Philip The Evangelist And Lessons On Evangelism

Feature 2 – June 2020 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Philip The Evangelist
And Lessons On Evangelism

A Special Gift
An “evangelist” in Scripture is someone who has received a special gift from our glorified Lord to present God’s good news. The one thus gifted brings a message of hope to men, women and children, because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). As unsaved, a person can only expect God’s condemnation. However, the one who repents, confesses his sins, puts his trust in God, and believes God’s message of good news is saved – rescued from His righteous and unsparing judgment.

This solution was made possible because of the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross (Rom. 3:20-24; Jn. 3:36), and it is not limited to one particular nation, culture or group. God’s salvation is offered to all for free. The Lord Jesus paid the price on the cross, and in His resurrection God confirmed that He was entirely satisfied.

This good news was communicated for the first time by Peter, 50 days after Christ’s resurrection from among the dead (Acts 2). How all this became possible was later explained and taught doctrinally in the Epistles, especially those of the apostle Paul. He showed how God had prepared him as an object lesson to all lost sinners who repent and believe the gospel (Gal. 1:15-16; Phil. 3:7-14; 1 Tim. 1:12-16). Have you repented and believed God?

What About Philip?
Like Paul, God had equipped Philip as a bringer of good news. He was recognized as such because of the special gift God had given him, not because of any human training or official ordination. The Lord gave him many opportunities to reach out to lost sinners with a message of hope and encouragement. At the same time, Philip himself was a gift from the heavenly Lord to His Assembly, as is written: “He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” (Eph. 4:11 ESV). The Lord’s giving a gift needs to be differentiated, or distinguished, from man’s responsibility. Indeed, Philip functioned as the Lord wanted him to, for there were no hindrances at all.

This already became evident when he was chosen as one of seven brothers in the Jerusalem assembly to be servants,1 or deacons, to administer the supplies given to the assembly for the poor and needy (Acts 6:1-6). The local church had the responsibility to distribute the material gifts it received 2 and, led by the apostles and in prayer, delegated this task to seven brothers among them. They were chosen because of their excellent qualifications: believing men, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, and with a good reputation among the community.

Philip, not the apostle, was one of them, the only person in the New Testament to be called “the evangelist” (Acts 21:8). He had a special and rather unique gift, a God-given ability seen in various ways as he communicated the gospel, presenting to his audience a person: our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 8:5). His message caused people to repent and be saved.

A New Development
Having faithfully served the church in Jerusalem, Philip was among the many believers who were forced to leave because of the persecutions led by Saul of Tarsus (Acts 8:1-5). Thus, Philip arrived in Samaria, where a mixture of people groups lived. Some of them descended from the Ten Tribes that had fallen into idolatry since the days of King Solomon (1 Ki. 13) and remained in the country after many Israelites had been removed by the Assyrians. Later, those who had stayed intermingled with the people who had been brought there from other parts of the Assyrian empire (2 Ki. 17). Because of that mixture and the various forms of idolatry, the Jewish leaders of the Two Tribes – Judah and Benjamin, including those who returned from the Babylonian captivity – refused the cooperation of the Samaritans in rebuilding the temple and the city of Jerusalem.

Later, the animosity, or bitterness, between Jews and Samaritans only increased. Nevertheless, during the Lord’s earthly ministry many of the despised Samaritans accepted Him (Jn. 4:1-42). The same Lord, now in heaven, led Philip in Samaria to proclaim Jesus the Messiah. The Lord confirmed Philip’s message by the many miracles He gave him to perform (Acts 8:6-8; Mk. 16:16-18). Those who accepted the gospel were then baptized.

Peter and John came from Jerusalem and showed a very positive attitude toward these new believers. This was in contrast to the former general bias against the Samaritans, which had affected even some of Jesus’ disciples when the Lord was with them on earth. Now, however, the apostles accepted these new believers from Samaria, publicly identifying with them through the laying on of hands, after which they received the Holy Spirit.3

The Spirit also led Peter to unmask Simon, the former sorcerer. However, he refused to repent even though he had been baptized (Acts 8:9-24).

A New Phase In Philip’s Service
The Lord was not only concerned about the Samaritans, among whom many got saved, but He always shows interest for every individual. This point is demonstrated in the story of the Ethiopian eunuch (vv.26-40), which contains many practical lessons for us:

• Be a willing and obedient servant – the Master called, the servant went (vv.26-27);
• Follow God’s leading – Philip was led by an angel of the Lord (v.26) and then by the Holy Spirit (v.29);
• Use the written Word – God used the Scriptures (vv.32-33,35);
• Present Jesus – Philip preached Jesus (vv.34-35);
• Remember it is God who transforms – as the Ethiopian learned more about Jesus, God changed him (Acts 8:35-37);
• Water baptism is important – the eunuch publicly identified with the rejected Messiah (v.38);
• Christ is the source of joy – the eunuch went on rejoicing (v.39).
• Move on – Philip was caught away, continuing his gospel ministry elsewhere (v.40).

God is sovereign. He does not have to give an account about anything but is always right and clearly shows who He is – the God of love and light. Even though we cannot understand why He does or allows something, it is evident that He knows what He is doing. Who would send a worker away from a field with such a great harvest? Nevertheless, at a particular moment the Lord Jesus led Philip to go to a desert highway leading to Egypt, apparently with little traffic.

