1 The angel said to Philip:
“Go to a desert place.”
And there he found an Ethiope,
the treasurer to Candace,
Who sat within his chariot
with Holy Writ in hand.
Asked Philip: “Can you, brother,
the Prophet understand?”
2 The Ethiope responded:
“Lead me and be my guide.”
Explain the scripture to me;
“Here, sit down at my side.”
Then Philip exegeted
Isaiah’s Holy word.
And preached unto the Ethiope
that Jesus Christ is Lord.
3 They traveled in the chariot,
And came upon a brook;
The Ethiope, excited
then looked up from his book.
“See Philip, here is water,”
He said, and stopped his steed!
“What can now,” he implored him,
“My baptism impede?”
4 Saint Phillip told the Ethiope:
“Believe with all your heart;
And God the Holy Spirit
Will His own gift impart.”
“I do believe that Jesus
Is God’s true, only son.”
And with these words, the treasurer
A greater treasure won.
5 O Philip, the evangelist
You brought to Afric’s seed
The Gospel of our Savior
In thought, and word and deed,
O may we share Thy fervor
And press on towards the prize;
And heed our Lord’s commission
To teach, preach and baptize.