The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1959-11-21

travellers on this international
highway, but Philip was direc-
ted to this particular chariot
by the Spirit of God, for there
was definite need to be met
in that particular situation be-
cause a man was seeking
spiritual light. "And Philip
ran thither to him, and heard
him read the prophet Esaias,
and said. Understandest thou
what thou readest' There
were many Jews who did not
understand the true interpre-
tation of the Scriptures, espe-
cially those coming out of
prophetic writings; Under
standeth thou what thou
readest?" was very appropriate
for the time and occasion.
"And he said, How can l, ex-
cept some man should guide
me? And he desired Philip
that he would come up and sit
with him. The Ethiopian
recognized his limitation in UNI
derstanding the Scripture he
was reading therefore he well
coined assistance when it was
offered to him. "The place of
the scripture which he read
was this, He was led as a sheep
to the slaughter; and like a
lamb dumb before his shear
er, so opened he not his
mouth"
This particular passage en-
phaSiZes the calmnes sand nom
violent attitude of Jehovah's
servant who, though he is vest
ed with great power, will not
cry nor life up his voice in the
street, nor commit any act of
violence.
I'm his humiliation his
judgment was taken away: and
who shall declare his genera
ton? for his life is taken from
the earth" Authorized
Version. 1t reads: "By oppres-
sion and judgment he was
taken away; and as for his
generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the
land of the living, stricken
for the transgression of my
people.
"And the eunuch answered
Philip, and said, l pray thee,
of whom speaketh the prophet
this? of himself, or of some
other man" The Ethio-
plan wanted to be sure he un-
derstood just what was the
true meaning of what he was
reading. Then Philip opened
his mouth, and began at the
same scripture, and preached
unto him Jesus" - This occa-
sion gave Philip good oppor-
tunity to expound the meaning
of this Scripture in the light
of Christian faith. Evidently
there was a comparative analy-
sis made of the prophecy and
the life and ministry of Jesus,
showing that Jesus was the
one of whom the prophet was
speaking, and not of himself.
THE CONVERSION AND
| BAPTISM OF THE ETHIO-
Plan:
"And as they went on their
way, they came to a certain
water: and the eunuch said,
See, here is water: what doth
hinder me to be baptized"
The mentioning of water found
on the way as the party travel.
ed along has given strong sup
port to those who contend for
baptism by immersion. No at.
tempt is made of either Philip
or the eunuch suggesting that
| they procure water from 2
neighbOring well along the
way. "And Philip said, If thou
believest with all thine heart
thou mayest. And he answer
ed and said. | believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son Oh
God" - The main require
ment was that the candidate
believe that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God. "And he comman
ded the chariot to stand still
and they went down both into
the water, both Philip and the
eunuch; and he baptized him.
There is further evi
dence here that the eunucf
was immersed by Philip, fol
they went down into the water
for the baptism. 1t is reported