The Baptism of our LORD (NTA)

Acts 8:26-39

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. ²⁹And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” ³⁰ So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹ And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. ³² Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: 

“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.” 

³⁴ And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. ³⁶ And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. ³⁹ And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

Look!  There is Water Why shouldn't I be Baptized?  Well I can only think of one reason, you were already baptized as an infant, or some other time.  I believe in one Baptism for the remission of Sins.  The Eunuch had not previously been Baptized, and therefore St Philip baptizes him.

How often do we have questions about a passage of scriptures.  Where do we turn?  Do we look for an Apostolic witness?  Oh, maybe we just simply enjoy the struggle.  The Eunuch asks God to help him understand.  God sends him a witness, in Philip, to help to help him better understand the truth.  This passage is talking about Jesus Christ.  Philip is proclaiming Christ crucified for the forgiveness of all your sins.

Look for water and ask why have I not been baptized before?  It is in Baptism, we are buried with Christ Jesus and raised to newness of Life.  The Holy Spirit makes us his temple.  He leads us where and when he desires.  The Holy Spirit will even help us to live Godly lives.  But when we see sins growing up in our lives again, look back to these waters and God will remove them again.