“The Disciple’s First Stand” Message Notes (Acts 8:26-38); Pastor Curt Audet 11/16/25
The 11th in the 14 message series: The Master’s Plan For Making Disciples
BI: The Disciple’s first stand is identifying with Jesus as Lord, Master and Savior in baptism.
People came from all around the developed world to attend the Feast of Pentecost in the ancient city of Jerusalem. One man rode his caravan of camels and chariots from the distant capital city in Ethiopia; 2500 miles across largely desert, arid land. Such caravans traveled 15-25 miles a day making this journey perhaps 127 days to get to the Feast and another 127 days to return.
This man was a high official in Queen Candace’s Ethiopian kingdom (aka, Queen Amanitore 40-60 AD; “Candace” = “mighty woman” in Nubian language). He was a valuable and trusted treasurer for the Queen. He was a eunuch. Historical tradition identifies him as Simeon Bachos (Referenced by Irenaeus in “Adversus haereses”, 180 AD).
Simeon Bachos was a God-fearing seeker wanting to know more about the Lord. On the start of his return trip to Ethiopia, Simeon Bachos’ caravan was resting at an oasis near Gaza. At the time, he was reading a portion of Isaiah 53. He read out loud, which was a custom of the day. Or, perhaps even another read to him by his request.
Excerpts From Isaiah 53 the Ethiopian was reading.
‘He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.’ ‘He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief .’ ‘He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.’ ‘He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows’. ‘We esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God.’ ‘He was pierced for our transgressions.’ ‘He was crushed for our iniquities.’ ‘Upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace.’ ‘With His wounds we are healed.’ ‘All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way.’ ‘The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. ‘He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth.’ ‘Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter.’ ‘Like a sheep is silent that before its shearers, so He opened not His mouth.’ ‘By oppression and judgment He was taken away.’ ‘As for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?’ ‘They made His grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death.’ ‘He had done no violence, and there was no deceit in His mouth.’ ‘Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush Him; He has put Him to grief.’ ‘His soul makes an offering for our guilt.’ ‘The will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.’
WHO WAS THE PROPHET ISAIAH TALKING ABOUT? Simeon Bachos couldn’t get this question from his mind.
Meanwhile, hours before Simeon Bachos was resting and the camels were getting water, God was lead a disciple of Christ, Philip, some 60 miles northeast from the Gazan oasis.
Philip was sharing the Gospel in Samaria and where widespread Christian revival was going on. He was busily teaching and baptizing the many new believers. Then, by the voice and presence of an angel, the Lord told Philip to leave the work there in others’ hands; the Lord had another critical assignment. See Acts 8:26-27,
“Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And Philip rose and went . . .
Philip had no questions recorded. No hesitation. He was led by the Holy Spirit. In due time, he arrived at the exact Gazan oasis where Simeon Bachos was. This was the last watering place before the vast desert on their journey from Jerusalem, through Egypt and into Ethiopia south along the Nile River. The Holy Spirit very specifically directed Philip to approach the Ethiopian at the moment that he was reading Isaiah 53 out loud.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philipran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
Simeon Bachos responded, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” Simeon Bachos invited Philip to join him in the chariot to sit with him and to guide him through.(v.31)
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted . . .
He opened not his mouth. . .
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter . . .
He was cut off out of the land of the living . . .
stricken for the transgression of my people.”
The chariot continued on its journey with Philip on board. Philip began with this Scripture and explained to Simeon Bachos the good news of salvation and forgiveness of sin found in Jesus (v.32-35). Philip unashamedly explained the gospel that is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes in Jesus. How much time did they spend together? We do not know. How many more questions were asked and answered? We do not know. Evidently enough for Simeon Bachos to understand what he had to do next.
As they went along the road, Simeon Bachos heard the Gospel; he placed his trust in Jesus as his Lord and Savior. In the passing scenery, he looked over at a pond or lake large enough for his frame to fit in. He realized that there was no reason at all why he should not get baptized right then, and right there.
“See, here is water! Philip, what prevents me from being baptized right now? Philip then said,“If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And Simeon Bachos answered and said,“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” He then turned to his driver and commanded the chariot to stop. Simeon Bachos and Philip went down into the waist deep water, and Philip baptized him. Simeon Bachos took his very first stand as a disciple of Jesus (v.36-38; note, v.37 is in the KJV)!
This is the Disciple’s first stand in identifying with Jesus as our Lord, Master and Savior in baptism.
I. Baptism is the model shown to us in the Bible.
This account we see in the life of Simeon Bachos in Acts 8 is the model for each person baptized and in the Book of Acts.
BAPTISM – First Stands As Jesus’ Disciples
- 3000 New Believers at the Feast Of Pentecost – Acts 2:37-41
- Citywide revival in Samaria – Acts 8:5-13
- Saul’s conversion at Damascus – Acts 9:10-19
- Cornelius & his household in Antioch – Acts 10:44-48
- Lydia & her friends in Philippi – Acts 16:11-15
- Philippian Jailer & household – Acts 16:25-34
- Crispus & his synagogue & household in Corinth – Acts 18:5-8
- Apollos and John the Baptist’s disciples – Acts 19:1-5
II. Baptism is the first step of obedience of a new disciple of Christ.
This step made by Simeon Bachos is the first clear command of the man, woman or child who comes to believe Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is with speed and clarity the lord commanded that each one who turns from their sin to the Lord, we would identify with Him in baptism.
Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
- Go and ‘make disciples’. (Hear the Gospel, Embrace the Gospel, turn from our sin and turn to Jesus)
- Baptize those new disciples in the name of the father, Son and Holy Spirit
- Teach those new disciples all that Jesus teaches us.
Why does Jesus make this ‘baptism’ to be the very first stand of a new believer? It is notable that He calls us to ‘Make disciples’ which includes leading a person to trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Then, while many ‘why’s” are still in the mind of the new believer, we are to baptize them. The Word of God, in time, will answer all questions. But for now, ‘identify with Jesus’. Call Him your Lord, your Master, your Savior.
Its in this that we hear the words of Simeon Bachos as chariot rolled along the sandy Gazan road. “Philip, look! You told me all about the Gospel and how we must be baptized as earlier as possible. Look, there’s enough water there to make a go of it!” He then, turned to his driver: “Stop! Stop the whole caravan. I cannot go another mile with obedience to my new Lord and Savior. My Lord spared no expense of pain and inconvenience for me upon that cross. I must now be baptized!” Perhaps another urged, “Sir, the water may be muddy. We have a long way to go. We must keep moving.”
III. Baptism powerfullyand publicly identifies a disciple with Christ.
Simeon Bachos was eager to demonstrate—especially among his own Ethiopian people that he now belongs to Jesus Christ. So what does baptism testify to?
(1) I was dead in sin, and now by the grace of God, I am born again, I am alive in Christ Jesus!
(2) I was an enemy going about life my own way instead of God’s way. This left me condemned. Now, Jesus forgave me, and made me a child of God!
(3) I was helpless to save myself. I was needy and God reached in and saved my soul and set me free!
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:6-11)
If you have taken the step of baptism in the past, and have since abandoned your Lord and Master Jesus Christ, I offer to you today a moment to refresh your testimony.
The Story Of Simeon Bachos & His Questions
Question 1: Who was the prophet Isaiah talking about in Isaiah 53?
Question 2: How can I understand unless someone explain it to me?
Question 3: What prevents me from being baptized right now?
Our Story & Our Questions
You need a Savior; have you trusted Jesus as your Savior?
Its time to identify with Jesus; what prevents you from being baptized right now?
Disciple of Christ: Take your first stand today!
Closing Prayer
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