Verse 26: “The angel of the L-rd spoke to Philip saying, ‘Rise up and go according to the south, upon the way that comes down from Jerusalem into Gaza – this is the wilderness.’”

Angel of the L-rd: Angels minister to us so that we can more effectively serve our L-rd and Saviour.

Down from Jerusalem: In Judaism when one goes to Jerusalem it is spoken of as going up to Jerusalem. When one leaves Jerusalem, it is said that they are going down from Jerusalem. This is true from a position of geography – Jerusalem is up about 3,000 feet/1000m – but it is also true spiritually. When we go up to Jerusalem it is an upward call to worship God, and when we go down we are leaving.

Verse 27: “And he rose up. He went down and behold an Ethiopian man who was a eunuch. He was an important official in the administration of a woman, by the name of Kandace who was the queen of Ethiopia, who was over all of her Treasury. He came from worshiping in Jerusalem.”

He rose up: He obeyed the commandment of the angel.

Behold: This emphasises that what follows is something we need to pay attention to. Phillip would have never been able to see this on his own. It was because of God, speaking to him through the angel, that he beheld this Ethiopian man.

Ethiopian: Jewish families, within the past few years, have come up from Ethiopia and live in the land of Israel. This is prophetic.

Eunuch: A eunuch was someone who went through a procedure that left him unable to have children and he was, usually, unmarried. This freed him up so that they could be single minded and trusted for positions that required great commitment, loyalty, and fidelity.

Queen of Ethiopia: At this time Ethiopia was being ruled by a woman. Treasury: This man was in charge of the Kingdom’s finances.

Worshiping in Jerusalem: This Ethiopian man was Jewish, and he came up in order to worship.

Verse 28: “On returning, he was sitting upon his chariot reading aloud from the prophet Isaiah.”

Verse 29: “And the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go and escort (join) this chariot.”

Verse 30: “Running, Philip heard him reading the prophecy of Isaiah. He said to him, ‘Then also you understand what you are reading?’”
Running: Philip was running to join himself to this chariot.

Prophecy: In the book of Acts there is an emphasis on the working, moving, empowering, equipping, leadership, guidance, and the help of the Holy Spirit. However, there is also an emphasis on prophecy. There is a strong relationship between the Holy Spirit and prophecy.
When we are prophetically minded we are going to be encountering the Holy Spirit much more.

Verse 31: “He said, ‘For how am I able to know (understand) if there is not someone to guide me?’ He invited Philip to come up and sit with him in this chariot.”

Note: Traditionally, in Judaism, people understand that there is a benefit of reading the Word of God, even if they do not comprehend it in their own human intellect. The Word of the L-rd will not return void, but it is desirable if we understand it, that we perceive it.

Verse 32: “And the portion of Scripture which he was reading from it: ‘As a sheep unto its slaughter is taken, and as a young lamb is before its shearers silent, thus he did not open up his mouth.’”

The portion of Scripture: This is taken from Isaiah 53v7

Lamb: Speaking about Messiah, who is the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed – and in that time of His crucifixion (His sacrifice) He was silent. Yeshua fulfilled this prophecy.