Was the Ethiopian Eunuch an Ethiopian Jew? From Acts Chapter 8

[Phish]

Came up in another thread. I admit I never gave this much thought but am curious to see what evidence there is that might support this.

I have no opinion one way or the other.

[RabbiKnife]

The text itself says that he was going to Jerusalem to worship.

There wasn't anything to worship in Jerusalem except to worship at the Jewish temple. He was reading the Jewish sacred text of Isaiah.

I don't think he was Methodist.

[doug3]

“27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” (Acts 8:27-35 AV)

Acts 8:27 tells us the Ethopian had come to Jerusalem to worship. Therefore it can be inferred that he had gone there to worship in the temple, built by Herod, and was a gentile convert to Judaism (i.e. a proselyte).

[RabbiKnife]

There were plenty of Ethiopian Jews that were not Gentile converts.

Besides, a "gentile" convert to Judaism IS a Jew by definition, regardless of DNA.

[Phish]

The text itself says that he was going to Jerusalem to worship.

There wasn't anything to worship in Jerusalem except to worship at the Jewish temple. He was reading the Jewish sacred text of Isaiah.

I don't think he was Methodist.

OK so going to Jerusalem to worship or reading Isaiah makes one a Jew?

[RabbiKnife]

OK so going to Jerusalem to worship or reading Isaiah makes one a Jew?

There was nothing else to worship in Jerusalem except the Temple worship system. Historically, there was a very large contingency of Jews in Ethiopia.

[dan p]

Came up in another thread. I admit I never gave this much thought but am curious to see what evidence there is that might support this.

I have no opinion one way or the other.

Hi Phish , and I see why he came to that conclusion .

In Acts 8:27 the Ethiopian is a believer in Jehovah for he is coming to WORSHIP .

And verse 36 , he is water baptized as Matt 3:11 says to do and and we know that Jews were scattered all over the Roman empire , dan p

[Fenris]

He could have been a Jew. He could have been a "God-fearer".I suppose we will never know.

[Reynolds357]

He could have been a Jew. He could have been a "God-fearer".I suppose we will never know.

Quite correct. I must admit I am no scholar of the Ethiopian Jews. From what I did study, I think it would be pretty much accurate to say that Menelik pretty much made Judaism the state religion.

[Ta-An]

a Cohanic DNA trait among Jewish men is found amongst the Ethopian Jews....

I always thought the Ethopian Jews were because of the Queen of Sheba who became with child with King Solomon..... or those who became Jews because of their conversion to Judaism...


I suppose the Cohen went back with the Queen of Sheba to minister to the new coverts.....

[RogerW]

Came up in another thread. I admit I never gave this much thought but am curious to see what evidence there is that might support this.

I have no opinion one way or the other.

Greetings Phish,

I too believe him to be a Gentile proselyte to the Jewish faith.

Joh*12:20 And there were certain Greeks [Gentile proselytes] among them that came up to worship at the feast:

Isa*56:3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
Isa*56:4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
Isa*56:5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
Isa*56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
Isa*56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Isa*56:8 The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

[Phish]

Greetings Phish,

I too believe him to be a Gentile proselyte to the Jewish faith.

Joh*12:20 And there were certain Greeks [Gentile proselytes] among them that came up to worship at the feast:

Isa*56:3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
Isa*56:4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
Isa*56:5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
Isa*56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
Isa*56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Isa*56:8 The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

Yes, this is great, got to make this in my bible, now I got to go find that bible highlighting thread.

Thanks for this post

[Moses65]

I believe he was a Jew because when we read of Cornelius (a God fearer) Acts 10-11, acceptting Jesus Christ, the Christian Jews (Messianic Jews) stated: "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance to life." Acts 11:18 IMO from this statement we can tell til that time the Gospel was strictly given to the Jews.

[RabbiKnife]

Agree that Cornelius was the first Gentile convert that is recorded in Scritpure