腓利和衣索匹亞的太監
26有主的一個使者對腓利說：「起來！向南走，往那從耶路撒冷下迦薩的路上去。」那路是曠野。 27腓利就起身去了，不料，有一個衣索匹亞人，是個有大權的太監，在衣索匹亞女王甘大基的手下總管銀庫，他上耶路撒冷禮拜去了。 28現在回來，在車上坐着，念先知以賽亞的書。 29聖靈對腓利說：「你去！貼近那車走。」 30腓利就跑到太監那裏，聽見他念先知以賽亞的書，便問他說：「你所念的，你明白嗎？」 31他說：「沒有人指教我，怎能明白呢？」於是請腓利上車，與他同坐。
32他所念的那段經，說：
他像羊被牽到宰殺之地，
又像羊羔在剪毛的人手下無聲；
他也是這樣不開口。
33他卑微的時候，
人不按公義審判他；
誰能述說他的世代？
因為他的生命從地上奪去。
34太監對腓利說：「請問，先知說這話是指着誰？是指着自己呢？是指着別人呢？」 35腓利就開口從這經上起，對他傳講耶穌。 36二人正往前走，到了有水的地方，太監說：「看哪，這裏有水，我受洗有甚麼妨礙呢？」 38於是吩咐車站住，腓利和太監二人同下水裏去，腓利就給他施洗。 39從水裏上來，主的靈把腓利提了去，太監也不再見他了，就歡歡喜喜地走路。 40後來有人在亞鎖都遇見腓利；他走遍那地方，在各城宣傳福音，直到凱撒利亞。
今天講的故事，出自於使徒行傳第八章。這段故事相當有趣，可以說是第一個有記錄的非洲基督徒的故事，也告訴我們一個非常重要的道理：當我們預備好傳福音，上帝會帶給我們機會。讓我們看看今天這個故事講的是什麼。
我們看到了一個有權力的太監，他是當時的肯蒂斯女王手下有權勢的官員。他是一個標準的外邦人，但卻選擇了信猶太教，並且去了耶路撒冷做禮拜，是一個非常虔誠的猶太教信徒。所以，他是一個在追尋上帝真道的人，還買了一本以賽亞書的經文來看。當時，聖經還沒有編撰完成，所以一卷一卷的經卷是分開來的，要寫下以賽亞書需要非常多的書卷，所以這個人應該是買了一大卷的書，正在馬車上閱讀。
他在讀的是以賽亞書第53章第7節的經文：
「他像羊被牽到宰殺之地，
又像羊羔在剪毛的人手下無聲；
他也是這樣不開口。」
在舊約裡面有相當多指著耶穌基督的經文，這一段就是其中之一。這段經文讓我們看到了耶穌基督像被宰的羔羊在剪羊毛人手下無聲，充分表達了他的順服和為人犧牲的愛。在舊約的經文裡面，還有很多類似這樣指著耶穌基督的話語，告訴我們他的命定。
這位太監也面對了一個問題，他讀的經文沒有人替他解釋，所以雖然他很渴望了解，但如果沒有解釋，他讀經其實是聽不懂的。而上帝看到了這個渴慕的靈魂，想要明白真理，所以上帝就用奇妙的方式引領腓力來到他的旁邊，為他做解釋。
同時，腓力在這個時候已經預備好了。雖然他不是使徒，但他和使徒們在一起認真努力地學習，是被挑選的七個職事之一。在耶路撒冷的教會被迫害後，這些職事和使徒們被分散到各地，他們都成為了宣教士，成為了分享福音的人。因為他們在耶路撒冷努力學習和了解道理，當機會來了，他們就有能力和知識去分享福音給其他人。
這位太監因為他的渴慕得到了滿足，他明白了預言中的耶穌基督，明白了福音的本質，並且明白了洗禮的重要性。所以當他看到下一個有水的地方，可能是一個小湖、一條小河甚至是一個小溪時，他馬上問道：「那我可以受洗嗎？」
有古卷沒有記載這段對話，但我認為這段對話其實很有含義。腓力對他說：「如果你全心相信就可以。」而這個太監回答說：「我相信耶穌基督是上帝的兒子。」這就是整個核心的福音重點。所以當我們在受洗的時候，其實我們強調的並不是說一定要上完所謂的初信課程，這是我們後來為了讓大家能夠有一個完整的信仰介紹，或是一個比較好的認識，才會安排這件事情。但千萬注意，這不是設限制，而是要保護。
我曾經聽過一些教會說：「無論如何，你先受洗就好，受洗以後再上課也沒關係。」他們的任務就是讓任何一個剛來教會的人趕快決志信主並且趕快受洗。
我曾經有一個朋友就是這樣。他當時被一個教會帶去，然後馬上受洗了，但接下來覺得好像自己被騙了，所以很久沒有去教會。我覺得很可惜，希望他能夠得到正確的教導後再來選擇是否受洗。
所以我們要了解受洗的原則，不在於是否上完課，而在於是否全心相信並宣告耶穌基督是上帝的兒子，祂是你的主。如果你信這件事，其實基本就夠了，但如果你連這件事都不了解或不明白，那麼受洗太早了。所以我們的初信者課程是為了稍微解釋耶穌基督的使命、祂的身份和祂的救恩，讓大家明白你們在信的是什麼。上完這個課，你會明白為什麼耶穌基督值得你為祂付出一輩子，這就是我們選擇祂的緣故。
我們要明白受洗的含義是什麼。當我們受洗時，我們就透過洗禮與耶穌基督在十字架上的死聯合了（羅馬書六章三節）。當耶穌基督復活時，當我們從水裡出來時，我們就在復活的形象上與祂聯合。因此，我們的罪在耶穌基督的十字架上結束了，從此以後，我們在祂裡面就是新造的人，不再是有罪的人。所以洗禮重要嗎？非常重要，它是必須的。
