32 Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this: He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will describe his generation? For his life is taken from the earth. -- Acts 8:32-33

The Most Quoted Old Testament Chapter

At this point in the story the Ethiopian Eunuch is reading aloud Isaiah 53:7-8. It is no coincidence that this is the text that is being read. Let's look together at Isaiah 53 and how God is using this text to draw the Ethiopian Eunuch unto Himself!

Isaiah 53 speaks of a servant of Israel that is to come. Here is how this servant is described.

• He was lead like a sheep to the slaughter (v.32)
• He was a lamb silent before its shearer (v.32)
• He was humiliated (v.33)
• His life was taken from the Earth (v.33)

Who does this remind you of? Keep in mind, Isaiah lived over 700 years before the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Yet as Jesus makes his way on the scene, here is what we find:

• "Here is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" - John 1:29
• "But Jesus did not give him an answer. So pilate said to him, "Do you refuse to speak to me?" - John 19:9-10
• "And they knelt down before him a mocked him: "Hail, King of the Jews". They they spat on him..." - Matthew 27:29-30
• "...it was necessary for him to to go Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day."

Make no mistake, 700 years before the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Isaiah is speaking the promises of God about the coming savior. Jesus is the complete fulfillment of Isaiah 53!In fact, Isaiah 53 is referenced 80x in the New Testament. It is the most quoted chapter of the Old Testament in the entire bible. The Bible is 66 books but the Bible is one story of God creating, sustaining, rescuing, redeeming, and enjoying his creation for eternity. Our lives are wrapped up in this cosmic story. Jesus Christ is the climax of this story. He has accomplished so much on our behalf.Today, like Philip will explain, that Jesus Christ is the one who has come to be the spotless lamb, to be humiliated, to open not his mouth, and to be resurrected on our behalf.