Sunday, 10 July 2022 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Acts  In the previous verse, the Ethiopian eunuch asked who Isaiah was referring to in the passage that he had read. Now, Luke notes Philip’s response. For a more precise translation, this and the next verb are aorist participles – “Then Philip, having opened his mouth, and having begun at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.” With this understood, they can be looked at, beginning with, “Then Philip having opened his mouth.” This is a common term, a Hebraism, that is used when a purposeful utterance is made. When referring to a living being, it actually goes back to the Lord opening the mouth of the donkey in Numbers 22 – “Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?’” Numbers  This phrase continues to be used throughout the Old Testament to indicate such a considered and purposeful utterance – “Give ear, O my people, to my law;Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.2 I will open my mouth in a parable;I will utter dark sayings of old.” Psalm  It then continues on into the New Testament as well – “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them.” Matthew  It is with such an intentional and fixed purpose that Philip  speaks. With that, Luke next notes, “and beginning at this Scripture.” Jesus said to the leaders of Israel – “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” John  The Ethiopian eunuch has been reading prophecy. As such, Philip began with prophecy. The eunuch was reading Isaiah. As such, Philip began with Isaiah. The words of Isaiah were about the Suffering Servant. As such, Philip began with this depiction. By beginning with this and building upon it, Luke next records that Philip “preached Jesus to him.” The word is the same one, euaggelizó, already seen three times in this chapter ( Life application: The best place to start talking about Jesus is whatever place you are in the word at any given time. If you are in a passage about the creation, you can begin with that passage in relation to Him as the Creator. If you are in a passage about someone sinning (like David and Bathsheba), you can begin with the fallen state of man and our relation to Jesus as the Redeemer. If you are in the book of Exodus and the construction of the tabernacle, you can begin with that and talk about Jesus as the fulfillment of the types and shadows given in anticipation of His body, meaning His tabernacle (see John  There is no part of the Bible that cannot be used to tell about Jesus because it is all ultimately pointing us to Him. Don’t be afraid to simply think it through and then open your mouth and share the good news! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! It is all about Jesus! Lord God, help us to always be ready to speak about You, even right from Your word. There is always a connection that can be made about Him because it was all given to lead us to Him and to reveal Him. Give us wisdom in this, O God. And give us boldness in our speech as well. To Your glory! Amen.