Class Lesson November 16, 2025

 The Whole Story (continues)

If Acts 2 is the spark that ignites the fire of the gospel, Acts 8 is the moment the fire begins to spread beyond its expected boundaries. Up until now, the church in Jerusalem had experienced growth, community, and boldness — but it had also stayed home. That changes in Acts 8. What seems at first like a tragedy — the violent persecution of the church following Stephen’s martyrdom — becomes the very means by which God propels His people into the mission He had already spoken: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The gospel will not be contained. It will not be domesticated. It will go where we least expect it — into Samaria, through the preaching of Philip, and into the chariot of an Ethiopian official seeking answers on a desert road.

Acts 8 is a reminder that the advance of the gospel is not always neat, but it is always sovereign. God uses brokenness, scattering, and unlikely messengers to accomplish His global plan. Through Philip, a faithful deacon turned evangelist, we see a gospel that crosses cultural, racial, and geographic lines. We see a God who pursues the seeker, sends His Spirit, and draws people to Jesus through His Word. And we see a church learning — sometimes painfully, always providentially — that God’s kingdom is bigger than their comfort zones.

Acts 8 challenges us to believe that there is no one too far, no place too remote, and no moment too random for the saving grace of God to break in. The gospel is not stationary — it is on the move. The only question is: are we willing to go where it leads?

 

Acts 8:26-40

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So, Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through, he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Acts 8:26-40

Discussion Questions

1. Read Acts 8:26–27 What stands out to you about Philip’s obedience? Why is immediate obedience often so difficult for us?                                                 
2. Read Acts 8:29–31 Philip ran toward the assignment. Where has God asked you to “run” toward obedience recently?                                                                           
3. Read Acts 8:32–35 How does this text show that the gospel is good news, not good advice?                                                                                                      
4. Read Acts 8:36–38 Why should baptism be an immediate response to repentance and faith?                                                                                                           
5. Read John 4:35 What would it look like to see your routine daily environments (gym, workplace, driveway, team sports, neighborhood) as harvest fields that are already ready?

Closing Thoughts

The mission of God is not reserved for the elite, the clergy, the platform holders, or the spiritually gifted few. God is already arranging conversations, aligning hearts, and preparing people around each of us — just like He did for Philip. Our calling is simply to obey. The harvest is not waiting on more strategy, more comfort, or more information — the harvest is waiting on obedience. If God is sovereignly arranging divine appointments around you this week, who is the one person God is calling you to intentionally pursue with the gospel right now?

END

Teacher Notes:

Spirit-Led Encounters

Philip, Samaritans, the Ethiopian, the Disciples, Saul, and Evan Baxter?

Today’s lesson is about an everyday man who had a Spirit-led Encounter where God sent him to do something and he immediately obeyed – his name is Philip.

What do you know about him?

He was one of the seven organizers of food distribution in the early church – the first deacons. Stephen also one of the first deacons chosen gives a declaration to the Sanhedrin and is stoned to death in the presence and approval of Saul. Saul becomes the leader of the persecution in Jerusalem that leads Philip to go to Samaria.

Now, Jesus told all His followers to take the gospel everywhere, but they were reluctant to leave Jerusalem. It took Paul’s intense persecution to scatter them into Judea and Samaria. Philip goes to Samaria, (the last place any Jew would go) and he continued to preach the gospel. The Samaritans respond in large numbers. Philip was so successful that Peter and John came to Samaria to join in his success. In the middle of all this evangelistic success in Samaria, an angel tells Philip to go to a desert road and share the gospel with a Ethiopian man that would take the gospel to Africa.

Philip would end up in Caesarea, where events allowed him to host Paul many years later after Paul was converted and began his missionary journey. Paul would continue the ministry to the gentiles that Philip began.

