God:
      1. An Ethiopian eunuch one day traveled away from Jerusalem, reading Isaiah 53:7-8 that spoke of God's Servant's sufferings, and he was obviously confused and possibly very troubled, Acts 8:27-28, 32-34.
        1. Being a eunuch, this man would not have been allowed to worship God in the temple, cf. Deut. 23:1.
        2. However, according to Isaiah 56:4-5, God promised that in the Messianic Kingdom, such eunuchs would be not only allowed to worship God in the temple, but wou ld also be given a lasting, honorable reputation by God. Thus, the book of Isaiah was very prized and loved by this man.
        3. Yet, upon his most recent visit to Jerusalem, from his question on the passage in Acts 8:34, we know that he had probably been taught that Isaiah 53's Servant was not Messiah, but either Isaiah or Israel.
        4. This sudden switch in interpretation would have been bothersome to the eunuch: he suddenly was faced with teachers who changed their view in mid-stream, and that with a book that gave him so much hope as a eunuch. He might have been upset that these teachers would suddenly have come up with an interpretation that threatened him understanding a literal messianic hope existed, providing him liberty of of worshipping in the temple in honor as a eunuch in the kingdom, Is. 56:4f.
      2. Thus, as he went along, he was confused and possibly feeling very lost, angry and hurt over the matter.
    3. Yet, knowing of his need, God sovereignly directed an angel to get deacon Philip from Samaria down to meet this man as he rode in his chariot as he was vainly reading Is. 53 and trying to understand it, 8:26-29.
    4. Philip asked the eunuch if he understood what he read, and he replied, "How can I, except some man should guide me?" This word, "guide" is used often of "authoritative teaching and interpretation," G. Campbell Morgan, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 214. The eunuch knew he needed interpretive help.
    5. Philip then started with the text, and preached Jesus as the Messiah Who came and fulfilled that passage through His death and resurrection, Acts 8:35. This meant that the straightforward interpretation was correct, that the Isaiah 53 Servant was Messiah, and that meant that Isaiah 56 also held a literal blessing in the messianic kingdom for actual, literal eunuch believers as this Ethiopian man!
    6. The Eunuch believed, was baptized, and though God caught Philip away suddenly, this eunuch, thrilled about the reality of his messianic hope though a eunuch, went on his way rejoicing, Acts 8:36-39!
Lesson: God negated the deceptive misleading of Israel's apostate religious leaders' interpretation of Isaiah 53 to get Philip to this lone, Ethiopian eunuch with the liberating truth and hope of Christ!

Application: God sovereignly overrides the error of very misleading religious authorities, and that in spite of the influence they have over the vulnerable if they but YEARN to know the truth. God will send them a teacher of truth to open God's Word for their blessing! (Mk. 4:24-25 with Acts 17:26-30)