Someone inquired, “Did the eunuch from Ethiopia receive the Holy Spirit?” The account of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch appears in Acts 8:26-40. The Holy Spirit advised the evangelist Philip to speak to the Ethiopian (v. 29), and later after his conversion, the Spirit somehow whisked Philip away from the presence of the new convert (v. 39).
The context in which we read of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch does not specify whether he received the Holy Spirit. Other passages indicated that the Holy Spirit in some manner dwells within the Christian (Romans 8:9-16; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 1 John 4:13). However, there is widespread confusion as to what it means that the Holy Spirit dwells in one or how that indwelling occurs.
Miracles had as their purpose the validation of new revelation from God – the New Testament (Mark 16:20), and the reception of new revelation and validation of it is complete. Therefore, miracles no longer occur today (1 Corinthians 13:8-13). In addition, Christians differ in their understanding as to how the Holy Spirit dwells in them – literally and bodily or through the Word of God. Not at issue is the biblical fact that the Holy Spirit indwells Christians, which would include the Ethiopian eunuch.
