“Philip the Evangelist”

Friday, August 16, 2024

Philip the Evangelist

By David Norfleet

The idea of being heralds or proclaimers of the good news of the kingdom is throughout the New Testament, but there is only one individual who specifically is identified as an “evangelist” and that is Philip (Acts 21:8). Let me offer three simple lessons from Philip’s life that make that description appropriate and worthy of our imitation.

First, Philip is a great example of loving our neighbors.  Due to Saul’s persecution, Philip leaves Jerusalem and goes—of all places—to Samaria and starts proclaiming Christ to them (Acts 8:5)!  Most Jews would not be caught dead with Samaritans (John 4:7-9; 8:48; Luke 9:51-56), but there Philip is, preaching the good news and baptizing men and women (Acts 8:12).  That shows us what the gospel of Christ will do for us—it will open our eyes to the value of a soul irrespective of race, nationality, or stature.  Like Philip, we should be willing to share the gospel with anyone as an act of God’s love.

Second, Philip shows us the power of the gospel.  He is called “the evangelist” (Acts 21:8).  Evangelist means “one who declares the good news.”  After declaring the good news to the Samaritans, Philip preaches Christ to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-39). That is what happens all through the book of Acts—preachers present the evidence and build a logical case for Christ—sometimes reasoning and explaining things over a period of weeks and months and years, and because of that, people believed and obeyed.  That is what Philip did for the Samaritans (Acts 8:5,12) and for the Ethiopian (Acts 8:35,36).  Christianity is not based on blind faith or on a subjective feeling in the heart.  It is based upon the inspired word of God!  No wonder Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).  May we learn to trust in the power of the gospel!

Third, Philip shows us that we can grow older and continue the work God has given us to do.  Acts 8:40 mentions that he ends up in Caesarea.  He disappears from the record until a brief reference in Acts 21:8-14, where Paul and his companions stayed with him for several days.  It is here in the record where he’s identified as Philip the evangelist (one who declares the good news) about 20 years after the events of Acts 8.  Let’s appreciate that Philip is still evangelizing years later.  It’s one thing to start with a bang, and maybe to have a zeal fueled by the events in Acts 8, but what about when the newness wears off?  Philip’s longevity serves as a great example to us.  Can we do that?  Can we not only live for Christ through the years, but also be a proclaimer of His good news? (Especially in our families as Philip must have done as his daughters were prophetesses: Acts 21:9.)

May we imitate Philip, whose love for souls caused him to spread the good news about Jesus to whoever he could for as long as he could.

Share