The Conversion of the Ethiopian

Mike Johnson

The conversion case of the eunuch from Ethiopia is one of the more well-known conversion cases in the Bible. We know the facts are accurate because they come from the inspired Word of God (II Timothy 3:16-17).

Acts 8 records this conversion. The account takes a natural division. First, verses 26-29 tell us about the bringing together of the preacher and the sinner. Next, verses 30-35 reveal Philip “preaching Jesus” to the Ethiopian, and then verses 36-39 tell of the response of the eunuch. Consider the following lessons.

  1. The importance of the individual-  Philip, according to Acts 8:5-25, had been preaching in the area of Samaria.  Samaria was a populated area and was a place where Philip had success. Yet, an angel of God spoke to Philip and told him to go to the road between Jerusalem and Gaza. There he met the eunuch and preached to him. Thus, God sent Philip from a populated area to preach to one person, which shows us that God views every person as important. He wants salvation for all (II Pet. 3:9).
  2. A religious man needed salvation- The eunuch was a religious person. He had been to Jerusalem to worship God (v. 27). Nevertheless, he still needed to hear the truth and obey Christ for salvation. Such was also the case with Cornelius, who was a God-fearing man (Acts 10:2, 22), but he was an unsaved man (Acts 11:14). To obtain salvation, it takes more than being a religious person.
  3. Preaching Jesus meant preaching baptism- Verse 35 says that Philip “…preached unto him Jesus.” After hearing “Jesus preached,” they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” This question helps us to see that preaching Jesus involves preaching baptism. The Bible tells us that baptism is necessary for salvation (Acts 2:38). Many claim to “preach Jesus,” and yet they hardly ever mention the subject of baptism.
  4. The proper mode of baptism-The Bible teaches that baptism is a “burial” (Rom. 6:4, Col. 2:12). The word translated baptism means “immersion.” The case of the eunuch (Acts 8) is in perfect accord with the rest of the Bible’s teaching that baptism is a burial or immersion. They came “unto a certain water” (v. 36), they “went down both into the water” (v. 38), and they “came up out of the water” (v. 39). The language is a clear description of immersion. Sprinkling or pouring water on a person’s head is not baptism at all. The Bible teaches that baptism is immersion or burial.
  5. He confessed Christ-The eunuch was not required to confess and memorize various articles of faith or to pledge allegiance to a denomination before baptism. No, he just confessed Christ (note Rom. 10:10). Many are guilty of adding conditions before baptism that the Lord does not require.