The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-16
Sunday Study
PHILIP SENT TO TEACH.

The Interna iondI Sunday ScnoOl lesson
for March 16 is found in Acts viii, 26-4O.
The Golden Text is Romans X, TO- The
lesson discusses the sending of Philip to
teach "And the angel of the Lord spake
unto Philip, saying, arise and go toward
the south. The previous verse says that
Peter and John preached the word Of the
Lord in Samaria, and then, on their way
back to Jerusalem, preached the gospel
in many villages of the Samaritans. They
evidently left Philip in the midst of
great work in Samaria, and while contin-
ring faithfully to preach Christ a mes
senger from heaven is sent to him COM
manding him to leave Samaria and go
down to the desert way, which was be-
tween Jerusalem and GAIA.
And he arose and went, and, behold,
a man Of Ethiopia, who had come to
Jerusalem for to worship, was returning
and, sitting in his chariot read Esaias
the prophet" Here, then, is the reason
Of the angels visit to Philip. God saw
the hungering of this man of great au-
thority under the queen of Ethiopia, and
He would satisfy that longing soul, and
Philip, the faithful messenger in Sama-
ria, was chosen for the work.
Then the spirit said unto Philip, go
near, and join myself to this chariot"
AT Samaria an angel spoke to him; now
Prompt and obedient Philip ran to the
chariot, and, hearing the eunuch reading
in the prophecy Of Isaiah, he said, I'm
derstandest thou what thou readest?"
See what pains God will take to cause one
to understand His word when He sees
that desire in the heart, and remember
how the Lord Jesus on the resurrection
day took several hours to open the Scrip
lures to those two who were slow of
heart to belief. May His patience be
ours.
'He desired Philip that he would come
up and sit with him" The treasurer Of
the queen was a great man, and at this
time riding in his chariot, while Philip
was poor and probably had the appear
ance of q wayworn traveller, yet see how
cordially he is received by the man of
authority. He was reading Of some one
who had been cruelty illtreated, but, like
lamb, or sheep, was dumb before his
persecutors-one from whom all justice
was taken away and who was finally
slain. The story is SO familiar to us
that it does not affect US. We have
heard it from the prophets who foretold
it and in the gospels from those who
actually witnessed the fulfllment of the
prophecies. This man read with interest
and establishment, perhaps for the first
time. There are many who have never
read of Him because those put in trust
with the gospel have not been faithful to
their trust
"Then Philip opened his mouth and be-
gan at the same Scripture and preached
unto him Jesus" This he did in reply
to the eunuchs question. "Of whom
speaketh the prophet thus?" Philip did
not waste any time on the style of the
prophet or on the possibility of there
being two Isaiahs, each Of whom wrote
part Of the book neither did he so mucn
| as hint at the impossibility of anyone
writing of things 700 years before they
happened, but from this and other Scrip
| lures he made plain the truth concerning
| Jesus.
L believe that Jesus Christ is tie Sor
| of Cod ''Whosoever believeth that Je-
| sus is the Christ is born of God" I'm
! less you have ever talked with and lee
| to Christ a soul really hungry for The
! truth you cannot understand Philips JOY
| as he, by the Spirit, opened the Scripture:
| and saw this man drink it all in an6
| then ask to be baptized The eunucf
had believed in his heart and confessed
| with his mouth, and was quite ready FOL
| further public confession before hi
servants. 1.-The Spirit of the Lord caugh
away Philip, and the eunuch saw him NJ
more, and he went on his way rejoicing.
| How strange the whole thing must have
seemed to the driver Of the chariot ant
the rest Of the company-the stranger in
vited to ride with their master, the ear
nest conversation, the baptism, the sud
| den disappearance of the stranger anC
their masters new joy, which no doub
he tod them all about, and the queen
| too, when he arrived home. The Lord
by Philip, wrought a great work tina
day. and sometime we may hear the Sc
| quel of this story from the lips of tn
eunuch himself. How the Spirit Of tn
Lord caught him away no one know.
now. Phillip was found at Azotus, and
! passing through. ne preached in all tn
| cities till he came to Cesarea." This las
| place seems to have been Philips home
! It matters not whether we find Philip il
| Samaria or in the chariot or going from
| place to place, he was preaching Jesu
| and salvation.