Lives of Scripture

Philip was one of the seven men chosen by the Jerusalem church to oversee food distribution to widows, a role requiring men "full of the Spirit and of wisdom" (Acts 6:3-5). After Stephen's martyrdom scattered believers out of Jerusalem, Philip went to a city in Samaria and preached Christ there; the crowds paid attention as he performed signs, healed the sick, and cast out unclean spirits, and "there was much rejoicing in that city" (8:5-8) -- a significant step, since Jews and Samaritans typically had no dealings with each other. An angel then directed Philip to a desert road toward Gaza, where he encountered an Ethiopian court official, treasurer to the queen, riding in his chariot and reading aloud from Isaiah without understanding it (8:26-31). Philip, prompted by the Spirit, ran alongside and asked if he understood what he was reading; invited up into the chariot, he explained that the passage -- Isaiah's suffering servant -- pointed to Jesus, and preached the gospel to him (8:29-35). At the eunuch's request, Philip baptized him at the first water they found, after which "the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away," and he found himself at Azotus, continuing to preach through towns until reaching Caesarea (8:36-40). Years later, Paul stayed at Philip's home in Caesarea, where Philip is again called "the evangelist," and where his four daughters were known for prophesying (21:8-9) -- a family marked, across a generation, by Spirit-empowered ministry.