Candace

Candacé, mentioned in Act.8.27, was the title given to the queen mother who ruled over the ancient kingdom of Ethiopia (also known as Kush) during the first century AD. The name "Candacé" is derived from the Meroitic word "kdke," which means "queen mother."

In the biblical account, a eunuch who served under Candace encountered Philip, one of the seven deacons of the early church, on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. The eunuch had been to Jerusalem to worship and was reading from the book of Isaiah when Philip approached him. Philip explained the scriptures to the eunuch, preached about Jesus, and baptized him (Act.8.26-39).

The fact that the eunuch held a high position in Candace's court suggests that he was a person of influence and authority. His journey to Jerusalem to worship also indicates that he was a proselyte or a God-fearer, a Gentile who believed in the God of Israel but had not fully converted to Judaism.

The story of Candace's eunuch is significant because it demonstrates the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles and the fulfillment of Jesus' command to be His witnesses "to the ends of the earth" (Act.1.8). It also highlights the importance of individual evangelism and the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers to share the gospel with others.