Unstoppable! 'Jonah's Opposite' — Acts 8:26-27

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, "Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia.

— Acts 8:26-27 NLT

Key Thought

God told the Old Testament prophet, Jonah, to go to Nineveh and call the people to repentance. Instead, Jonah ran away and boarded a ship headed the opposite direction (Jonah 1:1-4). He refused the call of God because he was uncomfortable with the place where he was called to go; he despised the people, and he hated the possibility they might repent, and then God would forgive them (Jonah 3:6-10, 4:1-4, 11). When the Lord sent Philip to a desert road headed in the direction of non-Jewish people, Philip did the opposite of Jonah. He obeyed God's call. Notice the progression in Luke's record about Philip's obedience:

  • He left and met the Ethiopian on the road (Acts 8:27).
  • Philip ran to the chariot of the Ethiopian (Acts 8:30).
  • He asked about the Ethiopian's understanding of the scriptures he was reading (Acts 8:30).
  • Philip accepted the invitation to sit with the Ethiopian in the carriage (Acts 8:31).
  • Philip began with the passage the Ethiopian was reading and shared the Good News about Jesus with him (Acts 8:35).
  • At the request of the Ethiopian, Philip baptized him into Christ (Acts 8:36-38).

Philip opened his heart to God's call, and that led him to open his heart to a foreign Ethiopian official with whom he gladly shared Jesus. Philip's ministry focused on sharing Jesus with all kinds of people. Unfortunately, many who claim Jesus surely seem to sound more like Jonah. However, I believe that deep down in our hearts, most of us want to be like Philip, with a heart for all those who need Jesus and his grace!

Today's Prayer

O Lord, here I am; please send, use, direct, and empower me. I want to obey you and bless people who need to know Jesus. I make this commitment knowing your presence will go with me and that you will equip and inspire me to do what I need to do. In Jesus' name, I thank you. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • John 1:10-18, 3:16-17, 20:19-21
  • Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 10:45

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Illustration

Illustration of Acts 8:26-27 NLT — As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, "Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia.

About This Devotional

Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.

Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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