我也聽過很多人說：「等我把聖經搞懂了再受洗。」弟兄姊妹，能夠把聖經搞懂，我這輩子都覺得辦不到呀。洗禮的關鍵是你是否能夠相信，是否願意相信祂是拯救你的主，是愛你的主。只要你能夠接受並認同這一點，你就可以受洗，不要等到你能夠搞清楚這個信仰，因為我們都在不斷地學習中。
非常奇妙的是，腓力為太監解釋完經文後，馬上就消失了，上帝立即把他接走到別的地方繼續傳福音了。從此以後，他們兩個人再也沒有見過面。但就是因為這一次的遇見，這個太監受洗了，並且把福音帶回到他的國家，成為那個國家的初信者，成為那個國家的祝福者。這比在國外賺取更多金錢都更重要，因為從他開始，福音傳進了非洲。
可能某些人一輩子只有一次聽到福音的機會，可能有些人一輩子只走進教會一次。某一個人在那個時間點上問了你關於耶穌基督的事情，千萬不要覺得你還有下一次跟他聊天的機會，千萬不要覺得未來很久我們總有下一次。有些時候，這就是唯一的一次，而上帝把那個人放在你的身邊、放在那個時間點上，就是要你預備好把福音傳給他。
彼得前書3:15說：
「只要心裡尊主基督為聖。有人問你們心中盼望的緣由，就要常作準備，以溫柔、敬畏的心回答各人。」
彼得前書告訴我們，我們要把心中的盼望準備好，隨時隨地能夠回答個人。因為如果這個人正在問你，你不能停下來說：「等我一下，我來打電話給牧師。」或「等我一下，我不清楚，你去上網查。」他就是在那個時間點對你的信息有興趣，那時我們就得把話講清楚。所以千萬不要覺得傳福音是牧師一個人的事情。
那如果真的想不起來該怎麼辦？如果不知道該怎麼傳福音呢？這個時候，我們可以想想使徒信經。使徒信經就一百多個中文字，把他背出來，講完，就夠了。我們家的小朋友每天晚上都用使徒信經來禱告和睡覺之前的祈禱。所以當我們讀使徒信經時，我們就看到耶穌基督的故事，祂的死和復活，因著祂的緣故，我們的罪得赦免，得到救恩，這就是福音了。
所以當我們每週在唸使徒信經時，讓我們放慢速度，思想清楚這一個歷史歷代教會不斷打磨、完善，終於讓我們能夠背下來的使徒信經是非常簡單扼要的。我們都能夠聽得明白，也能背得出來，這就是我們應該思想的原理，也是我們可以分享的福音的核心。感謝各位的聆聽。
Philip and the Ethiopian
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
### Today's Story: Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
The story we are discussing today comes from Acts Chapter 8. This story is quite interesting as it can be considered the first recorded story of an African Christian. It also teaches us a very important lesson: when we are ready to spread the Gospel, God will provide us with opportunities. Let's see what today's story is about.
We see a powerful eunuch who was an influential official under the Queen Kandake of the Ethiopians. He was a typical Gentile, yet he chose to believe in Judaism and went to Jerusalem to worship. He was a very devout Jewish believer. Therefore, he was someone seeking the true way of God and had bought a scroll of the book of Isaiah to read. At that time, the Bible was not yet compiled, so the scrolls were separate. Writing down the book of Isaiah required a lot of scrolls, so this man must have bought a large scroll and was reading it in his chariot.
He was reading from Isaiah 53:7:
"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth."
