ACC ~ Acts 8 v27

HE FOUND CHRIST WHOM HE WAS SEEKING. BEDE: He is called a man because of his virtue and integrity of mind, and not undeservedly, for he devoted his study solely to the Scriptures, and he did not stop reading them even when he was on the road. Also, he showed so much love in [his] religion that, leaving behind a queen’s court, he came from the farthest regions of the world to the Lord’s temple. Hence, as a just reward, “while he sought the interpretation of something that he was reading, he found Christ whom he was seeking.” Furthermore, as Jerome says, “He found the church’s font there in the desert, rather than in the golden temple of the synagogue.”For there [in the desert] something happened that Jeremiah declared was to be wondered at, “an Ethiopian changed his skin,” that is, with the stain of his sins washed away by the waters [of baptism], he went up, shining white, to Jesus. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 8.27A.

THE ETHIOPIAN QUEEN AS A FIGURE. BEDE: The sending by the Ethiopian queen of treasures of the nations to Jerusalem signifies that the church would bring gifts of the virtues and of faith to the Lord. The etymology of her name is also appropriate, for in Hebrew Candace means exchanged. In the Scriptures (in the psalm “For those who will be exchanged”) it is she to whom it was said, “Hear, daughter, and see, and incline your ear. Forget your people and your father’s home,”and so forth. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 8.27C.

THE DESCRIPTION SEEN AS AN ALLEGORY. ARATOR: No trifling occasion of hidden allegory shines in the image of [the eunuch’s] country: the Almighty gave full approval for Moses to unite the Ethiopian woman to himself in the bond of marriage; Scriptures reveal that he later spoke with the Lord face to face. What is there astonishing if love for the law began to grow at that time when [the law] had been joined [in marriage] to the church? Rather, the Song of Songs does not conceal the fact that the everlasting bride comes from that region: it calls her black and beautiful. She comes from the south, which burns the Ethiopian soil, to praise her Peacemaker in the mouth of Solomon, by which name [Pacificus] what Christ possesses has long been signified. She sends [the eunuch] ahead as guardian of [the church’s] riches, by whose protection she might begin to bring forth her wealth. What better treasure is in her than the glory of the font? What richer gold than a wealthy faith in the heart? Finally, how rightly is her herald a eunuch! As [faith] proceeds, lust is driven off, and the chaste capture the heavenly kingdoms. ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1.

PRAISE FOR THE EUNUCH. CHRYSOSTOM: Notice also the reason for his journey, sufficient to reveal his God-fearing attitude of mind—I mean, how long a journey he undertakes so as to pay adoration to the Lord. You see, they were still of the mind that worship was conducted in one place only and consequently traveled long distances to offer prayers there. For this reason, of course, he arrived at the place of the temple and Jewish cult so as to [offer] adoration to the Lord. HOMILIES ON GENESIS 35.4.

Acts