'Ac 8:26-40

Back to Acts~

Back to Contents

Christianity enters Philistia (Ac 8:26-40)

From Samaria Philip headed south towards the region of Philistia on the Mediterranean coast (Ac 8:26).

On the way he met another non-Jewish person who responded to his preaching. This man, a government official from Ethiopia in north Africa, was already one of the God-fearers and was reading the Old Testament when Philip met him (Ac 8:27-29).

However, he did not understand what he was reading. When Philip explained the Scriptures to him, the man learnt the meaning of Jesus’ death, became a believer and was baptized (Ac 8:30-38).

The man was overjoyed as he continued his journey homeward, and no doubt readily spread the good news of Jesus Christ among his fellow Africans. Philip, meanwhile, preached around the towns of Philistia, then moved north along the coast till he came to the provincial capital, Caesarea (Ac 8:39-40).