Acts+8+and+Isaiah+53

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= Acts 8:32‐Isaiah 53:7‐8 = = = = Introduction =

= = In the opening chapters of Acts, Luke is establishing the fact that the Name has power and authority to save. This salvation does not only reach the Jews but it is being held out to the Gentiles. The Ethiopian eunuch is an example of this reality. The Spirit uses the Old Testament prophesies to stir questions in the heart of the Gentile, that cause him to  face the reality of the Messiah.

Context of the passage in Isaiah
The question continually arises in Isaiah: How can God’s promises to Israel come true if they are so guilty of disobedience? Beginning in chapter 42 and spanning through to 53, Isaiah declares that the suffering servant is the answer. All the guilt of  the people of Israel is laid on the Messiah (53:4‐6). The promises will be realized for the Israelites because of the reality of the suffering servant and his redemptive work. Isaiah describes who this suffering servant is and what he will do to become the promise for the people of Israel and through them the world. The final servant song in Isaiah 52:13‐53:12 discuss the nature of the <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">suffering servant. This last song is structured in a chiasm, with 53:4‐6 as the center <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">declaring that this servant is the sin bearer. Verses 7‐9 go on to clarify the nature of  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">this sin bearer. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Servant is submissive. Isaiah uses the picture of a lamb being led to  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">slaughter and a sheep that is silent when sheared to describe the submission of   <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Christ. In contrast to the animal, the suffering servant knows what he is being led to  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">and is aware of what the outcome will be. “The servant maintains his self‐imposed <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">silence both as he goes and as he endures.” <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">9 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">As Paul writes in Philippians, “He <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death” (Phil. 2:8). Isaiah is  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">driving home the reality that “though he did not deserve to die he was willing to do   <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">so.” <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">10 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">This is ultimate submission. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Servant is innocent. The servant’s innocence is captured in contrast to  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">the treatment he endured. Verse 8 states “from oppression and from judgment he  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">was taken.” Though there is debate on the exact meaning of this statement, the point <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">is that “his treatment was unjust from start to finish.” <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">11 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Servant suffers injustice. Finally, because of this innocence, and the trial <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">and death that ensued, the outcome was completely unjust. Isaiah declares, “he had <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">done no violence” (53:9). Verse 8 begins this idea stating that “he was cut off from <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">the land of the living.” This // cut off //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">is a verb with an unbroken record of violence. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">12 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Furthermore, the servant is cut off because of the // transgressions of my people. //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Thus, <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">“the injustice is not that something has been done to him by a corrupt legal system, <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">but that he is suffering in the place of those who should be suffering.” <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">13 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The reality of the submission, innocence and injustice of the suffering servant <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">renders the death of this suffering servant a tragedy if it ends here. = = = = = = = **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Context of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch‐ ** =

= =

**<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Supernatural motivation (vs.26) **
<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The scene opens upon Philip in chapter 8 and he is supernaturally directed <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">by God to “go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Gaza.” Luke uses the expression “the angel of the Lord” to stress the special <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">presence and activity of God. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">14 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">He uses this phrase in Acts 12:7 when Peter is  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">rescued from prison. In the Septuagint the phrase was used to describe a  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">supernatural messenger who manifested the divine presence to human <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">beings. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">15

**<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Ethiopian’s spiritual background (vs. 27) **
<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Ethiopian had been in Jerusalem to worship so it is evident that he was a  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">proselyte to Judaism. By making the journey to Jerusalem from Ethiopia he is  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">showing his dedication to the faith. Though his understanding of the faith is  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">minimal, he places weight on traveling to the land of this God he worships. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">His questions to Philip in verses 32 and 34 also indicate that he was not well <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">versed in Judaism. He had many unanswered questions and had no instant, <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">easy answers. Though he is materially stable (8:27), he is spiritually hungry <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">as he reads through the book of Isaiah. Calvin also points out that his faith <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">was an open profession, as such a high ranking officer could not have <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">traveled so far in secret. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">16

**<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Ethiopian’s physical background (Isaiah 56:3‐4) **
<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">More than simply being a Gentile, the Ethiopian was a eunuch. Because of this <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">he would not have been able to enter into the temple to worship (Deut. 23:1). <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">His worship would have taken place in the court of the Gentiles (John 12:20). <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">He was unacceptable on a number of levels and his visit to Jerusalem must <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">have impressed this reality upon his hungry heart. = **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Isaiah 53 in Acts ** = = **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Centrality of Christ’s suffering/humiliation to the gospel ** =

