Mesa Valley Church of Christ Grand Junction, Colorado
Illustration for Philip and the Ethiopian

Acts — the church begins Ages 5–11 Story 21 of 25

Acts 8 · ESV memory verse below

Philip and the Ethiopian

Who is this?

Philip told people about Jesus. An Ethiopian official was reading God’s word on the way home.

What happened?

Philip explained Isaiah and preached Jesus. When they found water, the man was baptized and went home rejoicing.

The story

An angel told Philip to go to a desert road. Philip went. He saw a chariot. An Ethiopian official was reading Isaiah out loud.

The Spirit told Philip to join the chariot. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” He invited Philip to sit with him.

The words were about a sheep led to the slaughter. The man asked, “About whom does the prophet say this?” Beginning with that Scripture, Philip told him the good news about Jesus.

As they traveled they came to water. The man said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” They both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. The man went on his way rejoicing.

Memory verse (ESV)

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

Acts 8:35

Talk about it

Ages ~4–7

  1. What was the man reading?
  2. Whom did Philip preach from the Scripture?

Ages ~8–12

  1. Whom did Philip preach when he explained the Scripture?
  2. What did the man want to do when he saw water?
  3. How did the man feel as he went on his way?

Family activity

Open Isaiah 53 together, then read Acts 8:26–39. Let a child point to where the Scripture talks about Jesus, then clap once when the man is baptized.

Parent take-home

Read Acts 8:26–39 (and glance at Isaiah 53). Notice the order: Scripture about Jesus, the good news, then baptism in water when he believed. Practice Acts 8:35.

Talk on the way home

  1. What was the Ethiopian reading?
  2. Whom did Philip preach from that Scripture?
  3. What did they do when they came to water?

More family reading ideas: family Bible study guides.

Print coloring and activities (PDF) All children’s stories

In the PDF: coloring page, memory verse with blanks, plus kid activities (sequence). Number the boxes 1–4 in story order, or cut and rearrange.

For parents and teachers

Keep the order clear: the word about Jesus, then faith, then baptism in water—an immersion they both went down into. This is a believing adult responding to the gospel, not an infant rite. Celebrate that the Scriptures point to Jesus.