This high official from Ethiopia, possibly part of today’s Sudan, had chosen it as he may have desired some quiet time to read the scroll he had bought in Jerusalem. Perhaps he was disappointed because, as a eunuch, he had not been allowed to enter the temple (Dt. 23:1) even though he was a high ranking official.4 Yet God was at work and had led him to buy this particular scroll. He also led Philip (Acts 8:29) to be there at the very moment he was reading Isaiah 53:7-8, out loud, as was the custom of reading in those days.

Philip An Obedient Instrument
Philip “arose and went” (Acts 8:27), and at some point he even ran (v.30). He was a committed servant who identified with his Master’s interests, whose instructions he followed precisely. Do we?

With tact and respect Philip approached this stranger, asking him whether he understood what he was reading. The gentleman answered in true humility that he needed someone to guide him in this matter. Therefore, “he invited Philip to come up and sit with him” (v.31). They were complete strangers to each other, but both had a right attitude. The official posed the question which was on his heart and mind, “Does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” (v.34). This gave Philip the opportunity to open his mouth and tell of Him whom the Scriptures speak: Jesus (v.35).

The Holy Spirit was also at work, and led the Ethiopian to ask another question, namely about baptism (v.36). Instinctively, perhaps, he understood his need to identify with the person of whom Isaiah had written. How simple all this is, yet how profound! Certainly, this must have spoken to those who traveled with the Ethiopian. A simple testimony in humility and obedience, as baptism surely is, will have an effect. Philip identified with this stranger and went down with him into the water and baptized him.

The evangelist, Philip, did not ask for any favors but was led by the Holy Spirit to continue his work in the gospel (v.40), and the prominent Ethiopian official did not feel obliged to pay him anything. He continued on “his way rejoicing” (v.39; consider v.8). Joy is an important indicator of a healthy spiritual condition in the kingdom of God and in God’s family (Rom. 14:17; 1 Jn. 1:4). It is linked to the most wonderful person in the universe and in history (1 Pet. 1:8).

Philip also had a tremendous influence in his own family, for we read about his four believing daughters. They had a God-given gift of prophecy and were able to apply the written Word just as their father had done in his contact with the Ethiopian eunuch. The Holy Spirit could use these believing women to minister in the appropriate way and setting – in private (see 1 Cor. 14:34). However, God sent a brother with the gift of prophecy to say something in public to the assembly in Caesarea, where Paul was at that moment, together with Luke and other visitors (Acts 21:8-16).

Isaiah 53 And The Eunuch’s Question
Isaiah wrote a wonderful book, and among many poems in it there is one very special composition, consisting of five verses or stanzas, starting with Isaiah 52:13 and ending with 53:12. It has been called “the greatest prophecy,” and its importance is shown in the New Testament in various ways. This passage describes the profound mystery that Yahweh’s Servant is also the Sin-Offering, for He is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). The first stanza is a summary and review of the entire prophecy. Both have a parallel structure as outlined below:

First Stanza – Isaiah 52:13-15 Entire Prophecy – Isaiah 53

His presentation and ministry (v.13) His presentation and reception (second stanza, vv.1-3)

His affliction (v.14) His affliction (third and fourth stanzas, vv.4-9)

His reward (v.15) His reward (fifth stanza, vv.10-12)

It is not surprising that the Lord led the Ethiopian eunuch to this Scripture, probably in its Greek translation. The word “Lamb” (Acts 8:32) in the quotation from Isaiah is the same word (Gr. amnos) as in John 1:29 and 36. It is used one more time in the New Testament (1 Pet. 1:19-20) about the Lamb foreknown from before the world’s foundation. The other term for lamb or “little lamb” (Gr. arnion) is used of the Lord Jesus 28 times (4x7, indicating He is perfect in every way) in Revelation, and once more of the counterfeiter with two horns as a lamb but speaking as a dragon (Rev. 13:11).

The Holy Spirit used this amazing passage in Isaiah to arouse the interest of the Ethiopian eunuch. He also used Philip the evangelist, who knew the Scriptures well, to correctly interpret this portion, showing how it links with the Messiah. Jesus is the Lamb of God and He is Yahweh/Jehovah, as well as the Messiah or Christ, God’s Anointed (Jn. 20:31). Besides, He is included in the mystery of the triune God Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:4-6) and He is “the eternal life” (1 Jn. 5:20). By the grace of God, as true believers, we have received eternal life when we believed (Jn. 3:16, 5:24) and are on the way to the realm that is also called “eternal life” (Jn. 12:25).

To Him be all praise, honor and glory, now and forever!

ENDNOTES
1. The Lord Himself had been a Servant (literally, Deacon) and served among His disciples (Lk. 22:27; see Jn. 12:26). The required qualifications of servants in the local assembly, for brothers and sisters, are listed elsewhere, such as 1 Timothy 3:8-12 and Romans 16:1. Philip had been faithful in his service as a deacon; then the Lord entrusted him with another task (see 1 Tim. 3:13).
2. Deacons were servants chosen by the assembly (not by God but based on His instructions) to care on its behalf for material needs of the saints. Elders were given by the glorified Lord and chosen by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28), not by men, to care for God’s assembly to which they belonged. Such an elder is called “God’s steward” (Ti. 1:7), to be recognized because of his qualifications (1 Tim. 3; Ti. 1). In some cases during the period when the Word of God was not yet complete, the Lord led the apostle Paul to appoint elders (Acts 14:23) or he instructed his delegate to do so (Ti. 1:5-16).
3. These historic details do not necessarily imply that the exact same order applies today. The apostles are no longer with us and the Holy Spirit seals every true believer without any intermediary (2 Cor. 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14).
4. Some believe he was a proselyte to Judaism; others think that he was Jewish, whose ancestors had left Israel.

By Alfred Bouter