The Sunday Lectionary
with Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Sunday, April 28, 2024: Fifth Sunday of Easter
Divine Guidance and Love in Unison
Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Easter 5)
Introduction
with Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Sunday, April 28, 2024: Fifth Sunday of Easter
Divine Guidance and Love in Unison
Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Easter 5)
Introduction
In this harmonious blend of scriptural passages, we embark on a journey that intertwines divine direction with the unceasing power of love. Acts 8:26-40 depicts a poignant narrative of divine intervention where Philip, guided by an angel, encounters an Ethiopian eunuch seeking understanding of Isaiah's prophecy, leading to a transformative moment of faith and baptism. Psalm 22:25-31 echoes with praise and prophecy, reminding us of God's dominion and faithfulness extending to all corners of the earth. The passage from 1 John 4:7-21 delves deep into the essence of God as love, urging believers to love one another as a reflection of God's love and presence in us. Lastly, John 15:1-8 invites us to abide in Jesus as branches to the vine, emphasizing the vitality of remaining in His love to bear fruit in our lives. Together, these scriptures unfold a tapestry of divine guidance, love, and the interconnectedness of faith across diverse walks of life.
Today’s Lectionary Readings
First Reading
From the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 8:26-40
Philip Teaches and Baptizes an Ethiopian
First Reading
From the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 8:26-40
Philip Teaches and Baptizes an Ethiopian
Acts 8:26-40 tells the story of Philip's divine guidance to approach an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This passage is significant in the Christian narrative for illustrating the spread of the Gospel beyond Jewish communities and into the wider world. In this account, Philip, led by an angel of the Lord, meets the Ethiopian official who is reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip explains the scripture and proclaims the good news about Jesus. As a result of their encounter, the Ethiopian eunuch comes to believe in Jesus Christ and requests to be baptized, demonstrating the inclusivity of the Gospel and its power to transcend cultural and ethnic barriers.8 26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside 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 silent before its shearer,
so he does not open 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 The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Expository Commentary
Verses 26-27 — Divine Guidance and Obedience:
- Verse 26: An angel of the Lord instructs Philip to go south to the road between Jerusalem and Gaza. This is a divine intervention, guiding Philip towards a specific mission.
Verses 28-29 — The Encounter:
- Verse 27: Philip obeys immediately. He encounters an Ethiopian eunuch, a high official under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. The eunuch had been to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home. His position and journey suggest a man of influence and faith.
- Verse 28: The eunuch is reading Isaiah the prophet while traveling. This indicates his interest in Jewish scriptures and his pursuit of spiritual understanding.
Verses 30-31 — The Question of Understanding:
- Verse 29: The Spirit tells Philip to approach the chariot, setting the stage for a divine appointment.
- Verse 30: Philip hears the eunuch reading Isaiah and asks if he understands what he is reading. This question is pivotal as it opens a dialogue about interpretation and meaning.
Verses 32-33 — The Scripture in Question:
- Verse 31: The eunuch admits he needs guidance to understand, and invites Philip to join him. This shows his humility and eagerness to learn.
Verses 34-35 — Philip's Explanation:
- Verses 32-33: The passage being read is Isaiah 53:7-8, which speaks of a suffering servant. Christians interpret this as a prophecy about Jesus. The eunuch’s reading of this passage is providential.
- Verse 34: The eunuch asks Philip whom the prophet is speaking about. This question opens the door for Philip to share the Gospel.
Verses 36-38 — The Baptism:
- Verse 35: Philip uses this opportunity to tell the eunuch the good news about Jesus, starting from this scripture. It shows the early Christian method of interpreting Jewish scriptures christologically.
- Verse 36: As they travel, they come upon some water, and the eunuch expresses his desire to be baptized. This indicates his acceptance and understanding of Philip’s message.
- Verse 37: [This verse is omitted in the NRSV and other modern translations as it is not found in the earliest manuscripts.]
Verses 39-40 — The Aftermath:
- Verse 38: The eunuch is baptized by Philip. This act signifies his conversion and inclusion into the Christian faith, emphasizing the universality of the Gospel.
- Verse 39: After the baptism, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly takes Philip away, and the eunuch does not see him again but goes on his way rejoicing. This sudden disappearance emphasizes the miraculous nature of the encounter.
