The Torah strictly forbade certain groups from entering into the temple and worshiping The Lord: those whom could no longer receive the covenantal marker, those born outside of marriage, and those not faithful to The Lord’s covenant. Through His apostle Philip, The Lord shows that no matter what someone how someone looks, how they were born, or their spiritual background, all people are able to receive the new covenantal marker as they are baptized into Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

Unifying Phrase: All are Welcome in His Presence

• The Law of Moses strictly forbade certain people from entering the temple to worship and make sacrifices to The Lord: emasculated men, those born outside of marriage, and those not faithful.
• In some cases, some people were not allowed into the temple because they were no longer able to receive and bear the covenantal marker of circumcision.
• Philip demonstrates that even though the Ethiopian Eunuch was no longer able to receive the old covenantal marker of circumcision, he was still able to enter into the Kingdom of God because the washing of Baptism had replaced it and was a marker accessible for all people.
• As disciples who have been baptized into the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are now called to go out all nations baptizing them into the body of Christ and teaching them the Gospel as well, regardless of their physical characteristics, the legitimacy of their birth, or if they had previously been unfaithful to God.