Jesus’ last words – Go and make disciples

The Holy Spirit comes, and 3,000 Jews are saved

The early church begins, and God adds to their number daily

Naming of the 7 deacons to distribute food

Stoning of Stephen – Saul is introduced

Persecution in Jerusalem

Philip flees to Samaria

Acts 8:26-29

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”

Why did the Ethiopian man travel to Jerusalem to worship?

He was a God-fearer, a Gentile who believed in Israel’s God. In the New Testament, these people were often called:

• “God-fearers” (Acts 10:2)
• “Worshipers of God” (Acts 16:14)

They rejected pagan religion and sought truth in the God of Abraham.

Why Jerusalem? Jerusalem was the center of Jewish worship. God-fearers traveled there during feast seasons to learn, pray, and honor the God of Israel.

Ethiopia had long-standing ties with Judaism. This man was from the kingdom of Cush (ancient Ethiopia/Sudan), a region with a very old connection to Jewish faith:

• Jewish communities existed in Africa long before Acts 8.
• The Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10) had visited Solomon, bringing back influence about Israel’s God.
• Trade routes connected Jerusalem and Ethiopia for centuries.

So, it makes sense that a high official like this man would be familiar with, and drawn to the worship of Israel’s God.

Why do you think God sent Philip from a revival in Samaria to a desert road after one man?

Obedience matters more than outcomes. Philip had visible success in Samaria, a revival. But God often moves us from fruitful places to quiet places to test if our obedience depends on results or relationship.

God saw one soul worth leaving the crowd for. To God, the value of one searching heart equals that of an entire city. This mirrors Jesus leaving the 99 for the one in Luke 15:4. Sometimes God redirects us because He’s writing a redemption story we can’t see.

The desert road can be a place of revelation. Throughout Scripture, God meets people in deserts, places of dependence (Moses, Elijah, David).

It was immediate. No delay, no debate, no need for clarification. Philip didn’t need to understand the why to obey the Who.

It was willing, even when it made no sense. Leaving a revival in Samaria for a lonely desert road must have seemed odd. But Philip understood something key: Obedience isn’t about comfort; it’s about trust.

It was Spirit-led, not self-driven. Philip didn’t go out looking for something to do, he listened and followed the Spirit’s leading each step of the way. The more sensitive we are to the Spirit’s voice, the more we’ll find ourselves in the right place at the right time.

Acts 8:30-35

So, Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep He was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opens not His mouth. In His humiliation justice was denied Him. Who can describe His generation? For His life is taken away from the earth.” And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus.

He met the man where he was. Effective witnessing begins where people already are, not where we wish they were. When someone expresses spiritual interest or confusion, start with their question not our agenda.

He pointed everything back to Jesus. All true evangelism is Christ-centered, not issue-centered. Ask yourself: Am I trying to win the argument or the person?

He was led by the Spirit. The best preparation for sharing the gospel is daily surrender to the Spirit. You don’t need to know everything to share Christ, you just need to know Him and be available.

Acts 8:36-40

And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through, he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Baptism is the 1st step of obedience. In the Bible, baptism isn’t treated as an optional “later decision.” It’s the first act of obedience after belief.

Baptism publicly declares a change. In the early church, baptism was a bold, visual statement that says: “I belong to Jesus now.” “My old life is gone.” “I’m not ashamed of Him.”

Baptism reinforces what God has done internally. Baptism doesn’t save a person, faith in Christ does. But baptism visually confirms what God has already done: Buried with Christ, raised to walk in newness of life, united with His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3–4).

Click Play to Watch

Evan had no clue how to build an ark, but he was available and obedient.

Philip had no clue how to reach Africa, but he was available and obedient.

God laughs at Evan explain that this wasn’t “his plan.”

Isn’t this us too?

God doesn’t need our ability; He wants our availability.

Philip – the obedient one, one of the Disciples – still waiting, Saul – challenging God’s call, Samaritans – in a revival, the Ethiopian – seeking God, or maybe Evan Baxter – this isn’t in “my plan”