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Topic: Baptism

What does it say?

The Spirit leads Philip to an Ethiopian official who was reading from the prophet Isaiah. After Philip explains how the passage points to Jesus, the official asks to be baptized.

What does it mean?

This passage shows how the Gospel continued to spread from Jerusalem through the obedience and witness of the Apostles. Philip followed the leading of the Holy Spirit to Gaza. There he encountered an Ethiopian official who had come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. The official was reading the Suffering Servant passage from Isaiah 53 but did not understand if the prophet was talking about himself or someone else. Beginning with this passage, Philip proceeded to tell the man the good news about Jesus. As soon as they came to some water, the official was baptized by Philip.

How should I respond?

The passage is one of many examples in the New Testament of people immediately getting baptized after putting their faith in Jesus. The Ethiopian wanted to proclaim his decision to accept Jesus as his Savior. Baptism provides us with an opportunity to declare our new identification with Christ. Have you made the decision to be baptized? If not, what is holding you back? Baptism is the first step of obedience for a new Christ-follower. If you know Jesus as your Savior but have never been baptized, don’t delay. Make arrangements to proclaim your decision to follow Christ through baptism.