GOOD NEWS TO TELL

Good News to Tell

Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Acts 8:35

READ ACTS 8:26–35

“What’s your name?” asked Arman, an Iranian student. After I told him my name is Estera, his face lit up as he exclaimed, “We have a similar name in Farsi, it’s Setare!” That small connection opened up an amazing conversation. I told him I was named after a Bible character, “Esther,” a Jewish queen in Persia (present-day Iran). Starting with her story, I shared the good news of Jesus. As a result of our conversation, Arman started attending a weekly Bible study to learn more about Christ.

One of Jesus’s followers, Philip, guided by the Holy Spirit, asked a question that ignited a conversation with an Ethiopian official traveling in his chariot: “Do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8:30). The Ethiopian man was reading a passage from the book of Isaiah and seeking spiritual insight. So Philip’s question came at the right time. He invited Philip to sit next to him and in humility listened. Philip, realizing what an amazing opportunity this was, “began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus” (v. 35).

Like Philip, we too have good news to tell. Let’s seize the daily occasions we encounter in our workplace, at the grocery store, or in our neighborhood. May we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our steps and give us the words to share our hope and joy in Jesus.

By Estera Pirosca Escobar

REFLECT & PRAY

God, guide my steps today toward someone who needs the hope that only comes from Jesus.

How will you prepare yourself to be more open to speaking to others about Jesus? What encouragement do you gain from Philip’s example?

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INSIGHT

All Scripture points to Jesus and is about Him. In today’s passage (Acts 8:26-35), it’s easy to identify the quote from Isaiah 53 as pointing to Jesus because of prophetic hindsight. But Jesus Himself reminds us that all Scripture, not just the prophecies, point to Him. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). J.R. Hudberg