Philip Tells an Ethiopian Man about Jesus
Acts 8:4-5, 26-39
Our story comes from a book of the Bible called Acts. That name is short for “the Acts of the Apostles.” The word "Apostle" is another word for the helpers of Jesus.
The Bible tells us about people who loved Jesus. This is Philip. Philip loved Jesus. He traveled from place to place telling others about Jesus.
One day, and angel of the Lord spoke to Philip. The angel said, "Go to the road outside the city of Jerusalem. It is the road that goes to the desert, where it is hot and dry."
Philip wanted to do what God told him, so he walked on the desert road. Walk, walk, walk.
All of a sudden, Philip heard a sound. Clippity clop, clippity, clop. Soon Philip saw two horses pulling chariot.
In the chariot there was a man from a faraway country, called Ethiopia, in Africa. The man had had an important job. He was in charge of all the queen's money. The man traveling from Jerusalem back to his country.
God told Philip to go talk to this man. Run, run, run. Philip ran and caught up with the chariot. he saw that the African man was reading a Bible scroll.
Philip said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
The Ethiopian man from Africa said, "No, how can I? I need someone to explain the words. Please come and sit with me. Tell me what the words mean."
As they rode along, Philip looked at the Bible scroll.
The man was reading the Book of Isaiah, from part of our Bible.
Philip said, "These words are about Jesus!"
"Jesus is God's Son. He died and came alive again. He loves you and wants to be your friend."
Soon they saw some water. The African man asked Philip to baptize him with water because now he loved Jesus.
Philip baptized the man.
This made the African man very happy. He went on his way rejoicing! He was happy because Philip told him about Jesus. We can tell other about Jesus, too.
Bible Paraphrase: Serve one another in love. (For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. – Galatians 5:13 NIV)
Text Truth: We can tell others about Jesus.
Help your child sing a song about Jesus. Talk about how she can tell others about Jesus with songs and poems and stories.
You'll Need: construction paper, black or white crayon, watercolor paints.
Batik is an art style for dying fabric done in many parts of the world, including Africa. Let your child create a variation of it by coloring a picture on construction paper using black or white crayon. Paint the entire paper with watercolor paints. Give your artwork to someone as you tell about Jesus.
One way we tell others about things is through the mail. Set up a pretend post office and let your child deliver mail, telling about Jesus. Then make a real letter and send it to a friend or family member telling them about Jesus.
Arrange a few chairs so that you can pretend to take a ride in a horse-drawn chariot with your child. Then talk about the Bible story during the "ride," just as Philip talked to the Ethiopian man. Share some of the stories you know about Jesus with your child. Help your child recall some of the things he has been learning about Jesus, too.
Get prayer cards for the missionaries that your church supports. Thank God that those people tell others about Jesus. Ask God to show you ways you can tell others about Him.
Our story comes from a book of the Bible called Acts. That name is short for “the Acts of the Apostles.” The word "Apostle" is another word for the helpers of Jesus.
The Bible tells us about people who loved Jesus. This is Philip. Philip loved Jesus. He traveled from place to place telling others about Jesus.
One day, and angel of the Lord spoke to Philip. The angel said, "Go to the road outside the city of Jerusalem. It is the road that goes to the desert, where it is hot and dry."
Philip wanted to do what God told him, so he walked on the desert road. Walk, walk, walk.
All of a sudden, Philip heard a sound. Clippity clop, clippity, clop. Soon Philip saw two horses pulling chariot.
In the chariot there was a man from a faraway country, called Ethiopia, in Africa. The man had had an important job. He was in charge of all the queen's money. The man traveling from Jerusalem back to his country.
God told Philip to go talk to this man. Run, run, run. Philip ran and caught up with the chariot. he saw that the African man was reading a Bible scroll.
Philip said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
The Ethiopian man from Africa said, "No, how can I? I need someone to explain the words. Please come and sit with me. Tell me what the words mean."
As they rode along, Philip looked at the Bible scroll.
The man was reading the Book of Isaiah, from part of our Bible.
Philip said, "These words are about Jesus!"
"Jesus is God's Son. He died and came alive again. He loves you and wants to be your friend."
Soon they saw some water. The African man asked Philip to baptize him with water because now he loved Jesus.
Philip baptized the man.
This made the African man very happy. He went on his way rejoicing! He was happy because Philip told him about Jesus. We can tell other about Jesus, too.
Bible Paraphrase: Serve one another in love. (For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. – Galatians 5:13 NIV)
Text Truth: We can tell others about Jesus.
Family Devotional
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”
Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. – Acts 8:29-31
God wants us to tell others about His Son, Jesus. We live among people who are lost and dying and in need of a Savior. God can help us know the people who are hungry and thirsty and how to reach them if we will ask and listen.
Read Ephesian 6:19-20 where Paul asks for prayer so that he may fearlessly declare the Gospel.
Make this your prayer. Listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Then step out in faith and begin speaking.
Activities You Can Do at Home
Sing and Tell
Help your child sing a song about Jesus. Talk about how she can tell others about Jesus with songs and poems and stories.
Paint and Tell
You'll Need: construction paper, black or white crayon, watercolor paints.
Batik is an art style for dying fabric done in many parts of the world, including Africa. Let your child create a variation of it by coloring a picture on construction paper using black or white crayon. Paint the entire paper with watercolor paints. Give your artwork to someone as you tell about Jesus.
Post and Tell
One way we tell others about things is through the mail. Set up a pretend post office and let your child deliver mail, telling about Jesus. Then make a real letter and send it to a friend or family member telling them about Jesus.
Ride and Share and Remember
Arrange a few chairs so that you can pretend to take a ride in a horse-drawn chariot with your child. Then talk about the Bible story during the "ride," just as Philip talked to the Ethiopian man. Share some of the stories you know about Jesus with your child. Help your child recall some of the things he has been learning about Jesus, too.
Pray and Tell
Get prayer cards for the missionaries that your church supports. Thank God that those people tell others about Jesus. Ask God to show you ways you can tell others about Him.
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Story illustrations are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and licensed by FreeBibleimages (http://freebibleimages.org) for free download under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 3.0 unported licence.
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