Context of Philips preaching Acts 6-7
Acts 6 is where we first find out about Philip. He is one of the seven chosen to help smooth over the division in the church between the Hellenistic Jews and Hebraic Jews. Philip is a Greek name. As a result of the seven the disciples increased rapidly in number and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 7 gives the further context of Stephen brought before the Sanhedrin and martyred.
Acts 8 When Steven was stoned to death a great persecution broke out against the church and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Saul is mentioned destroying the church by going from house to house dragging off believers in Christ to prison. The godly believers buried Stephen and the believers mourned deeply for him.
Philips Samaria preaching
At the persecution and scattering from Jerusalem Philip went to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. He preached to crowds of people and he had their attention from the signs that he performed. Evil spirits came out of people and lame and paralyzed people were healed. Because of this there was great joy in the city.
Up until now the apostles had stayed in Jerusalem. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When Peter and John arrived, they prayed for the believers, because although the Samaritans believed and were baptized, they had not received the Holy Spirit.
This was a major breakthrough in Christs commission. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Now the faith of the Samaritans is confirmed by the apostles. Now they have testimony that Samaritans have received the same Holy Spirit that came on the church in Jerusalem at Pentecost. This is a major breakthrough when you consider how these apostles reacted to Jesus preaching in Samaria months earlier (John Chapter 4).
Peter gave his attention to one Samaritan in particular, Simon who practiced sorcery. Simon the sorcerer believed Philips’s message and was baptized, but Peter found his motives lacking when he offered money to have the ability to lay hands and have people receive the Holy Spirit. Peter rebuked Simon sharply.
Peter and John further proclaimed the Word of the Lord and testified about Jesus. Peter and John returned to Jerusalem but also preached the gospel in many Samaritan villages. With the gospel preaching and disciples growing rapidly in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria the Holy Spirit is about to direct Philip to the ends of the earth as he encounters the Ethiopian.
Philip preaching to the Ethiopian Eunuch
An angel of the Lord told Philip to go south taking the desert road from Samaria to Gaza. Philip started out and on his way, he met the Ethiopian Eunuch. This is an important official of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship God. He was on his return to Ethiopia and reading the Word of God. The Holy Spirit told Philip to go to the chariot and stand near it.
Philip heard the man reading the scripture of Isaiah the prophet. The scripture was Isaiah 53:7-8. This is the suffering servant passage of Isaiah. This passage speaks of the death of the Messiah and the spiritual blessing of descendants associated with the Messiah.
Descendants are the very thing that would be out of the question for a Eunuch. But amazingly later in this passage Isaiah 56:3-5 Eunuchs are mentioned who are blessed with the Messiah will have something better than sons or daughter. This promised Messiah is for the Eunuch and will be an everlasting name.
Results of Philips preaching
Philip travelled with the Eunuch and preached Christ from that very passage of scripture Isaiah 53:7-8. It was the Eunuch who gladly received the message of Jesus Christ and requested to be baptized by Philip. Both Philip and the Eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. The Spirit suddenly took Philip away but this Ethiopian on his way to the ends of the earth as a newly baptized believer in Jesus who is rejoicing. Philip appeared in Azotus and continued to preach Christ in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
conclusion
This is the last we here of Philip until about thirty years later. In Acts 21:8-9 we read that Philip has a home in Caesarea and his four unmarried prophetess daughters are with him. And the apostle Paul shows up at Philips home. This could have been the first interaction they had since Philip went to Samaria to avoid being dragged to prison by the apostle Paul.
What a common bond the two share now. Paul stayed at Philips house several days. Both Philip and Paul have given their life for the great commission of Jesus Christ. Both were God’s servants who were used to do great miracles and preach the gospel to Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.
May we like Philip be ready to go when and where the Spirit leads. May we be prepared to boldly speak the gospel of Jesus Christ for his glory.
