Fishers of Men
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Philip the Deacon and Evangelist
Outreach happens when we stand, faithfully doing what God has told us to do today. —Ken Petty
Acts 6:1–2 KJV:
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
In the early days, the apostles were busy doing many different types of work.
Acts 6:3–4 KJV:
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
The work became too much for just those twelve to do everything. They found seven guys filled with the Holy Spirit who had hearts to serve. One of them was a deacon named Philip.
Acts 6:5–7 KJV:
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
These men began their service ministry by serving tables and taking care of widows’ needs. It may not seem like much, but in God’s eyes, it was important work. When we say, “Yes, I will serve,” it doesn’t matter what it is that we do. But we need to be faithful.
Acts 8:1 KJV:
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.
What the persecution ended up doing was scattering the disciples farther away from Jerusalem.
Acts 8:2–4 KJV:
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.
What the adversary meant for evil, God turned into something good.
This is about 35 or 36 AD. This is less than ten years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The New Testament books had not yet been written. There were no gentile believers yet. This was very early.
Acts 8:5 KJV:
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
The reason it says Philip went “down” to Samaria was because Jerusalem was up on a mountain (hill) and Samaria was down in terms of elevation, even though it is to the north. We don’t know which city, but perhaps it was a city such as the one where Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well. The adventures of Philip begin.
The word “preached” means “to herald.” It’s used of a public servant sent by an authority to proclaim or communicate something. Philip was a public servant sent by God to proclaim Christ. This was revolutionary. He was speaking to Jews who knew the law.
Acts 8:6 KJV:
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
The miracles got their attention, and he did the miracles using the name of Jesus Christ!
Acts 8:7–11 KJV:
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. 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.
The counterfeit looks real but isn’t. With the counterfeit, there is no true deliverance, answers, or redemption. One way to identify a counterfeit is by asking who gets the glory? It’s not about showmanship.
Acts 8:12–13 KJV:
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 [bewitched], beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
The word translated as “wondered” is the same word translated as “bewitched in verse 9.
Acts 8:14–16 KJV:
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.)
This was puzzling to them because, up until this time, everyone who had gotten born again spoke in tongues. The phrase that describes that in the book of Acts is that the Holy Spirit fell on them.
In this case, because Simon had so much spiritual influence and activity over the people, the people didn’t automatically speak in tongues. Philip didn’t know what to do about that.
Acts 8:17 KJV:
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
They ministered to the people and then the people spoke in tongues.
Acts 8:18–19 KJV:
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.
Religious people always want to profit from miracles. But the gospel and true deliverance that God provides is totally free.
Acts 8:25 KJV:
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.
“They” might be referring only to Peter and John. You would think that, for Philip, it would be a logical thing to keep preaching the Word in Samaria. After all, great things were happening there.
Acts 8:26 KJV:
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.
The phrase “go toward the south” could literally be translated “go around noon.” The angel of the Lord is telling Philip to go toward Gaza, which is about 100 miles away on the coast, and perhaps even the approximate time to do so. That would certainly make it easier for Philip to arrive at the right place at the right time.
If we want to be faithful and continue in God’s Word for a lifetime, we have to continue to say “Yes. Yes, I’ll do that.”
Acts 8:27–29 KJV:
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.
Philip is walking along this 100-mile journey. Do you think he met other people along the way? Yet only here are we shown that God told Philip to speak to this particular person. Walking with God is a step-by-step obedience.
This is a very unlikely person for Philip to talk to. Despite being a prominent person with authority, as a eunuch, he would not have been allowed to fully participate in the feast at Jerusalem. He had gone to Jerusalem to learn about God and, apparently, had not gotten what he was searching for.
Acts 8:29–30 KJV:
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?
What a great question!
John 8:31–32 KJV:
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Acts 8:31–33 KJV:
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. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
The part of Isaiah that the eunuch was reading was in Isaiah Chapter 53.
It was very uncommon (and expensive) for someone to have his own copy of a scroll of scripture.
Acts 8:34–35 KJV:
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
The Aramaic says he preached unto him “the Lord Jesus.” Remember, the book of Romans had not yet been written. Nevertheless, the eunuch would have needed to know and confess that Jesus is Lord in order to be born again (Romans 10:9–10).
Acts 8:36–38 KJV:
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Think about this. Philip had gone to Samaria, spoken the Word, and people had gotten born again, but did not speak in tongues immediately. Philip had seen Peter and John minister to the people and they received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. Philip had seen what to do.
Philip had gotten the eunuch born again, but the eunuch wanted to be baptized. Philips agreed, but may have told him that there was a better baptism, a baptism by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:39 KJV:
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.
There is a variant reading in some Greek texts that says “when they came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit fell on the eunuch and the angel of the Lord caught away Philip.” In that text, the Holy Spirit “fell on him” like it “fell on them” in earlier records, indicating that they spoke in tongues. This description matches what has been said through the book of Acts thus far.
Acts 8:40 KJV:
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Philip was basically preaching up the coast in the coastal cities.
It says that Philip went to Caesarea. Based on what we read later, Philip must have settled down, gotten married, and had four daughters.
Acts 21:8–9 KJV:
8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
This is the first time Philip is called an evangelist. He started out waiting on tables, and ministering to widows and now it is about 22 years later.
2 Timothy 2:1–2 KJV:
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
This audio file is also available from the Acts Now Fellowship website.
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