THE STORY OF PHILIP

Acts 8:5-6 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles, which he did. (Also See Vss. 7-40)

The first four verses if this chapter concludes the story of the Christian martyr, Stephen. Saul, of Tarsus gave his approval of the stoning of this devout follower of Christ, and, by his actions, made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women, committed them to prison. This was the beginning of a great persecution against the church (of Christ), which was at Jerusalem. Due primarily to this persecution, first-century Christians were scattered abroad, that is, they fled from Jerusalem to other city states and foreign countries in order to preserve their lives from enraged, zealous Jews. And, being scattered, they went throughout the world preaching the word of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Like Stephen, Philip was also among the seven "deacons" chosen by the church membership to serve the temporal needs of the body of Christ. He also became an inspired preacher of God's new covenant plan of eternal salvation. Just as many other Christians fled from Jerusalem after being threatened by the unbelieving Jewish people, Philip also fled. The remainder of this chapter is given to Philip's preaching of the gospel message of salvation through Christ Jesus.

And he went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them (Vs. 5). The result was extremely rewarding because the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles, which he did (Vs. 6). As other inspired, first-century preachers, he was given the ability to perform miracles in order to confirm the messages he preached. This miraculous ability was given directly to the apostles of Christ who in turn were able to pass it on to those whom they imparted the Holy Spirit of God by the laying on of their hands (Acts 6:5-6). Having this ability, Philip drove unclean spirits from those possessed, cured those inflicted with palsies, and healed the lame (Vs. 7), which resulted in great joy in that city (Vs. 8).

Among the multitudes that had gathered in Samaria to hear the teaching of Philip was a certain man, called Simon, who used, or practiced, sorcery. And he was well known in the city for his ability to do so. As used here, the word sorcery includes all types of magic, divination, and occultism. He received this notoriety because he bewitched the people of Samaria, that is, he used magic and slight of hand to beguile, deceive, and mislead the people into believing that he possessed the great power of God (See Vss. 9-11). It seems from the context of these verses that Philip and Simon were competing for the following of the audience since both, no doubt, were claiming to be guided by God. However, they apparently disregarded the sorcery of Simon, and they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ. The multitude demonstrated their belief in the message of Philip, and they were baptized, both men and women (Vs. 12).

It is significant to notice that they believed the word of God as Philip taught it by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, and, just as those that believed and responded to the teaching of the apostles on the Day of Pentecost, they also submitted to being baptized for the remission of their sins. It is also worthy of noticing that, since belief was necessary before being baptized, children, under the age of accountability, were excluded. Only adult men and women having the ability to recognize righteousness from sin were acceptable candidates for baptism into the body of Christ. Although there is some disagreement between bible scholars as to the sincerity of Simon, verse 13 tells us that Simon himself believed also, and, just as other believers from this multitude of people, he was baptized, ...continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

The word of God, which previously had been taught only in Jerusalem, was now brought to the people of Samaria. When the apostles heard of this, they sent unto them Peter and John ...that they might receive the Holy Ghost (Vss. 14-15). The Holy Spirit was imparted to Philip by the laying on of the hands of the apostles of Jesus Christ (Acts 5-6), which allowed him to perform great miracles in order to confirm his teaching of God's word. The fact that Philip could not pass this miraculous ability to others assures us that this could only be done by the twelve apostles. Therefore, the age of miracles ceased when these men died to whom this ability was given them by the laying on of the hands of the apostles. The wisdom of God tells us that this period of time was sufficient in order that the gospel message of salvation could be taught, confirmed by signs, wonders, and miracles, and recorded for all people of all ages.

With this as the purpose of miracles performed by men, and since none of those converted and baptized by Philip had received the Holy Ghost, Peter and John passed this miraculous ability along to those selected to teach God's message of salvation to others. It is evident that Simon, the sorcerer, was not one of these selected to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit because when he saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost (Vss. 18-19). Peter replied that this gift of God could not be purchased with money, condemned Simon for his selfish motives, and admonished him to repent of his wickedness and seek God's forgiveness (See Vss. 20-23). Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me (Vs. 24). After this, Peter and John did not return to Jerusalem until they had preached the gospel message of salvation in Christ Jesus in many villages of the Samaritans (Vs. 25).

God had another mission for Philip, and, speaking through an angel, told him to go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert (Vs. 26). Obedient to the will of God, he immediately arose and went. What an example of faith in God's calling. Already doing a great work, Philip was asked to leave Samaria and go into a distant place without even knowing his mission once he came into this desert land of Gaza. Yet, without hesitation, he arose and went. Oh, that each of us could recognize the need to serve the cause of Christ, and that we, also, would respond to the will of God, and arise and do so, whether it be as near as a member of our own family, or as far away as some distant land halfway around the world. If there is a spiritual or physical need of others that we are capable of filling, we should not hesitate to do so. It is the will of God!

After arriving in Gaza, Philip met a man of Ethiopia. This country is generally believed to be a country in Africa located immediately south of Egypt. The man is described in verse 27 as a eunuch that had come to Jerusalem for to worship. This tells us that he was probably a proselyte to the Jewish faith. In various bible dictionaries, a eunuch is described as a male servant of a royal household. And, if they served, or came in contact with the wives of a ruler, they were often emasculated or castrated in order to assure that they remain faithful to their master without defiling the ruler's harem. However, if the eunuch was a proselyte Jew, he could not enter into the congregation of the Lord (Deut. 23:1), and worship God. As used here, I believe that the eunuch was merely a royal servant having great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure.

The following verses of chapter 8 tell us that this man of Ethiopia was returning to his homeland, and while riding in his chariot, he was reading the biblical prophecy of Isaiah. The Holy Spirit told Philip to go to him and ask if he understood what he was reading. The eunuch then asked, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him (Vs. 31). From Isaiah's prophecy he was reading this scripture: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened He not His mouth: in His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation, for His life is taken from the earth (Vss. 32-33).

Not understanding this prophecy, the eunuch asked Philip, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this, of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip ...began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus (See Vss. 34-35). This assures us that Philip, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, understood the person related in this prophecy to be the promised Messiah. To what extent, and in what detail Philip preached Jesus as the Savior and the Son of God is not known. But we know that it was sufficiently complete, because it produced the same result as the preaching of the apostles on the Day of Pentecost when three thousand souls repented of their past sinful life, were baptized for the remission of their sins, and were added, by the Lord, to the church of Christ (See Acts 2:37-41 & 47).

The teaching of Philip, that Jesus was the promised Christ and Savior, was sufficient enough for the eunuch to understand that baptism was necessary for salvation because, 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 (Vs. 36)? It was sufficient enough for him to realize that believing and confessing Jesus Christ is the Son of God was necessary, in order to be baptized for the remission of sins (Vs. 37). Having obeyed God's call to salvation, and having been baptized by Philip in the water available, for the remission of his sins, the eunuch went on his way rejoicing,and Philip continued preaching Jesus Christ to be the Savior, and the Son of God, in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea (Vss. 39-40).