Candace

Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, heard the Word of God through Philip. How did that happen?

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

Acts 8:26-28, ESV

Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, heard the Word of God through Philip. How did that happen?

Candace - Queen of the Ethiopians

We have to be very careful in our discussion today that we do not deviate from the things we know from the Bible. So, though our devotional is about Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, we must confine most of this study to Philip. It is safe to say, however, it is likely, due to the eunuch's high standing in the court, that this news did filter down (or up) to the Queen, herself.

One word! There is only one place in all of Scripture that mentions Candace. What a reminder that God is a God of small things and even insignificant people. Oh, yes, she was a Queen, but in this, the 21st century, how many people have even heard of her? Yet, it was important to God that her name appeared in the Bible.

We are told that a court official, a eunuch, from Ethiopia had come to Jerusalem to worship. Now, as he was traveling back to Ethiopia, he was reading the book of Isaiah.

Candace - the Gospel Message goes to the Ethiopians

An angel of the Lord sent Philip to find this eunuch. Upon finding him to be reading the book of Isaiah, he inquired as to whether he understood what he was reading. Philip then had the opportunity to share the good news of Christ. The passage the eunuch was reading was from Isaiah 53:7-8.

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
    and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
    so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his )humiliation justice was denied him.
    Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”

Through this encounter with Philip, the Gospel of Christ was taken down to Ethiopia. I like to think that Candace, herself, became a believer, although we are not told if that is true.

Think, though, how important she and her people were to God that He used an angel to instruct Philip to go down and meet the eunuch.

Are we that important to God? Does He even know or care who we are? Yes and Yes!! God is a God of the details--the seemingly insignificant things that we may never notice. No-one is two small, too poor, too evil, or too unimportant for God. Through His children, He sends the Gospel message around the world.

That is one of the purposes of this devotional site: to reach people with God's message of salvation and to encourage believers no matter where they live.

Just as the eunuch carried the message of salvation to the Ethiopians, so do people today carry God's message of salvation to those they meet--whether in the workplace or shopping, etc. Or--through a website such as this!

God's good news of salvation is for you!! Not one person is righteous or holy or pure enough to stand before God. The Lord Jesus Christ broke that barrier by coming to this earth--perfect man and perfect God--to pay the penalty for our sins so that we might be able to stand before God in sinless robes of pure white.

Go to Christ today. Confess your sin and unworthiness and cry out to Him to save you and make you pure before the Almighty God.

Perhaps we will see Candace when we reach heaven!

God Bless You,

Linda