So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:30-31

Philip was told to “GO,” not knowing any details beyond that. He went, saw a man in a chariot, and was told to “go” a second time. This time to “overtake the chariot.” What happened next?

Philip found that the man was reading from a scroll of the Old Testament book of Isaiah. You or I might have thought, “Cool, he’s reading the Bible—he must be a believer.” Philip instead, asked a question. "Do you understand what you are reading?" That is a great question! It is a question we can learn from.

It wasn’t confrontational. It wasn’t declarative (presenting himself as an authority to set the man straight). It was an open-ended question that opened the door to further conversation. Can you see how this is a good way to open the door when sharing our faith?

As it turned out, the man answered, admitting that he did not understand what he was reading, and revealing that he was open to learn. He was also open to continued discussion as seen by his invitation to Philip to join him in the chariot.

Once in the chariot (v.32-33), Philip learned that the man was reading from Isaiah 53—a particularly messianic portion of Old Testament prophecy about Jesus. And the man asked a great question: “Who is the prophet writing about?”

We seldom get such obvious opportunities handed to us as Philip did. But let us learn to look for opportunities. And let us learn, as we’ll see next time, how to proceed with such conversations.