Lessons From Acts – Lesson 10
There are actually two Philips in the New Testament that are servants of Jesus. There was the apostle Philip and then when they needed to choose 7 men to help with the widows there is another Philip in that list.
Many think that the Philip that went to Samaria and preached is not the apostle Philip but the Philip that was chosen to help with the widows.
There are several reasons for this. When persecution hit Jerusalem and Christians scattered the Bible makes a point to say except the Apostles. The Apostles stayed in Jerusalem. So the logic is that the Philip that went to Samaria was not Philip the apostle.
When Jerusalem hears what is going on they send Peter the apostle to check it out. But for the most part at this time the Apostles stayed in Jerusalem.
Many Christians left Jerusalem and it could very well be that they took many of those widows with them. Or at least enough of them that they no longer needed 7 men to take care of them. That would mean that Philip was not tied to having to stay in Jerusalem to take care of widows.
Also we find him mentioned later in acts. Acts 21:8 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. Acts 21:9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
Not Philip the Apostle but Philip the evangelist who had 4 daughters and who was one of the 7 chosen to help with the widows.
Later in Acts he is given the title Philip the evangelist. An evangelist is one who travels preaching Jesus. He is not planting churches. He is not a missionary. He is a traveling preacher who preaches Christ.
And this is what we saw this Philip do in Samaria. And if you noticed when a problem came up it was Peter who dealt with the problem. Philip let the man with Apostle Authority deal with it. It seems that Philip’s main focus was preaching Jesus and helping people.
And we pick up looking at Philip in acts 8:26
Acts 8:26 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.
Philip’s heart is to preach Jesus and see people saved. It was Philip that went to Samaria to preach to people who other Jews consider half breeds or unclean. So when God has a man from Ethiopia who is searching for truth who does God call to go?
He calls Philip the Evangelist. And there is no hesitation. Philip just goes.
Acts 8:27 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,
Back in those days anyone could become a practicing Jew. This man had come to Jerusalem to worship the true God. So he could be an Ethiopian in heritage who became a Jew. There is another possibility. Some countries in those days would capture men from other countries and then enslave them and make them an eunuch and put them into service of the queen.
They were allowed to work their way up and could rise to positions of responsibility. So he could be a man of Jewish heritage whose country is now Ethiopia. There is no way to tell for sure which it is. Either way the eunuch is a practicing Jew.
He had great authority from the queen, and he had the charge of all her treasure.
He had enough resources to have his own scroll of the book of Isaiah and he is sitting in his chariot and reading it aloud. Most people would have to go to a synagogue to have any access to a scroll of Isaiah. Scrolls were expensive to purchase.
Acts 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Acts 8:31 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.
Acts 8:32 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:
Acts 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Acts 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Once Philip is in the chariot they start traveling. And Philip is preaching to him Jesus. This tells me that Philip had a lot to say. I think he was doing a good job explaining things and answering questions. We have just seen that the man will ask questions.
Acts 8:36 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?
So somewhere along the trip Philip had taught a great deal. Even about baptism.
And now comes a great verse. It is huge in importance. Hated by many. In fact it is one of the most removed verses in all of the corrupted bible versions.
Acts 8:37 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.
Why is that verse so important? It teaches the qualifications needed for Baptism. This is the key text for understanding that truth. The man could only be baptized if first he believed with all his heart. And the man made a declaration that he believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And therefore he qualified for baptism.
It is simple and clear. Why would this be so hated? Why would they take it out of corrupted Bibles?
This is clear and undeniable proof against infant baptism. So many groups like Lutherans who baptize their babies do not want to hear that truth. So the new bible creators take that out so as not to offend all of the Baby baptizers.
The wicked one has also hated this verse for centuries. The Devil does not care what people believe as long as it is wrong. As long as it keeps them trusting in the wrong thing instead of getting saved. Many will trust in baptism to save, either totally or in addition to something else. So the ancient corrupted manuscripts also have this verse removed. Removing it leaves more room for people to believe in the heresy that baptism saves.
Verse 8:37 shows that belief is a separate thing from baptism. And that belief must come first.
Acts 8:38 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.
Notice he could be baptized anywhere at any time. He did not need to have a church building. He did not need a local church congregation watching for his baptism to be valid.
Belief was the only qualification. And there was a practical requirement. They had to have much water. Enough to go down into and then come out of. So this teaches that baptism is by emersion. It is a picture of the death and burial and resurrection of Jesus. A picture that you are identifying with His death and resurrection. So you go down and are buried under the water and then come out of the water to walk in newness of life.
These verses also show that sprinkling is not a valid method for baptizing. If Philip sprinkled, then they could have done that at the chariot.
Acts 8:39 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.
Acts 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
After leading the eunuch to Jesus and baptizing him we find him preaching and preaching and preaching Jesus. In all the cities on his way back home. Later in acts it tells us that Philip the evangelist lived in Caesarea. So when persecution hit Jerusalem this Philip moved his family to Caesarea.
Philip was a man that I admire. I respect his heart for the lost. He had faith to do what Jesus wanted him to do. He loved the Lord and he loved his fellow man.
Philip is a great example for us.