Act 8:39 | KingComments | STEP | We do not know what else they discussed on the way, but we do see the result. The eunuch accepted the Lord Jesus in faith as the Messiah and was therefore born of God ( ). When they come to a water, he asks to be baptized. Philip will have spoken about this too, but the desire comes from the eunuch himself. Baptism is done on the basis of the confession of faith. There is no probation period. Philip does not have to ask permission from the apostles or the church in Jerusalem. He does it instantly. They both go down into the water, which indicates that baptism takes place by immersion. Baptism is a personal matter, with which the church has nothing to do. The Lord – and not the church – has sent His disciples to baptize. They are just as responsible to Him for this as they are for the preaching of the Word, which is also not done by the church (the church does not teach). When the baptism has taken place and they have come out of the water again, Philip’s task as far as the eunuch is concerned is over. Philip is snatched away by the Spirit of the Lord and placed somewhere else. Time and space mean nothing to God. This supernatural way of disappearing belongs to this beginning time which is full of wonders and signs. Without being surprised by the sudden disappearance of his companion, the eunuch travels on his way rejoicing at the redemption he had sought in Jerusalem in vain. What he sought, he found in the Word of God, in Jesus Christ. When someone has truly found Christ, the servant disappears from sight and Christ is everything. The eunuch and Philip did not see each other again on earth, we may assume. They did not have to. The eunuch could stand on his own two feet as an independent Christian. Servants are not allowed to bind anyone to themselves. The eunuch went back to his country and took up his daily work again. He has remained in the position he was in when he was called by the gospel ( ).

‏ Acts 8:39

Philip Baptizes the Eunuch

We do not know what else they discussed on the way, but we do see the result. The eunuch accepted the Lord Jesus in faith as the Messiah and was therefore born of God (1Jn 5:1). When they come to a water, he asks to be baptized. Philip will have spoken about this too, but the desire comes from the eunuch himself.

Baptism is done on the basis of the confession of faith. There is no probation period. Philip does not have to ask permission from the apostles or the church in Jerusalem. He does it instantly. They both go down into the water, which indicates that baptism takes place by immersion.

Baptism is a personal matter, with which the church has nothing to do. The Lord – and not the church – has sent His disciples to baptize. They are just as responsible to Him for this as they are for the preaching of the Word, which is also not done by the church (the church does not teach).

When the baptism has taken place and they have come out of the water again, Philip’s task as far as the eunuch is concerned is over. Philip is snatched away by the Spirit of the Lord and placed somewhere else. Time and space mean nothing to God. This supernatural way of disappearing belongs to this beginning time which is full of wonders and signs.

Without being surprised by the sudden disappearance of his companion, the eunuch travels on his way rejoicing at the redemption he had sought in Jerusalem in vain. What he sought, he found in the Word of God, in Jesus Christ. When someone has truly found Christ, the servant disappears from sight and Christ is everything.

The eunuch and Philip did not see each other again on earth, we may assume. They did not have to. The eunuch could stand on his own two feet as an independent Christian. Servants are not allowed to bind anyone to themselves. The eunuch went back to his country and took up his daily work again. He has remained in the position he was in when he was called by the gospel (1Cor 7:24).