The Ministry of Philip
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Scattered Abroad
Scattered Abroad
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
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The ministry and martyrdom of Stephen was far from being in vain.
As a result of his work and death the gospel began to spread abroad.
Up until this point, the gospel had been confined to Jerusalem, but according to the prophecy of Daniel and Christ, the time would come when probation would close for the Jews and the gospel should go to Judaea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
In this chapter we see the beginning of these prophecies being fulfilled.
Where did the early Christians scatter to?
19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Phenice (also Phoenix) is a harbor city on the island of Crete, south of Athens.
Cyprus was an island just off Syria and Cilicia.
Antioch was north of Palestine and Damascus in Syria and became one of the largest churches in early Christianity.
It’s interesting how persecution motivates people to move out of their comfort zones in order to move places to share the gospel with people from afar.
Often in the Old Testament judgments of Israel when they led captives by other nations that God would raise up men, women, or youth to be a witness and they would become the means of bringing the light of the gospel to the Gentiles.
Saul really persecuted the church at this time, it speaks of this perecution as being “great” and Saul making “havok of the church” going house to house dragging out both men and women and committing them to prison.
All was being done in his power to prevent the gospel from spreading, however the stronger the effort to quiet this work of proclamation, the greater was the gospel spread!
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
2 cor 13 7
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Acts
Who was it that was preaching the word being scattered?
Lay people.
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
The majority of Christians in Jerusalem, “except the apostles.”
The gospel was being spread to the uttermost part of the earth, not by the clergy, but indeed by the lay members of the church!
They took up the responsibility to share this gospel with others with whom they communed with.
Acts of the Apostles Chapter 11—The Gospel in Samaria
The persecution that came upon the church in Jerusalem resulted in giving a great impetus to the work of the gospel. Success had attended the ministry of the word in that place, and there was danger that the disciples would linger there too long, unmindful of the Saviour’s commission to go to all the world. Forgetting that strength to resist evil is best gained by aggressive service, they began to think that they had no work so important as that of shielding the church in Jerusalem from the attacks of the enemy. Instead of educating the new converts to carry the gospel to those who had not heard it, they were in danger of taking a course that would lead all to be satisfied with what had been accomplished. To scatter His representatives abroad, where they could work for others, God permitted persecution to come upon them. Driven from Jerusalem, the believers “went everywhere preaching the word.”
When it says they “went everywhere ‘preaching the word’” it literally means they evangelized. The word preaching is translated from the same Greek word we get evangelism from.
The actual sense of the phrase “preaching the word” is to convey the Gospel.
So we could we read that “they that were scattered abroad went every where ‘conveying the Gospel’.”
If our heart has been felt the grace of Christ we can all “convey the Gospel.”
Acts of the Apostles Chapter 11—The Gospel in Samaria
Among those to whom the Saviour had given the commission, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19), were many from the humbler walks of life—men and women who had learned to love their Lord and who had determined to follow His example of unselfish service.
Acts of the Apostles Chapter 11—The Gospel in Samaria
When they were scattered by persecution they went forth filled with missionary zeal. They realized the responsibility of their mission. They knew that they held in their hands the bread of life for a famishing world; and they were constrained by the love of Christ to break this bread to all who were in need. The Lord wrought through them. Wherever they went, the sick were healed and the poor had the gospel preached unto them.
Samaria Evangelized
Samaria Evangelized
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
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Philip was one of the seven deacons elected with Stephen. ; Acts of the Apostles, p. 106.
Samaria was a very formidable place to go and evangelize since they were so opposed to the Jews, and the Jews opposed to them.
9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
However the ground had already been worked in Samaria by Christ Himself and by the woman of Samaria.
So when Philip went to preach there, he was in fact continuing to work a field that had already prepared, and was now ready for harvesting.
He preached to them what was already familiar and was foundational to all truth, Christ and Him crucified.
People first need to understand who Christ is, and what He offers to us and to be established in Him.
They were familiar with Jesus and Him being the Messiah, but they were still not familiar with what was actual mission of the Messiah as a “suffering Servant.” They would not have been familiar
But what made the people give ear to his message of salvation through Christ?
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Acts 8
His ministry was not only in word, but also in deed.
“hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.”
They gave heed to what he said because he ministered to their needs, physical (healing those with palsy, and who were lame) and mentally and spiritually (healing those who were possessed with “unclean spirits).
8 And there was great joy in that city.
This city had seen Christ in the person of Philip with his ministry of word and deed, and had received Christ as a personal Saviour.
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
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The joy they had was that their faith grasped a Saviour who died for the sin of the world, and who resurrected the third day and ever lives to make intercession for us.
This is what brought joy to the disciples after their sorrow, and it is the same joy that the world experiences when it believes.
This is what brought “great joy in that city.”
Unconverted Christians
Unconverted Christians
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
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Simon was a man regarded for a long time in Samaria “from the least to the greatest” that he “is the great power of God.”
He earned this reputation through bewitchment and sorcery.
Sorcery was a practice that harnessed occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world.
Because of its supernatural effect, sorcery has the power to bewitch people to the point that one almost loses mental composure, in other words almost loses his grip on reality.
Philip’s ministry was seen as of greater significance as it was truth that was spoken and needs ministered to, not just a magic show. The people were being baptized.
Amazingly, this had such an effect on Simon that he “believed also” and began to be a follower of Philip.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
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The ministry of Philip was an encouragement to the apostles and believers in Jerusalem.
His ministry was attended with such great success that he sent for help, at which Peter and John.
