6. "Do you understand what you're reading?: Philip asks him. He confesses he needs help and invites Philip to join him. Philip preaches Jesus to him, beginning at that very text (8:35). He must have told him that baptism was involved in becoming Christ's for as soon as they reached some water, the man claimed the privilege of being baptized (8:36). They both went down into the water and Philip immersed him (8:38). The last we hear of the eunuch was that he went on his way rejoicing (8:39). The trip back to Nubia, no doubt, was more wonderful than the trip to Jerusalem. Now he belonged to the King of Kings as well as being a servant to Candace the queen!
THE ROMAN CENTURION
7. The gospel was on its way to Nubia in the person of the eunuch and, as Acts 10 tells us, it wasn't long before it went to an uncircumcised Gentile. Up to now the gospel had only gone to people who were circumcised and had a Jewish connection. What happens in the case of Cornelius is a tremendous step forward. God makes "A giant step for Man" if you like.
8. Acts 10 tells us a number of things about Cornelius. He was connected with an auxilary cohort (about 1,000 men) in Caesarea. His rank (centurion) would be similar to an army captain today. He and his family were God-fearing, generous, prayerful and devoted (10:2). About three in the afternoon he received a vision, an angel telling him to send for Peter who was in Joppa—about 34 miles away (10:36). But why does such a man need Peter? Acts 11:13-14 says: "He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved." He needed saving in relation to Jesus! However approved he was of God until now he was to be called into a relationship with Jesus without which he could not have God's continued approval.
9. Meanwhile, Peter too has received a vision (10:9-17). In the vision he sees a large sheet lowered from heaven. On it are all kinds of animals and he is invited to eat from them but they were animals Jews regarded as unclean so he refused. He was told that what God had cleansed he wasn't to regard as unclean (10:15). He didn't understand the vision so he pondered on it later (10:17) and that's when the messengers from Cornelius arrived. The Spirit insists that he go with the men (10:19-20). He arrives at Cornelius' house, the man rehearses the vision (10:30-33) and humbly tells Peter he is ready to do whatever God will tell him through Peter. Peter begins to speak, gets a few things said and the Spirit interrupts him by coming upon Cornelius and his companions (10:34-44). Peter and his Jewish brethren are absolutely amazed that the Spirit would do such a thing (10:45-46). But it had happened right there in front of them! Peter has no option but to ask (10:47): "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized?" Ordinarily Jews would have protested non-stop against uncircumcised people being baptized in Christ's name but if the Spirit saw fit to come upon them, how could they object? So Peter commands the man and his family to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ (10:48, see 2:38 for the same command).