In summary, this passage in Acts 8 beautifully illustrates the early Christian church's mission and the expansion of the Gospel beyond Jewish boundaries. It underscores the role of divine guidance in missionary work, the importance of scripture in evangelism, and the inclusivity of the Christian message. The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch remains a powerful example of how understanding and accepting the message of Jesus can transform an individual's life, irrespective of their background or status.
- Verse 40: Philip is found at Azotus, continuing his preaching mission. This illustrates the ongoing movement of the early Christian church, carried by the Spirit.
Psalm 22:25-31 presents a profound shift from lamentation to praise, encapsulating a journey of faith that moves from despair to hope. This passage, set towards the latter part of Psalm 22, marks a transition from the psalmist's earlier expressions of anguish and feeling of abandonment by God, to a state of gratitude and recognition of God's enduring faithfulness. In these verses, the focus turns towards collective worship and the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty, extending an invitation to all generations and nations to join in the praise of the Lord. The psalmist speaks of a future where the Lord's dominion is acknowledged universally, foreseeing a time when even those yet unborn will hear of the Lord's deeds and declare His righteousness. This section of the psalm is not only a testament to enduring faith amidst trials but also serves as a prophetic glimpse of God's kingdom, encompassing all peoples and extending through all time.25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the LORD.
May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the LORD;
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before him.
28 For dominion belongs to the LORD,
and he rules over the nations.
29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
and I shall live for him.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the LORD,
31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying that he has done it.
Expository Commentary
Verse 25: This verse signifies a shift from despair to worship, indicating that the psalmist's earlier cries for help have transformed into praise. The mention of the "great congregation" suggests public worship, implying a communal aspect to the psalmist's faith. Fulfilling vows in the presence of those who fear God underscores a commitment to God's commandments and the importance of a faithful community.
Verse 26: The psalmist expresses a vision of social justice and divine provision. There's an emphasis on the care for the poor, suggesting that the acts of God are not just spiritual but also materially and socially relevant. The phrase "may your hearts live forever" is a prayer for eternal spiritual life for those who seek God, reflecting a hope that transcends earthly life.
Verse 27: Here, the scope of God’s influence extends to "all the ends of the earth," indicating a universal call to worship. This verse reflects an eschatological hope, where all nations and peoples acknowledge the sovereignty of God. It's a prophetic vision of a world united in recognizing the Lord's dominion.
Verse 28: This verse reinforces the idea of God’s universal sovereignty. The assertion that God rules over the nations underscores the psalmist’s belief in the supreme authority of God over all earthly powers and governments.
Verse 29: This verse speaks to the inevitability of death and the acknowledgment of God's supremacy by all, regardless of their status in life. The phrase "I shall live for him" suggests a personal commitment to serve God, a declaration of faith that extends beyond mortal life.
Verse 30: The psalmist envisions a legacy of faith, where future generations continue to worship and serve God. This highlights the importance of passing on the stories of God's faithfulness and righteousness to succeeding generations.
Verse 31: The final verse emphasizes the enduring nature of God's acts of salvation. It's a call to proclaim God's deliverance to future generations, those not yet born, indicating that the message of God's righteousness is timeless and everlasting.
In summary, these verses from Psalm 22 depict a profound transformation from distress to exultation, emphasizing God's faithfulness, universal sovereignty, and the importance of a lasting legacy of faith. It's a passage that speaks not only of personal devotion but also of a communal and generational commitment to God.
1 John 4:7-21 invites us into a deep reflection on the nature of love and its divine source. This section of the epistle emphasizes the inseparable link between God and love, asserting that to truly know God is to embody love in our relationships with others. The passage beautifully articulates the idea that God's love is made perfect in us when we love one another, thereby revealing God's presence in our lives. This scripture not only challenges believers to love as a reflection of their faith but also offers reassurance of God's love and presence in the world.4 7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
Expository Commentary
Verses 7-8: Here, the Apostle John calls believers to love one another, stating that love's origin is God Himself. He makes a bold assertion that to love is to know God, as God is the very essence of love. This establishes a foundational Christian principle: to know God is to reflect His nature through love.
Verses 9-10: These verses focus on the manifestation of God's love through the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ. It underscores the idea that God's love is proactive and sacrificial, offering a pathway to life through Christ. The emphasis is on God’s initiative in love, rather than human effort.
Verses 11-12: John reiterates the call to love, linking it to the example of God’s love. He suggests that while no one has seen God, His presence is made real and complete in us when we love each other. This implies that God’s love reaches its full expression through our actions towards one another.