The Old Testament has many passages pointing to Jesus Christ, and this is one of them. This passage shows us how Jesus Christ was like a lamb led to the slaughter, silent before its shearers, fully expressing His obedience and sacrificial love for humanity. There are many similar passages in the Old Testament that point to Jesus Christ, revealing His destiny.
The eunuch faced a problem: there was no one to explain the scripture to him. So, although he was eager to understand, he could not comprehend the scripture without an explanation. God saw this eager soul desiring to understand the truth, so He miraculously led Philip to his side to explain it to him.
Meanwhile, Philip was already prepared at that time. Although he was not an apostle, he had been diligently learning with the apostles and was one of the seven chosen deacons. After the church in Jerusalem was persecuted, these deacons and apostles were scattered to different places, becoming missionaries and sharing the Gospel. Because they had diligently studied and understood the truth in Jerusalem, when the opportunity came, they had the ability and knowledge to share the Gospel with others.
The eunuch's eagerness was satisfied; he understood the prophecy about Jesus Christ, the essence of the Gospel, and the importance of baptism. So when he saw the next available body of water, which could be a small lake, a river, or even a creek, he immediately asked, "Can I be baptized?"
Some ancient manuscripts do not record this conversation, but I think this dialogue is meaningful. Philip told him, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And the eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." This is the core of the Gospel. When we emphasize baptism, it is not about completing a so-called introductory course, which we arrange later to provide a comprehensive introduction to faith. It's not meant to set restrictions but to offer protection.
I've heard some churches say, "Just get baptized first, and it’s okay to take the class afterward." Their mission is to quickly get anyone who comes to church to decide to believe in the Lord and get baptized as soon as possible.
I once had a friend who was taken to a church and baptized immediately, but afterward, he felt deceived and stopped going to church for a long time. I think it’s a pity. I hope he can receive proper guidance before deciding whether to get baptized.
We need to understand that the principle of baptism is not about finishing a course but about sincerely believing and declaring that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and your Lord. If you believe this, it is enough. However, if you do not understand or comprehend this, then baptism is premature. Our introductory course is to explain the mission, identity, and salvation of Jesus Christ, helping everyone understand what they are believing in. After completing this course, you will understand why Jesus Christ is worth dedicating your life to. That is why we choose Him.
We must understand what baptism means. When we are baptized, we are united with Jesus Christ in His death on the cross (Romans 6:3). When Jesus Christ was resurrected, and we come out of the water, we are united with Him in the likeness of His resurrection. Therefore, our sins ended on the cross with Jesus Christ, and from then on, we are new creations in Him, no longer sinners. So is baptism important? Absolutely, it is essential.
I’ve also heard many say, "I'll get baptized once I understand the Bible." Brothers and sisters, to fully understand the Bible is something I feel I can never accomplish in this lifetime. The key to baptism is whether you can believe and are willing to believe that He is your saving Lord and loving Master. If you can accept and recognize this, you can be baptized. Don’t wait until you fully understand the faith because we are all continually learning.
It is remarkable that after Philip explained the scripture to the eunuch, he immediately disappeared, taken away by God to continue preaching elsewhere. They never met again. But because of this encounter, the eunuch was baptized and brought the Gospel back to his country, becoming the first believer and a blessing to his nation. This is more important than earning more money abroad because, through him, the Gospel was introduced to Africa.
Some people may only have one opportunity in their lifetime to hear the Gospel. Some may only walk into a church once. If someone asks you about Jesus Christ at that moment, don’t assume you will have another chance to talk to them. Sometimes, that is the only opportunity, and God has placed that person beside you at that moment so you are ready to share the Gospel with them.
1 Peter 3:15 says:
"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have, but do this with gentleness and respect."
1 Peter tells us to have the hope in our hearts ready to share at any time because if someone is asking you, you cannot pause and say, "Wait a minute, I need to call the pastor." or "Hold on, I’m not sure, go look it up online." They are interested in your message at that moment, and we must speak clearly. So never think that evangelism is just the pastor’s job.
But what if you can’t remember what to say? If you don’t know how to share the Gospel, think about the Apostles’ Creed. The Apostles’ Creed has just over a hundred Chinese characters. Recite it, and that will be enough. My children use the Apostles’ Creed every night for their prayers and bedtime devotions. When we recite the Apostles’ Creed, we see the story of Jesus Christ, His death, and resurrection. Because of Him, our sins are forgiven, and we receive salvation. That is the Gospel.
So when we recite the Apostles’ Creed each week, let’s slow down and think clearly about this well-refined and perfected statement of faith, passed down through generations. We can all understand and memorize it, and it encapsulates the core of the Gospel we can share. Thank you all for listening.
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