Philip the Evangelist
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Acts 8:26-40
Acts 8:26-40
An Angel speaks to Philip
An Angel speaks to Philip
An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road.)
Let’s just take a moment to grasp what we are reading here. Philip recieved direct marching orders from an angel of the Lord. He was told very specifically where to go…nothing else…just go. There are a few thoughts that need to be examined with this first verse.
Why did the Angel direct Philip?
Why did the Angel direct Philip?
What is special about Philip that he gets to hear directly from an angel? I think that we need to look at the life that Philip led as a believer to answer that question. Acts 6:2-6
The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch. They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
We see here the kind of follower that Philip had been. He was one of those that worked in the food bank and as he was going, shared the Gospel. We saw last week that he was a powerful preacher and that he was doing some amazing things. Acts 8:4-7
So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the word. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds were all paying attention to what Philip said, as they listened and saw the signs he was performing. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
Philip was living out his faith in Jesus…period. He was actively following the Lord’s command to go and make disciples, he was doing what was asked. He was showing his worth to fellow believers. He was listening and that makes it much easier to hear.
How much do you think his faith grew as a result of the things that the Holy Spirit did through him? As we walk in our faith and get out of our comfort zones and let the Lord guide us into the things He wants us to do, we hear from Him much clearer…and He gives us more to do because we can handle it. We have shown ourselves to be faithful in a little and He gives us more.
This in now way means that Jesus will not use us in our weaknesses. As followers of Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the ability to rise above our iniquities at any moment and serve at a greater level. We need to expect that Jesus will follow the patterns laid out in the truth of His word. Matthew 25:22-23
“The man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.’
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’
How we should respond to the Lord
How we should respond to the Lord
Acts 8:27-28
So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud.
So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem
Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
When we pause and think about things after the Lord directs us…that shows a lack of faith. Matthew 16:24-27 One thing to consider in the request made to Philip is that there is no direction beyond go south. I know that I might need some more communication than that. Ok God, but where am I going, why am I going, who will be there, how am I gonna pay for the trip…In each one of those questions that I might ask or that Philip could have entertained it gives a foothold for the Devil to ask that age old question until you forget the actual question…Did God really just ask you to do this without specifics? Well, yes He did. Again, being faithful in little, God entrusts more to us. There was a reason to take the road the Angel told Philip to take and a reason there was no specific destination given.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done.
Expect the Lord to Come Through!
Expect the Lord to Come Through!
Acts 8:29-35
The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”
When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this:
He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb is silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will describe his generation?
For his life is taken from the earth.
The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or someone else?” Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.
I love the fact that we see Philip; faithful, well respected, filled with the Holy Spirit, and obedient. He is rewarded time and time again by this faithfulness by hearing from the Holy Spirit. Philippians 4:19 What an amazing way to know and realize your worth and purpose. When I am told to do something, that gives me purpose and meaning. When I do that thing, that gives me fulfillment. God is giving Philip purpose and meaning and fulfillment. In the process. he is giving new life to someone who needs to hear about Jesus. There is a stark contrast between where the Holy Spirit led Stephen and where He led Philip. Both followed and both were rewarded. Stephen went into a hostile arena and was stoned to death, Philip[ went to a willing listener and resulted in a new birth. They both went under the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit and both accomplished God’s purpose. Without Stephen, would Philip be on this road? Without Philip saying yes to going on the road the Ethiopian would still be lost.
And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
The text says that Philip ran to the chariot. When we hear from the Lord and expect Him to provide what is needed for us to be obedient, there is no reason to delay. there was an excitement for Philip to see what the Spirit was leading Him to. He knew that great and terrible things had happened upon following the Holy Spirit and was excited to see what was to happen as a result of following.
What about the Ethiopian?
What about the Ethiopian?
Acts 8:34-38
The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or someone else?” Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.
As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?” So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
The success of Philip’s evangelism started with obedience to the Lord and continued because of the openness of the Ethiopian that Philip was ministering to. I think many times we need to look at this passage and realize that if we aren’t hearing from the Lord and getting direction…maybe we need to be getting direction or even help from a brother or sister in the Lord. The Ethiopian was hungry to learn all he could but did not have anyone to explain things to him sufficiently. Philip was there to fill in the gap to give the Ethiopian knowledge through the scriptures guided by the Holy Spirit. We need men and women like Philip in our lives when we aren’t being like Philip… Philip needed that at some point and I am sure there were times even after this that Philip struggled and there was someone there to help. This is a reminder that we need to be moving forward in our faith. God speaks to us directly at times and at times He uses our brothers and sisters to set us on the right path.
Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism was the proper response to the Ethiopians decision to follow the Lord and believe in Jesus. There was a sense of urgency to do it. He wanted to confirm and demonstrate obedience to his new master, Jesus. That is a beautiful thing. Similar to how we saw Philip go down from Jerusalem not knowing what was next…the Ethiopian followed suite and did what the next thing to do would have been.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
What is the result for both?
What is the result for both?
Acts 8:39-40
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer but went on his way rejoicing. Philip appeared in Azotus, and he was traveling and preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Philip was physically removed by the Spirit to a different location and the Ethiopian was left rejoicing. That is pretty amazing…imagine how the Ethiopian felt when Philip disappeared…he was rejoicing because in his time of need and questioning, God sent someone to give him answers and then swept him away. What a miracle. Philip, after being obedient, was taken to a different location knowing that the Ethiopian had been baptised and had given his life to Jesus. Then he just kept on evangelizing until he came to Cesarea...
2 corinthians 4:16
Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
Psalm 23:3
He renews my life;
he leads me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
