The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-03-04
the SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Ineernstionsl Lesson for March Z, lo0s-
1he Ethiopian Oonvert-Acts S,a0-A0.

ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes.1
GOLDEN TEXT.-Then Philip opened
his mouth. and began at the same Scrip
ture, and preached unto him Jesus.zActs
e:S6.
THE SECTION includes simply the les
son, with its relations to the history.
TIME.-The early summer Of A. d. 81.
6oon after the last lesson.
reroa Of ahs
GAIA, which is near the coast Of the Med
EXPLANATORY.
I. Providential Preparations through
(1) Philip and (2) the Man of Ethiopia
VS.. 26, 81. 26. "And the DIETER, any
angel of the Lord:" Whether he ap.
peared in some visible form, or by some
inward communication, or by vision,
is not revealed, and is a matter of small
consequence. "Spake unto Philip:" The
deacon, or evangelist, not the apostle.
27. "And he arose and WENT" To
where his road entered the Jerusalem
and GAIA road. He does not seem to
have known the object of his journey.
"a man of Ethiopia:" In general,
Ethiopia is a vague term for the lands
south of Egypt, but in this case we are
able to identify it with the ancient
Ethiopic kingdom of Meroe by the name
of it's queen, Candace. "a eunuch of
great authority" The word, although
meaning a chamberlain or a servant of
the bedchamber, denoted. as now, the
condition of man who was chosen to
watch over the women's apartment in
great houses. Such persons, deprived
of family ambition, were thought more
trustworthy than others, and often held
high offices. He was at the head of
the financial department of the king
dom, chancellor of the exchequer, Sec
retary of the treasury.
ii. Seeking the Light VS.. 81, ,2s. 27.
Had come to Jerusalem for to wor-
ships" He had accepted the truth that
was given him, which fact in itself,
he being leading man, amid great
temptations, showed a deeply sincere
and earnest soul. But he wanted more
light, and he travelled q long distance,
at great expense, that he might obtain
it.
2s. WAS returning:" From Jerusa-
lem, where he must have heard OF
Jesus and His claim to be the Messiah,
and of His disciples and their deeds,
and it is almost wonderful that he did
not there join them to learn about the
truth. But it was natural that he
should go first to the Jewish leaders,
and they would misrepresent the Chris
tians to him. Still the very air was full
of discussion of the Scriptures relating
to the Messiah, which would awaken
in him desire to study them for him
self. Hence he had turned to the
particular passage in Isaiah, and was
studying the question as he was "sit-
ting in his chariot"
III. Unexpected Help-Vs. 29-31. go
''Then the Spirit said unto Philip"
Now came the explanation of the COM
mand to take the journey. go near,
and join thyself to this chariot:" No
doubt this royal treasurer had nu-
merous retinue, and a single traveller on
desert road would be doing what was
natural in attaching himself to train
of people who were journeying in the
same direction. Philip would there
fore be able to approach and hear what
was read without being deemed an in
truder. "Understandeth thou?" The
question would imply that Philip was
ready to explain. The Christians had
been enlightened by the Holy Spirit,
and the continual necessity of explain
ing and interpreting must have made
them familiar with all the Scriptures
referring to Christ.
Nv. New Light Upon Old Scriptures.
VS.. 32-35. 80. "The place of the Scrip
ture lisa. 53:7, 81"
IS. "Then Philip began at
the same Scripture:" Which was full
filled in Jesus, and has been fulfilled in
no other. "And preached unto him
jesus" Literally, announced to him
the glad tidings, Jesus.-Abbott. Philip
showed the strange and marvellous COR
respondence between the many descrip-
tions of the Messiah in the prophets and
the then well-kncwn life of Jesus of
Nazareth. He placed Jesus in His life,
death and character, beside the picture
of the Messiah which the prophets had
painted, and all could see that the pic
ture was portrait of Jesus.
V. Accepting and Confessing Christ.
VS.. 36-3s. 36. "Came unto certain
water" They had been riding some
time together. and this marks the place
where they parted. "See, here is
water:" Or, simply: Behold water!'
This was saying: II believe in Jesus,
I accept Him as my Saviour, and now |
wish to confess Him by baptism" as all
other Christians had been doing.
SO. "He commanded the chariot:" He
ordered the chariot driver to stop, and
of course the whole retinue would see
what took place, and they may certain
ly be regarded as the nucleus of a con-
gregation to be established in Ethiopia
"He baptized him:" Without waiting
further to instruct him, or delaying for
public ceremonial. Baptism was the
Divine mode of confessing Christ.
vi. The Parting Ways. Each Man to
His Work.-Vs. 80, 40. 80. 1.-THE Spirit