God's Holy Fire: 'On His Way Rejoicing'

Friday, November 28, 2025

As [Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch] rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look! There's some water! Why can't I be baptized?" He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.

Note: The NLT translation has verse 37 only in a footnote.

— Acts 8:36-39 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus. Baptism. The Holy Spirit. Cross-cultural sharing of the Good News about Jesus. Rejoicing. These things go together. In his last words, before he ascended back to the Father, Jesus commanded that his followers share the Good News about him to all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). The apostles' first public declaration of the Good News was to Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 2:33-39). Now, as Jesus had commanded, the message was moving out from Jerusalem into other places and being shared with other races in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8, 25) and then with an Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-39). The same joyous results were produced in each case. Where the message of Jesus is received and the Holy Spirit is experienced, people are brought the joy of salvation.

Today's Prayer

O Father, use me and those in my spiritual family to make a difference in the lives of others. Help us introduce them to Jesus and unleash the power of the Holy Spirit into their lives so that they can experience the joy of your salvation. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

6 Related Resources by Heartlight

The Immersion of Joy
Devo: Unstoppable!
"As [Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch] rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look! There's some water! Why can't I be baptized?"....."
Led to Another Mission
Devo: God's Holy Fire
"Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away,..."
Spurgeon PM Devo for Aug. 25th
Devo: Morning & Evening
"These words may answer your scruples, devout reader, concerning the ordinances. Perhaps you say, "I should be afraid to be baptized; it is such a..."
Servants to the Nations
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Friend, Two powerful themes from the Bible converge in this one story in today's Scripture about Philip and the Ethiopian dignitary:After My..."
See All 6 Related Resources about Acts 8:36-39

Illustration

Illustration of Acts 8:36-39 NLT — "Look! There's some water! Why can't I be baptized?"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, November 28, 2025

Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Jeremiah 17:14
""I have seen his ways, and will heal him."- Isaiah 57:18 It is the sole prerogative of God to remove spiritual disease. Natural disease may be..."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Sent to the End they Fear' (Lk. 8:30-32)
"Jesus demanded, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, for he was filled with many demons. The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the..."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Hebrews 12:1
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us..."
Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Annie J. Flint:
"God didn't promise day without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain. But He did promise strength for the day, comfort for tears and light for the..."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations