After the revival in Samaria, God sent Philip to Gaza. Philip met an Ethiopian eunuch and preached the gospel to him. This eunuch was reading Isaiah 53 on the chariot, on the way home after he attended the festival in Jerusalem. Later he would be baptized, and from the fact that there was water in the wadi, we can assume that the festival he attended was the Passover. Philip explained to the eunuch that the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 was Jesus. The story of Jesus’ crucifixion must have touched his heart, as he had just participated in the Passover and offered a sacrificial lamb. He immediately decided to believe in Jesus and to be baptized. All these events happened at the perfect time. When Philip went to Gaza, he met this eunuch at the right time. This eunuch was reading Isaiah 53 and had just attended Passover. When he believed in Jesus, there was a river there. This was exactly Divine timing and in the same way, if we live according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will experience similar miracles. Consider Philip, a man led by God. 1: Philip was not attached to his past success. He started a revival in Samaria and became a successful evangelist. However, he was not intoxicated by his success and went on to his next mission. 2: Philip was speedy in his actions. When he heard the voice of an angel, he acted immediately. Also, when he saw the eunuch, he ran up to his chariot. 3: Philip was well versed in the Bible. When he heard the eunuch reading, he realized that the scripture was Isaiah 53, and he gave the eunuch an appropriate biblical clarification. The main theme of the book of Acts is “the resurrected Jesus is leading us.” Let us follow Philip’s example and live according to God’s guidance.
サマリアでのリバイバルの後、神はピリポをガザに遣わした。そこで彼はエチオピアの宦官に出会い、彼に福音を宣べ伝えた。この宦官はエルサレムでの祭りに参加した帰路、馬車でイザヤ書53章を読んでいた。後に彼は洗礼を受ける事になるが、ワジに水があった事から、これは春先に起こった出来事であり、彼が過越の祭りに参加していた事が伺える。ピリポは彼に、イザヤ53章に記されている「苦難の僕」がイエスである事を説明した。過越の祭りで生贄の羊を捧げたばかりの彼には、イエスの十字架の意味が実感的に理解出来たのであろう。彼はすぐにイエスを信じて洗礼を受けた。ピリポがガザに行った時、ちょうどこの宦官に出会った事、彼がイザヤ書を読んでいた事、彼が過越の祭りに参加した直後であった事、また彼がイエスを信じた時、そこに水場があった事など、全ての出来事が完璧なタイミングで起こった。まさにこれは神のタイミングであり、私達が聖霊に導かれて生きる時、私達も同様の奇跡を経験する事ができる。このようにして、神はピリポを用いたが、神に用いられた彼について考察する。1:ピリポは過去の成功に捉われなかった。サマリアでリバイバルが起こったが、彼はその成功に酔いしれる事なく、即座に次のミッションに向かった。2:ピリポの行動にはスピード感があった。エチオピアの宦官と出会った時、聖霊が彼に話しかけるよう促すと、ピリポは「走って」宦官に近づいた。3:ピリポは聖書に精通していた。彼は、宦官が読んでいた聖句がイザヤ書である事を理解し、適切な解き明かしをする事が出来た。私達もピリポの信仰的態度に倣い、神に用いられる者となろう。
