The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-15
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
March 16: The Ethiopian Converted
Acts viii, 29-:S9.

Acts, viii, 29-s9.
We may never know how the dusky pr9seiyte
WAS first converted to the Hebrew faith. The
Jews were already scattered far and WIDE es-
pecially in the capitals and commercial centers
of the world. Then. now, they were money
lenders Perhaps it in his capacity as
treasurer of the Abyssinian empire he came III
contact with some first century Rothschiid' VINO
was intent upon doing good as well as getuhs
q high premium his money. over the bonds
and consoIs the Hebrew may have peered into
the Philippians heart. and, discovering It's hoDle
traits, coveted them for God He may have
navsd the way to conversion by unfolding the
miraculous history of Israel. in which no intel
ligent person fails TO be interested and OF whose
truth. few, if any, candid minds fail to be
convinced.
or the motives Of the unknown proselyter may
have been mixed, even wholly bad lie may
have been one who deserved Jesus scathins
rebuke. But whatever the incentive of the sec
tarist may have been. the proselyte was nota-
ble and noble accession to the Hebrew Church.
He showed the genuineness of his conversion
nv the long Journey which he took at his.
first opportunity to the seat Of his new-tound
faith. 1t was some three thousand miles to Je-
rusalem and back Yet this happy convert to
whom tradition gives the name of Judieh' hest
tated not at the toll and expense. AS his chariot
rolled along the banks of the Nile, under the
tapering shadow of the obelisk and pyramid
and by the temple and treasure city, no doubt
he thought If he did not exclaim: This is that
Egypt where God did those wonders for His
people and for which he delivered them with
an outstretched arm
Another evidence Of the depth and sincerity
of his interest the length Of time he tar
ried in Jerusalem. He had gone up TO the Feast
of Pentecost, but find him staying on through
the martyrdom of stephen and the conversion oil
Samaria-not however, that he was concerned
in these events. even if he was aware OF them
Still stronger evidence: He purchased a copy
of the Hebrew Scriptures; and it cost him
small fortune no doubt. 1t was to be no center
table ornament in his Nubian palace, either. il
was for use Indeed he could not wait until
he reached home; but in his jolting chariot on
that rough Judean road he was reading not
selnshly to himself either but out loud so that
his charioteer and whole cavalcade might have
the advantage
There goes the Bible-reading Ethiopian. But
now another person breaks in upon the scene
HOW strange-unreasonabe in fact-the provi-
dences of Cod often appear? The revival In
Sanaria was at its height. Its genuneness had
been confirmed by the apostles in the bestoNal
of miraculous gifts. 1t seemed as II no one
could shepherd the converts as well as the evan
eelis+ who had first brought them to Christ. But
the Spirit called Philip away; and that. too, not
to another populous city, but to desert way.
In this incident it is If the curtain were
lifted. and We could see the hand of God shaping
events according to His will. The paths OF these
two men-the devout and inquiring nooleman
and the holy eyangelist-are made 10 converge.
They come into actual conjunction at the pre-
else moment when the nobleman's eye is on the
massage which, more than any other contains
the gist OF the gospel.
And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near and
ioin myself to this chariot" The man who the
day before. had given instant obedience to the
unaccountable command of the Spirit. and had
exchanged the stirring scenes and opportunities
of a great awakening for solitary post on
road through a desert, did not hesitate nov,
though he could plainly see that the traveller
was prince and foreigner.
There was a witticisn play words. IN
Philips address 10 the Ethiopian. which is lost
in the translation. He said: DO you know
what you know The wit Of Philip was the edge
Of the wedge that opened the Nuban princes
heart wide 10 the gospel
The ouestioner anticipated a negative answer.
and RECEIVED it: Hon I. except
should guide me?' The Ethiopian is q lovely ex-
ample OF the sincere inquirer after truth No
penl<nife Of a destructive critic his
hand. Nor he asking with Pilates cold
superciliousness, What is truth ?" He had be-
come a little chIld-docile. loving, trustfuI. OF
whom Jesus said: "of such is the kingdom"
He babe the chariot stand still. He took up
the tramp, covered with the and dust
OF his long and hasty journey afoot He seated
him upon the gorgeous upholstery OF his Egyp-
tian chariot, and oblivious TO the fact that the
eyes OF all his attendants upon him. he
bent over the old yellow Septuagint manuscript
with the unknown and wayfaring The
place where he reading He lei
as sheep TO the slaughter" and his utter con-
fusion OF mind was betrayed by the question,
'Of whom speaketh the prophet this-of him
self or some other mani?
Then Philip opened his mouth taking that very
verse as a text and Literally declared TO him
the glad tidings, Jesus The Ethiopian saw
believed was baptized That chariot was trans
muted into a Of salvation. on II rolled, with
its load more precious than the ivory and gold
OF continent. 1t rolled a thousand miles up
the Nile. and carried the gospel TO the heart OF
Nubia, where. In spite OF the unfriendliest en-