Verses 13-16: These verses offer a theological insight: God's Spirit living in believers is the assurance of their union with God. The reciprocal relationship between God and the believer is centered in love, reinforcing the idea that abiding in love is abiding in God, and vice versa.
Verses 17-18: Here, John discusses the transformative power of love. Perfect love, which is the love of God within us, drives out fear, particularly the fear of judgment. This suggests that mature love is marked by confidence and security in the relationship with God, rather than fear.
Verses 19-21: The passage concludes by tracing human love back to its divine source – God’s initial act of love towards us. It then delivers a powerful ethical implication: claiming to love God while hating others is contradictory and false. True love for God must be demonstrated through love for others.
In summary, 1 John 4:7-21 teaches that God is the source and model of love, and that loving others is both an evidence and an expression of knowing God. It challenges believers to embody this divine love, which is marked by selflessness, sacrifice, and the absence of fear."
In John 15:1-8, part of the larger narrative of Jesus' teachings in the Gospel of John, we find a profound allegory of the vine and the branches. This passage portrays Jesus as the true vine, with God the Father as the vinegrower, emphasizing the importance of remaining in Jesus for spiritual growth and fruitfulness. Jesus teaches that those who abide in him, like branches connected to the vine, will bear much fruit, while branches that do not remain in him are like those that wither, are pruned away, and cast into the fire. This metaphor elegantly illustrates the relationship between Christ and believers, emphasizing the necessity of a close, sustaining connection with Jesus for a fruitful Christian life. The passage challenges believers to examine their commitment to Christ, encouraging them to seek sustenance and strength from their spiritual source, Jesus, to live a life that reflects His teachings and bears spiritual fruit.15 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
Expository Commentary
Verse 1: This verse introduces the allegory of the vine. Jesus identifies Himself as the "true vine," implying that He is the genuine source of life and nourishment, in contrast to other sources that may appear similar but lack authenticity or effectiveness. The Father as the vinegrower indicates His role in caring for and overseeing the entire process of growth, indicating divine involvement and sovereignty in the lives of believers.
Verse 2: The vinegrower’s actions of removing and pruning branches illustrate two types of divine intervention. The removal of fruitless branches signifies judgment and separation from the vine – a metaphor for those who are not truly followers of Christ. Pruning fruitful branches, though it might seem painful, actually serves to enhance their fruitfulness, analogous to how God shapes and refines believers’ lives through challenges to foster spiritual growth.
Verse 3: This verse speaks to the disciples' current status – they are "clean" because of Jesus' words. It highlights the purifying power of Jesus' teachings and the gospel, which cleanses believers from sin. This cleansing is a prerequisite for bearing fruit, just as pruning is necessary for a branch to be more productive.
Verse 4: The command to "abide" (remain, dwell) in Jesus emphasizes a continuous, intimate relationship. The analogy to a branch unable to bear fruit on its own underlines the necessity of this connection; it is in Jesus that believers find their spiritual sustenance and strength.
Verse 5: Here, Jesus explicitly defines the relationship between Him and believers. This mutual indwelling ("abide in me and I in them") is key to fruitfulness. The phrase "apart from me you can do nothing" reinforces the idea that all spiritual effectiveness and productivity originate from Him.
Verse 6: This verse serves as a warning about the serious consequences of not maintaining a relationship with Jesus. Like a branch severed from the vine, a person who does not abide in Christ becomes spiritually ineffective and faces judgment, depicted here as being "thrown into the fire."
Verse 7: This promise highlights the power of prayer in the context of a close relationship with Jesus. The condition of abiding in Him and His words in us ensures that our desires align with God’s will, leading to prayers that are effective and in harmony with His purposes.
Verse 8: The ultimate purpose of fruit-bearing is the glorification of God the Father. This verse ties the themes of discipleship and fruitfulness together, suggesting that the visible results of a believer's life in Christ (their "fruit") bring honor and glory to God, fulfilling the intent of the discipleship journey.
In summary, this passage, rich in metaphor and spiritual meaning, deeply explores the nature of the relationship between believers and Christ, and the essential role of this connection in spiritual life and growth.
Here end the Readings
Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets].
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Commentaries are by Kenny Sallee, ThM, aided by ChatGPT. The biblical commentaries provided here are intended for educational and spiritual enrichment purposes only. The interpretations and insights offered are based on the authors' understanding and perspective of the Bible, which may be influenced by their theological training, denominational background, and personal beliefs.
The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year B. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2024, we will be in Year C. The year which ended at Advent 2023 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
