CONVERSION OF THE ELITE (Act 8:26-40)

I.      THE PLACE

         A.     Gaza, same is desert: “Not an utterly barren waste, but a wild, uninhabited region” (SM).

         B.     Pre-plan of God. Some have suggested Philip left 3 days earlier than the eunuch.

II.     THE PARTICIPANTS

         A.     The Angel (vs 26)

         B.     The Holy Spirit (vs 29)

         C.     The Evangelist, Philip(vs 26, 8:5-13; 6:1-7).

IMP: Why didn’t the angel convert the Eunuch? Treasure in earthen vessels. Why didn’t the Holy Spirit speak or nudge or show Himself to the Eunuch? Treasure in earthen vessels.

         D.     The Ethiopian Eunuch

                  1.      Man of Ethiopia. The color of his skin is not the issue, nor his nationality. Disallowed ... acceptable (De 23:1).

                  2.      Man of authority

                  3.      Man of God. 1,000 miles from Ethiopia to Jerusalem; at 10 miles a day, it took 100 days. Since Cornelius is the 1^st Gentile convert, the eunuch more than likely was a proselyte.

                  4.      Bible reading man. Man who was willing to learn.

III.   PREACHED CHRIST

         A.     What does this example tell us is wrong with people who say, "Preacher, I would like your preaching better if you would just preach Christ crucified, and not speak of baptism."

         B.     It is impossible to preach Christ fully to a sinner and leave baptism out of the sermon.

IV.   THE PROPER RESPONSE

         A.     Faith, Confession, Baptized, Baptism is immersion, not sprinkling or pouring.

         B.     Objection to immersion: “I think about the time my children were learning to swim. They ‘went down into’ ... many times before I ever succeeded getting their head wet.

CONCLUSION: It is written of Barton Stone, that in his early days he was traveling through Ohio preaching. Having preached in the forenoon, he mounted his horse to go to another appointment. As he rode along, a stranger fell in with him, and said: "Mr. Stone, I heard you preach this morning; here is a stream of water; I want to be baptized. What hinders me?" Stone had never understood this passage of Scripture before this; but he was reminded of it, and he instantly resolved to follow it; so he said: "If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart you may." He answered, "I do believe on Him with all my heart." "Dismount, then," said Stone, "and let us go down into the water." They did so, and when they came out of the stream they parted - never saw each other again.