| 30 x 48 Gouache, chalk, and pencil on canvas |
The Story Behind the Painting...
Philip was one of the original twelve disciples commissioned by Jesus to preach the
good news of the kingdom and spread the gospel to the nations. After the death,
resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, and the infilling of the promised Holy Ghost,
Philip is preaching in Samaria when the Angel of the Lord speaks to him, telling him
to go south toward a deserted area lying between Jerusalem and Gaza.
Obeying, he encounters the chariot of the royal steward of Ethiopian Queen Candace
- a eunuch of great authority who had come to Jerusalem to worship the God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The eunuch is on his way back to Ethiopia, and is reading
the writings of the prophet Isaiah from the Torah scroll.
The Holy Ghost tells Philip to catch up with the chariot, and upon approaching he
overhears the man reading from the prophet Isaiah, and asks him if he understands
what he is reading. The Ethiopian responds there is no way he can, unless someone
guides (explains to) him. He invites Philip to sit up in the chariot with him.
Beginning at the verse the man is reading (what we would recognize as Isaiah 53:7-8)
Philip preaches the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Upon
grasping this prophetic revelation, the eunuch insists on being baptized. They have
just come upon a body of water, and there Philip baptizes the Ethiopian.
Immediately following the moment you see depicted in the painting, the Spirit of the
Lord catches Philip away, and transports him to Azotus - an ancient Philistine city we
would know today as Gaza. As you can see from this event, the early church was
multi-ethnic, salvation through faith in the shed blood of Jesus and baptism of the
Holy Ghost is for all people, and there was a Christian presence and testimony in
Africa long before Anglo missionaries set foot on the continent.
But don't take my word for it!!
Read it for yourself in the
Book of Acts
Chapter 8, verses 26-40
King James Version.
good news of the kingdom and spread the gospel to the nations. After the death,
resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, and the infilling of the promised Holy Ghost,
Philip is preaching in Samaria when the Angel of the Lord speaks to him, telling him
to go south toward a deserted area lying between Jerusalem and Gaza.
Obeying, he encounters the chariot of the royal steward of Ethiopian Queen Candace
- a eunuch of great authority who had come to Jerusalem to worship the God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The eunuch is on his way back to Ethiopia, and is reading
the writings of the prophet Isaiah from the Torah scroll.
The Holy Ghost tells Philip to catch up with the chariot, and upon approaching he
overhears the man reading from the prophet Isaiah, and asks him if he understands
what he is reading. The Ethiopian responds there is no way he can, unless someone
guides (explains to) him. He invites Philip to sit up in the chariot with him.
Beginning at the verse the man is reading (what we would recognize as Isaiah 53:7-8)
Philip preaches the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Upon
grasping this prophetic revelation, the eunuch insists on being baptized. They have
just come upon a body of water, and there Philip baptizes the Ethiopian.
Immediately following the moment you see depicted in the painting, the Spirit of the
Lord catches Philip away, and transports him to Azotus - an ancient Philistine city we
would know today as Gaza. As you can see from this event, the early church was
multi-ethnic, salvation through faith in the shed blood of Jesus and baptism of the
Holy Ghost is for all people, and there was a Christian presence and testimony in
Africa long before Anglo missionaries set foot on the continent.
But don't take my word for it!!
Read it for yourself in the
Book of Acts
Chapter 8, verses 26-40
King James Version.
| Philip Baptizes the Ethiopian |
Better still...
LISTEN TO AUDIO
choose Acts Chapter 8
LISTEN TO AUDIO
choose Acts Chapter 8
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