Acts 8: Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch

The Ethiopian eunuch seems to me a model of humility and simple wisdom.

When Philip, one of the seven chosen to serve in Acts 6, hears the eunuch reading from the prophet Isaiah, he asks him, "Do you understand what you are reading?" (8:30). And the eunuch, more eager to learn than to appear learned, replies, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" (8:31), and asks Philip for help.

The eunuch does not understand Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering servant:

"Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth." (8:32-33)

Who is the prophet talking about, he asks? "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus" (8:35).

Philip's method of scriptural interpretation follows the example set by Christ himself; recall, for example, his discussion with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, when, "beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Lk 24:27).

For, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church, echoing St. Augustine, puts it, "the New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New."

Then, understanding Isaiah's prophecy and the good news of Jesus, the eunuch does the logical thing and eagerly asks to be baptized.

(Image: Rembrandt, "The baptism of the eunuch," 1626)