Universal Utterings
for April 23, 2026
A Godcast
UniversalUtterings.Com
04-23-2026 Acts 8 v2640 What Is To Prevent My Being Baptized
The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 8 Verse 26 thru 40
26 Then the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” 27 So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.” 30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. 32 This was the scripture passage he was reading: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 33 In (his) humiliation justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth.” 34 Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him. 36 As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?” 37 38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Acts 8:26-40 recounts the encounter between Philip, one of the early Christian evangelists, and an Ethiopian eunuch, a high-ranking official in charge of the treasury of the queen of the Ethiopians. The story begins with an angel of the Lord directing Philip to travel south along the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. This guidance is significant as it underscores the role of divine intervention and the leading of the Holy Spirit in spreading the Gospel.
As Philip journeys along the road, he encounters the Ethiopian eunuch, who is reading from the book of Isaiah. The passage he reads speaks of a suffering servant, prompting Philip to inquire if the eunuch understands what he is reading. This question opens a door for a profound conversation about faith and scripture. The eunuch, seeking understanding, invites Philip to explain the text, illustrating the importance of spiritual guidance and community in interpreting scripture.
Philip seizes this opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ. He eloquently connects the prophecies in Isaiah to the life and mission of Jesus, demonstrating how the Old Testament points to the fulfillment found in the Gospel. This interaction exemplifies the early church’s commitment to evangelism and discipleship.
As they travel, the eunuch sees water and expresses a desire to be baptized. Philip consents, and they go into the water together, symbolizing the eunuch’s acceptance of faith and inclusion in the Christian community. After the baptism, the Spirit of the Lord takes Philip away, leaving the eunuch rejoicing in his newfound faith.
This passage highlights themes of divine guidance, the necessity of understanding scripture, the inclusivity of the Gospel, and the joy that comes from faith. It illustrates the early church’s mission to reach individuals across diverse backgrounds, affirming that the message of Christ is for all. Amen.
Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.
At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.
I am a poet obedient to Christ,
Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins
†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®
Ephesians 6:17-20
04-23-2026 Acts 8 v2640
**What Is To Prevent My Being Baptized**
In the desert’s heat where the sun beats down,
An angel’s whisper, a call profound,
Sent forth to Philip, a servant so true,
“To Gaza you’ll journey; a task waits for you.”
A chariot rolling, faint echoes of prayer,
An Ethiopian seeker, with questions laid bare,
He reads from the scrolls, the prophet Isaiah in sight,
Yet struggles with meaning, in the midst of the night.
“Do you understand?” Philip asks with a smile,
The seeker replies, “No, but not in denial.
Is the prophet speaking of himself or someone new?”
So he journeys with Philip, and truth they pursue.
From Isaiah’s words, through the stories of old,
Philip unfolds grace, the message of gold:
A Savior to suffer, a love so divine,
The Lamb who was led to the cross’s dark line.
“Here is water!” The chariot halts fast,
“What hinders my heart from the truth I must grasp?”
With faith like a river, the heart’s burden frees,
They plunge in the water, in radiant peace.
Emerging from depths, the Spirit takes flight,
Philip’s path veiled, but the truth shines bright.
The eunuch rejoices, his spirit ignites,
The gospel completes him; his heart God enlights.
In the land of the desert, a seed has been sown,
A promise fulfilled, the message now known.
From Jerusalem’s walls to the world far and wide,
The Spirit guides hearts, in the Savior they bide.
So let us remember this journey so bold,
Where faith meets the seeker, and truth is retold.
For in every encounter, each path that we trace,
God’s love finds a way, through His boundless grace. Amen.
© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins
April 23, 2026 @ 04:47 AM EST
® Universal Utterings ® is brought to you by;
**† God First Ministries, Inc. is a Roman Catholic Lay Ministry not sponsored by The Church but is accepted by the IRS as a Religious Charitable Org. and is exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations made through PayPal using GodFirstforJesus@gmail.com, or given to GFM are tax deductible. †**
Leave a Reply