Lessons From Philip The Evangelist

Feature 1 – June 2020 — Grace & Truth Magazine

Lessons From Philip The Evangelist

Philip was a man who was greatly used by God. He was “a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:21 NKJV ). Philip and his wife had four daughters (Acts 21:8-9). We can surmise that he was an excellent family man, for he was selected as one of the seven who would serve the widows in the assembly (6:5). The apostles had made the qualifications for that service crystal clear in Acts 6:3, saying, “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” Philip met those qualifications along with the others who were chosen.

In addition to being a faithful husband, loving father and a deacon who served others, Philip received another title in Scripture: evangelist (21:8). There are a number of beautiful lessons presented to us from this man of God during his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. Not only can we learn many valuable principles ourselves, but we should also pattern our encounters with unbelievers after his evangelistic approach.

Spirit-Led Evangelism
“Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is desert” (8:26). Philip’s encounter began with very specific instructions for his pathway.

Scripture is clear: we should always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in us (1 Pet. 3:15), giving the gospel. The Christian who lives a godly life and lets his light shine before men will certainly be questioned. There are also times when the Lord gives a specific evangelistic opportunity, arranging the circumstances for us to directly approach a specific person with the gospel. Philip was told, “Arise and go.” He was a gifted, Spirit-led evangelist. The Lord could not have made His instructions any clearer.

Therefore the first lesson is to let the Spirit of God lead us in a specific direction and to a particular person. It is good to seek opportunities, but it is really the Lord who provides them. Then, once the way is made clear, we need to “arise.”

Verse 27 states, “So he arose and went.” We may not all be gifted like Philip, but when the Lord provides an opportunity, He will give the courage for the exchange. He will also provide the words that the servant should use. A dying world needs to hear about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Lord may allow an encounter on our job, at our school, in our community or with our unsaved family members. When it happens, let us, like Philip, arise and tell the person about the Lord’s finished work on Calvary’s cross. We are ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20).

Both Great And Small Need Christ
Philip was obedient to the Lord’s directives, or instructions. When he got near the chariot, he discovered that the man was a very important individual: “a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury” (Acts 8:27). Philip was sent to this man of importance.

On another occasion the apostle Paul instructed Timothy to pray for those in authority; he specifically mentioned “kings” (1 Tim. 2:2). Today that would include not only kings but also presidents, prime ministers, governors, senators and all in public offices. Why should we pray? We should pray because of the desire to “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (v.2). But God has more in mind; He wants to save their souls! Paul continued, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (vv.3-4).

Here is a second important lesson from Philip: God can use us to lead anyone to Christ! Just as Philip did not know who was in the chariot, we do not know to whom the Lord would lead us. Yet Philip did not shrink from the task simply because the man was Queen Candace’s treasurer. Philip led him to the Lord and baptized him. Often the Lord will use us to lead an ordinary person to Christ, but some may have the opportunity to guide a prominent individual to Christ. Each soul is precious, and God desires all to be saved.

If the Lord gives you the opportunity to talk to the president of your company about the Lord Jesus Christ, do it. On the other hand, if you can lead the homeless man to the Lord, seize the moment! Without Christ, their end is the same. “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books ... And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:12,15).

Start Where The Person Is
Philip had excellent discernment. It is good to have spiritual understanding of a situation before telling a person that he needs Christ. Philip observed that the eunuch was reading the prophet Isaiah; he specifically heard the powerful text explaining that Christ was led as a lamb to the slaughter. He asked the eunuch whether he understood what he was reading. Most importantly, he started his explanation of the gospel from the very point where the eunuch was reading. “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning in this Scripture, preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35). This is a third important lesson from Philip the evangelist: Start our presentation of the gospel where the person is.

Discernment is required. The eunuch had come to Jerusalem to worship. He was reading the scroll of Isaiah the prophet and trying to understand the text. It would not have been appropriate for Philip to focus on something different, such as telling him about God’s creating the world in six days. Philip’s question and the eunuch’s two responses – also in the form of questions – were the starting point of the gospel presentation.

Philip explained that Christ was the sacrificial lamb: the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29). He offered Himself voluntarily in order to glorify God and, at the same time, accomplish man’s redemption.

As Philip continued he presented a complete gospel message, which includes baptism as a public declaration of one’s salvation. Baptism does not save a person; we are saved by grace through faith. Scripture says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). However, baptism is public identification with Christ, and this great Ethiopian eunuch wanted to be publicly identified with his Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philip is an example for us in the Bible. We should lead a person to Christ from the point where he is. It requires listening carefully, asking the right questions and presenting the full gospel message. Let us ask God for wisdom in our presentation of the gospel to the lost; He will give it to us! “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (Jas. 1:5).

The Gospel Is About Christ
We live in a dark world, rampant with sin and suffering. It is a world full of wickedness and evil – controlled by Satan, the god of this world. “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (2 Cor. 4:3-5).

As the Lord provides the opportunities, we need to present Christ. Philip did not discuss the state of the Ethiopian economy with the eunuch. He did not discuss Queen Candace’s political future; he spoke to him about the Lord Jesus Christ. What was the result by the grace of God? It was salvation and baptism.

A Final Lesson
After using the evangelist in the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, the Spirit of God transported Philip to Azotus. “Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea” (Acts 8:39-40). The Lord would not allow his servant to glory over catching such a great fish. There was more to do, and the work went on. Philip preached throughout all the cities from Azotus to Caesarea. The final lesson is this: Let us, like Philip, share the gospel and move on. The Lord’s work continues!

By Albert Stuart