Baptism - How to Get Ready - "WHAT PREVENTS ME?"

Read Acts 8:36, 38.  A court official from Ethiopia asked Philip the evangelizer: "What prevents me from getting baptized?" The Ethiopian man desired to get baptized, but was he truly ready  for that important step? 

The Ethiopian man "had gone to Jerusalem to worship." (Acts 8:27) He must therefore have been a Jewish proselyte; he had converted to Judaism. No doubt he had learned about Jehovah from the sacred writings of the Hebrew Scriptures. Still, he was eager to learn more. In fact, when Philip met that official on the road, what did Philip find the man doing?  Pouring over a scroll of the prophet Isaiah's writings.  (Acts 8:28)  That was solid spiritual food.  The court official was not content simply to learn a few basics; he wanted to keep learning. 

The man was a high official under Queen Candace of Ethiopia; he "was in charge of all her treasure." (Acts 8:27) So he must have been a busy man with so many responsibilities.  Yet, he took time to worship Jehovah. He was not content with learning the truth; he acted onw hat he learned.  He therefore travels all the way from Ethiopia in order to worship Jehovah at the temple in Jerusalem.  That journey must have involved a great deal of time and expense, but the man spared no effort where Jehovah's worship was concerned. 

Next time: Baptism - How to Get Ready - "WHAT PREVENTS ME?" 

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