Today's passage, Acts 8:26-40, brings us to the well-known encounter between Philip and a man referred to as an Ethiopian eunuch. This quintessential evangelism story is one with which most of us are very familiar. It is often used as a model for sharing the gospel. It's also set up as an example of a divine appointment, one of those seemingly chance encounters in life that are actually the handiwork of God. But there is far more to this story than simply one man sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to another. Luke, in recording his historical narrative, to an audience that is primarily Gentile in nature, is methodically and purposefully illustrating how God was orchestrating the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth. This most certainly was a divine appointment. But it reveals far more, as we see that the details regarding this man's identity speak of the all-inclusive nature of the good news. It was open to any and all, regardless of the color of their skin, their country of origin, their physical characteristics, or perceived worthiness or unworthiness. God was seeing to it that the gospel made it to the ends of the earth and to the ears of those whom He was calling from every tribe, nation and tongue.