= = <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In the context of Isaiah, this passage is solving a problem and answering a   <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">question. In Acts, the passage leads up to an important question. The <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Ethiopian eunuch is an outcast. He cannot worship fully. Even his trek to  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Jerusalem does not render him pure enough to enter into the temple. His <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">questions no doubt continually abounded as he read through the book of  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Isaiah. The Eunuch recognizes that the identity of the character described in  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Acts is of utter importance. The final phrase “taken away” is also used in Acts <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">1:9‐11 to describe Christ’s exaltation. Therefore, it is implied that the <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">humiliation of the servant may lead to a hope for a different future. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">17 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Isaiah passage uses the phrase // taken away //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">which denotes a removal or  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">separation from in a final sense. It is first used in Genesis 3:23 when the Lord <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">sends Adam out to work the ground from which he was // taken //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. However, the <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">New Testament realities add to this prophecy in a sense, creating an  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">undertone of hope in an otherwise tragic situation. // Taken away //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">does not have <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">to be final because in an ultimate sense it leads to exaltation (Acts 1:9‐11). <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">This is what the eunuch is hoping for. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The fact that Philip was able to use this Isaiah passage shows that he had an  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">understanding of the interpretation of the suffering servant. Philip can move <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">through Christ’s teaching about himself. Jesus had clearly identified himself <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">and his mission with the Servant of Isaiah 53. Mark 10:45 and Luke 22:37 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">declare this. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">18

**<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Parallel of Jesus’ use of Isaiah in Luke and Philip’s use in Acts **
<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Luke creates a parallel between Jesus’ use of Isaiah in 22:37 and the <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">quotation in this chapter. In both Matthew and John, Isaiah is referred to in  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">accordance with Christ’s ministry of healing (Matthew 8:17 on 53:4, John   <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">12:38 on 53:1). But Luke points out that this prophecy was fulfilled in the <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">passion of Christ. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">19 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Christ is indeed “taken away” but this results in ultimate <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">victory. = **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Ethiopian’s ultimate question ** =

= = <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">This whole passage is structured in a chiasm and at the center we find the <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">ultimate question of the eunuch: “About whom is the prophet talking?” There is much <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">that he doesn’t understand, but he seems to know that all answers trickle down from <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">here. An understanding of this suffering and yet exalted one is central. Therefore the <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Isaiah’s quote leads to this question. In Isaiah, words about the suffering servant <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">prophetically solved the plight of the Israelites. There were some who thought Isaiah <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">was pointing to his own suffering in the passage. However, the eunuch is hoping that it  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">is someone else, someone that more closely identifies with him. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">20 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Ethiopian now <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">has the opportunity to understand more fully than Isaiah’s listeners ever could have <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">because the suffering servant had come. = **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Philip’s response ** =

= = <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Philip tells the Ethiopian of Jesus. His speech is described by an “opening of his mouth” <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">which is parallel to Exodus 4:12 and Ezekiel 3:27. It is a divine opening. Just as Philip was <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">supernaturally prodded, he supernaturally answers. Jesus is the answer to the ultimate <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">question. Jesus is central to the passage. The good news is truly good to the Ethiopian. He is  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">not an outcast to Christ (Isaiah 56:4‐6). All things have been made new. = **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Conversion of the Ethiopian ** =

= = <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The baptism of the Ethiopian externally declares what has internally taken place. It  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">identifies the eunuch with the body of believers. In Acts 2:38, conversion and baptism <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">occur consecutively. In doing so, the Ethiopian is both confessing his faith and repenting of  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">his sins. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">21 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">“To be baptized “in his name” means to be baptized “in connection with the <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">revelation he has made of himself,” the application of water (as instituted by him) placing <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">us into union with him by means of his name or revelation.” <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">22 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In accordance with <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Ephesians 2:13‐14, “All the barriers are down, and so a eunuch, a black, God‐fearing <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Gentile, is baptized.” <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">23 = **<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Conclusion ** =

= = <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">As discussed above, this passage is making a major statement concerning the reality of   <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Christ’s work and how it impacts the Gentiles. First of all, it undeniably connects Christ to  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">the suffering servant of Isaiah. He is the Messiah. He is the ultimate answer. Furthermore, it  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">creates a link between the Old Testament Jewish prophecies and Gentile conversion. The <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">suffering servant is not only for the Jews but also for an Ethiopian and an eunuch. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">9 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Motyer, // The prophecy of Isaiah //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">10 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Ibid. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">11 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Oswalt, // The book of Isaiah. // <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">12 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Motyer, // The prophecy of Isaiah //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">13 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Oswalt, // The book of Isaiah. // <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">14 // The Expositor's Bible Commentary: With the New International Version of the Holy Bible // <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">(Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House, 1976). <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">15 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Bruce, // The book of the Acts //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">16 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Jean Calvin, // The Acts of the Apostles. //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965). <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">17 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Abingdon Press, // The New Interpreter's Bible //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">18 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Everett Harrison, // Acts : the expanding church //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">(Chicago: Moody Press, 1975). <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">19 // The Expositor's Bible Commentary //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">20 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Abingdon Press, // The New Interpreter's Bible //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">21 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Harrison, // Acts //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">22 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">R Lenski, // The interpretation of the Acts of the apostles //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">(Minneapolis Minn.: Augsburg,  <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">1961). <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 11px;">23 <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Darrell Bock, // Acts //<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 16px;">(Grand Rapids Mich.: Baker Academic, 2007).

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