Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit
He was an Ethiopian bigwig. Apparently, he was what was called a "God-fearer" -- the designation given by Jews to those who were not Jewish but who had expressed faith in their God. No matter how devout this fellow might have been, he would never have been welcomed as a convert -- he was a eunuch. Hebrew law was explicit: "No one whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off shall be admitted to the assembly of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 23:1). Very graphic. Very explicit. Very harsh, and especially since such a situation would not normally be of an individual's own choosing.