An essay written as part of my Grad. Dip. Theology in 2014.
Introduction
Although most of the book of Acts focusses on the activities of Peter and Paul, the author makes it clear that the mission of the young Church to take the Gospel “to the ends of the earth” (1:8) was gradually realised through the work of many people. Philip’s contribution is highlighted in Acts chapter 8, of which his meeting with an Ethiopian eunuch forms the second half.
Philip is mentioned 17 times across three passages of Acts but nowhere else in the New Testament. In the first passage (6:5), Philip is selected as one of seven men to arrange food distribution within the Christian community. In the second (8:4-40), Philip initiates a mission to Samaritans that gives rise to a confrontation with a magician named Simon, and then has an encounter with a man who is described as “an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians” (8:27). In the third, Philip’s home is visited by Paul (21:8-9).
In this essay, I provide a background to the book of Acts in order to understand the encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian. Attention is then given to the encounter itself and in particular the element of supernatural intervention, the textual difficulties with v. 37, the significance of the Ethiopian being a eunuch, the quotation of two verses from Isaiah, and how this incident is used within Luke’s overall purpose.