PHILIP

SCRIPTURE - Acts 6:5; 21:8,9.

Philip the evangelist (one of four men named Philip in the New Testament) is not mentioned in the gospels. He first appears (Acts 6:5) as one of the seven deacons chosen by the church in Jerusalem to allow the elders to function more efficiently. The deacons were of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and were charged with administration of the church. The early persecution of the Jerusalem church under Saul resulted in the martyrdom of Philip's colleague Stephen (Acts 7 - 8:1) and the Christians were scattered abroad. Philip fled to Samaria where he became an evangelist and missionary, his preaching being accompanied by healing, miracles and the casting out of demons. Philip's converts also included the Ethiopian eunuch (treasurer of Queen Candice) as well as the whole city of Samaria (Acts 8:5-8). The conversion of the Ethiopian introduced Christianity into north east Africa. Much of Philip's preaching was to the Gentiles, and as such he was a forerunner of Paul (see Topic 35). He worked in every port city from Ashdod to Caesarea (Acts 8:40). On Paul's last journey to Jerusalem the great missionary stayed at Philip's house in Caesarea (Acts 21:8). Philip had four unmarried daughters with the gift of prophecy (Acts 21:9). It was at Philip's house that Agabus, a prophet of Judea, came to minister to Paul to warn him of the Lord's will regarding him going to Jerusalem - a warning that was ignored. Philip is said to have died of natural causes at Tralles in Lydia, although one tradition has it that he was martyred in Hierapolus in Asia.

a) The persecution of Saul caused Philip to leave Jerusalem and go to Samaria (Acts 8:1-5).

b) Philip, although a deacon, evangelised the inhabitants of Samaria (Acts 8:5).

c) His preaching in Samaria was accompanied by miracles, healing and the casting out of demons (Acts 8:6-8).

d) Previously Samaria had been under the influence of Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9).

e) Simon, through demonism, was thought by the Samaritans to be from God (Acts 8:10,1 1).

f) With the preaching of Philip, however, not only the inhabitants of Samaria, but also Simon, were converted (Acts 8:12,13).

g) The apostles Peter and John were sent to Samaria for the Samaritan Pentecost (Acts 8:14-17).

h) Simon was interested in the power of the Holy Spirit for his own use and tried to buy it but was rebuked by the apostles. He repented (Acts 8:18-25).

i) From mass evangelism Philip is now guided to the Ethiopian treasurer for a time of personal evangelism (Acts 8:26).

j) The eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53 but could not understand (Acts 8:27-35).

k) The Ethiopian is converted and baptized before parting ways with Philip (Acts 8:36-39).

a) All things, even persecution, work together for good (Romans 8:28).

b) The power of the Holy Spirit shows that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (Acts 1:8).

c) Demonism to the unbeliever or ignorant believer can appear to be a gift from God (2 Corinthians 11:13,14).

d) The gift of foreign languages (tongues) was not present at the Samaritan Pentecost but was present at the Gentile Pentecost several years later (Acts 11:15).

e) Obedience to God's guidance is essential in personal work (cf. Philip and the Ethiopian) (Acts 16:9).

f) The conversion of a particular person may have greater historical importance than that of a whole community (e.g. Paul).

g) The unbeliever cannot understand the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 2:14).

h) Jesus Christ is clearly seen in the Old Testament (John 1:45).