Baptism In The Desert

Spring, c. 33 AD

Baptism In The Desert

As the chariot traveled along the road, they came to some water in the desert. The Ethiopian, completely convinced by Philip's explanation of the Gospel, immediately asked, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" The eunuch commanded the chariot to stop, and both men went down into the water where Philip baptized him.

In an astonishing conclusion to the encounter, the moment they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch did not see him anymore, but he did not panic; he simply went on his way back to Africa rejoicing. Philip miraculously found himself at Azotus, continuing to preach the gospel to all the coastal cities until he reached Caesarea.

"And he ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him."
— Acts 8:38

Timeline Box: The baptism of the eunuch represents the formal inclusion of the geographic extremes into the Church.

Divided Kingdom Era, c. 850 BC

Naaman Washes In The Jordan

Despite his initial rage at the simplistic command, Naaman the Aramean general went down into the muddy waters of the Jordan River. He dipped himself seven times according to the word of Elisha. As he came up from the water the seventh time, his rotting, leprous flesh was miraculously restored to the purity of a little child.

"So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean."
— 2 Kings 5:14

Timeline Box: Naaman's submission to the water of the Jordan is a classic picture of obedient faith leading to cleansing.

Divided Kingdom Era, c. 853 BC

The Spirit Carries Elijah

The mysterious transportation of prophets by the Spirit has precedent in Israel. During the days of King Ahab, the devout servant Obadiah expressed a terrifying concern regarding Elijah. He feared that if he told the king Elijah was present, the Spirit of Yahweh would suddenly carry the prophet away to an unknown location, resulting in Obadiah's execution by the furious king.

"And it will be that when I leave you, the Spirit of Yahweh will carry you where I do not know..."
— 1 Kings 18:12

Timeline Box: The physical relocation of prophets by the Spirit was a known, though rare, phenomenon in biblical history.

Editorial: What Prevents Me?

Under the old Levitical Law, the Ethiopian eunuch's physical condition absolutely prevented him from fully entering the assembly of God. But the cross has destroyed those barriers forever. When he saw the water, his question—"What prevents me?"—was profound. The answer was: Nothing.

He went down into the water as an excluded foreigner and came up as a baptized son of the living God. He didn't even need Philip anymore; he had the Holy Spirit, and he went back to Africa rejoicing. Like Naaman dipping in the Jordan, the water itself wasn't magic. It was the bold, immediate obedience to the Gospel that brought the cleansing and the joy.

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