Acts 8:29

And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

'THE SPIRIT'-The Holy Spirit.

'GO NEAR, AND JOIN THYSELF TO THIS CHARIOT'-

Points to Note:

'There are many people today who think that conversion is achieved by the direct action of the Holy Spirit on the heart (mind) of the unconverted sinner.' (Reese p. 334) But the Holy Spirit doesn't directly speak to the eunuch (the sinner), in this case he is speaking to the preacher. The only message the eunuch will hear in this context is the message found in the Word of God (Acts 8:35).. direct operation of the Holy Spirit in addition to the gospel message is not needed to open the mind of the sinner (Romans 1:16; Romans 10:17).

Note that when the Holy Spirit speaks directly to an individual that the message is loud, CLEAR AND SPECIFIC! This idea that the Holy Spirit lays. "thought, intuition or feeling" on my heart--that. in turn translate, is false. How many charismatic preachers will say something like, 'in. small quiet voice, in something like. whisper,. could tell, feel that the Spirit was saying something like...'or, 'now God didn't actually say it in this way, but. could tell that God was saying....' Friends, the Spirit doesn't mumble when He speaks. He doesn't need. Hooked on Phonics Course or. speech therapist. And neither does He talk like Charlie Brown's teacher! When the Holy Spirit spoke to people directly, He plainly told them what to do. Philip didn't have to pause and ask himself, 'Now. wonder what God is trying to tell me'.

Opportunities must be seized. Erdman notes: 'Had the chariot rolled by, as far as the evangelist was concerned, it would have been gone forever.' (p. 85) We too must seize and use the opportunities that come our way (Ephesians 5:16).