Philip’s Witness

This is Rembrandt’s view of Philip baptizing Queen Candace’s eunuch. Doesn’t match what I had in mind, mostly because there are no other people mentioned in the scripture. I see just the two of them, looking over the scroll Isaiah had written so many centuries before. Jesus spoke of those scriptures:

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39 KJV)

The Ethiopian asked questions, Philip answered with Jesus:

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. (Acts 8:34-35 KJV)

We do not worship the God of the Old Testament, or the New; the God of Israel or of gentiles. We worship the one and only God who created the heaven and earth, there is none other. The God Jesus explained is God of the living:

But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Matthew 22:31-32 KJV)

I’ve like Philip since I read that he introduced Jesus to his friend:

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. (John 1:45-46 KJV)

“Come, and see.” How many of us have gone to our own friends and introduced them to the Lord we love and serve? How many times do we tender the invitation to join us? Philip was ready to seek out his friend, and just as ready to speak to strangers about the man he followed for three years.

Think about that – he watched Jesus die, and saw Him resurrected. He didn’t write about, he just went to witnessing. He knew the scriptures and he shared his knowledge. Can’t we do the same?

If not, why not? Why can’t we perk up a conversation with a scripture or two? Politically incorrect? Socially incorrect? Public figures do it every once in a while and make national news. Are we that afraid of voicing beliefs that are supposed to be the foundation of our lives?

Or is it a test to see whether or not stones will cry out?

And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. (Luke 19:39-40 KJV)

I think they would.