Philip had baptized with water, but the believers were to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and so Peter and John laid hands on them and prayed for them and they received the Holy Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
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When Simon sees what the apostles did and what happened he offers them money asking them “give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”
Peter rebukes Simon for thinking that the gift of God could be purchased with money.
Peter continues that he has no part in the family of God and therefore was not eligible to share in its privileges and responsibilities.
Peter also makes known the reason why he has no part in the family of God and the state of his heart; “your heart is not right before God.”
The word “right” here in is only used 2 other times in the Bible and each time with strong emphasis of the wrong or evil of someone who is not “right” with God or His ways.
It is used by Peter again in his epistle:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2 pet 2
Peter encourages Simon to repent that God might forgive the wicked thoughts of his heart. Salvation was still possible for Simon.
Peter also gauges the contents of Simon’s heart: “I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
Bitterness is descriptive of a state of anguish or being held captive by sin.
Practicing idolatry is seen as “bearing gall and wormwood.”
17 And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)
18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
19 And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
20 The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven.
deut 29 17-
These are similar words spoken by Paul in Hebrews:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
I believe that Simon is described in these two passages:
While he was coveting the “gift of God” in order to sell it he was in a state of idolatry.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
While he was cherishing ambition for worldly gain through the “gift of God” and willing sell his soul in order to obtain it he was in state of profanity (worldly, godless, irreligious; having no appreciation of, or desire for, sacred things, whose ambitions rise no higher than the things of this earth).
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
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It’s interesting that the experience of Esau is very similar to that of Simon in that they were both in a state of bitterness and chained in iniquity being “in the gall of bitterness” and “bond of iniquity” by cherishing their sins above “the gift of God” and both found “no place of repentance” though they sought for it.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
He was fearful of the judgment pronounced upon him but had not experienced sorrow for his sin against Christ.
He was like Pharaoh entreated Moses and Aaron oft times “Intreat the Lord” to stop the plague.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
But the scripture says that Simon “believed” and was baptized!
Yet his heart was “not right in the sight of God.”
He was convinced intellectually of Christianity, but had no change of heart. He never experienced what it means to be born again.
It is a solemn thought that one can be named Christian but be “in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity” as was Simon.
One on One Witness
One on One Witness
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
acts 8 26]
Philip was so on fire for the Lord that he held communion with heaven and was even instructed by an angel to go south toward Gaza.
The whole plan was not revealed to Philip at once but only one step at a time without knowing what was to be next. He was only told to start travelling having no idea what was to happen next.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
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Once he was on the road toward Gaza, then he found out what was the reason for him to be there: to witness to an Ethiopian man.
This Ethiopian man was a “eunuch of great authority” under the queen.
Being an eunuch meant that he was castrated in his youth in order to serve in the royal court without distraction.
He had come to Jerusalem to worship:
This meant that was already a believer in the God of Israel, the true God and was an earnest seeker for truth because on his way he was reading the book of Isaiah.
It wouldn’t have been easy for him to worship freely in Jerusalem since he was a eunuch and eunuch’s weren’t allowed to to go into the presence of God.
1 He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord.
He was possibly reading Isaiah cherishing hope of the day that a eunuch could worship the Lord freely.
Isa
3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: Neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
4 For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, And choose the things that please me, And take hold of my covenant;
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29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
When the spirit impressed him to go to this man who he never met before.
E: We need to pray and look for divine appointments where we can share a word in due season.
It so happened that the Ethiopian was reading aloud and so gave Philip the opportunity ask him if he understood what he was reading.
The Ethiopian man’s response is so earnest as he is seeking for truth.
E: Philip did not explain something that the man was not looking for, but he helped him where he was. He did not give the Ethiopian a “canned” presentation but started where the man was at in his experience and went from there giving him a more full appreciation of the work of Christ.
After Philip explained this prophecy to him, and “preached unto him Jesus” the man gladly accepted the light.
Philip then brought him to the point of decision for the Eunuch could not ask to be baptized if he were not told about it by Philip.
He openly declared that he believed Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and was baptized.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
This man had received salvation that day and “went on his way rejoicing.”
5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
ps
9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: It shall rejoice in his salvation.
Ps
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; And my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
What class does the Ethiopian represent?
Acts of the Apostles Chapter 11—The Gospel in Samaria
This Ethiopian represented a large class who need to be taught by such missionaries as Philip—men who will hear the voice of God and go where He sends them. There are many who are reading the Scriptures who cannot understand their true import. All over the world men and women are looking wistfully to heaven. Prayers and tears and inquiries go up from souls longing for light, for grace, for the Holy Spirit. Many are on the verge of the kingdom, waiting only to be gathered in.
is the account of Philip who was a man “subject to like passions as we are,” an ordained deacon who evangelized Samaria and was communicated to by heaven and was willing to be led where God would lead him and would share the Good News of salvation to those who were seeking for it.
Philip represents not the clergy (although they too can learn from his account) but lay people who have tasted of the goodness of God, have consecrated their talents to God and willing spend, and be spent.
This chapter reveals a truth of end time events; that is, that the everlasting gospel will go to the uttermost parts of the earth by lay members of the church who have been imbued with the Spirit of God.
Acts of the Apostles Chapter 11—The Gospel in Samaria
Long has God waited for the spirit of service to take possession of the whole church so that everyone shall be working for Him according to his ability. When the members of the church of God do their appointed work in the needy fields at home and abroad, in fulfillment of the gospel commission, the whole world will soon be warned and the Lord Jesus will return to this earth with power and great glory. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14.
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