I. INTRODUCTION

A. The advantage of character studies from the Bible is that we can learn spiritual lessons from practical, real-life examples of men and women. From their examples, we can become "imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Heb. 6:12).

B. At present, let us study the example of Philip the evangelist so that we might imitate his example and learn how to inherit the promises through faith and patience.

II. PHILIP THE SERVANT

A. When a need arose, Philip was selected to be a servant by the church at Jerusalem (Acts 6:1-6).

1. The situation in the first church in Jerusalem created some unique challenges.

a. Many Jews had travelled to Jerusalem for Pentecost, and many of those who had obeyed the gospel stayed there. To make provisions for all those who stayed, these early Christians shared with one another (see Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37). This was not a permanent pattern of communal living for the church, but it was a unique situation at the beginning of the church.

b. In this setting, a complaint arose when the Hellenistic (Greek-speaking) Jewish widows were overlooked in the daily serving of food (v. 1).

2. The apostles could not be burdened with the task of serving tables, for they were devoted to prayer and the ministry of the word of God (vv. 2-3).

3. Therefore, they instructed the church to select men for this service (vv. 4-6). Philip was one of these men.

B. Consider the qualifications of Philip as a servant.

1. The seven selected men were "of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom" (Acts 6:3).

a. The good reputation of Philip and the other six men was essential for them to be effective in ministering to the Hellenistic Jews as well as the native Hebrews. They had to "get along" with everyone.

b. The fullness of the Spirit and of wisdom was truly a single trait.

i. It may be thought that the phrase "full of the Spirit" refers to miraculous spiritual gifts, but these men did not have such gifts prior to being selected as servants (see below).

ii. The correct understanding of this trait may be obtained by comparing Ephesians 5:18-19 with Colossians 3:16. In these verses, we can see that being filled with the Spirit in this sense can be equivalent to having the word of Christ dwelling richly within oneself in all wisdom.

iii. Thus, we understand that Philip was filled by the Spirit with the wisdom of the word of Christ.

c. The role of these seven men is often equated to the office of deacon (meaning "servant"; see 1Tim. 3:8-13). Certainly, a good reputation and the fullness of the Spirit and wisdom are fitting traits for deacons in the church.

d. For us, a lesson can be taken concerning our readiness to serve. If a need arises, will you be prepared and qualified to satisfy that need in the likeness of Philip?

2. Notice that the apostles endowed these men, including Philip, with an additional trait.

a. These seven men were "brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them" (v. 6).

b. By the laying on of their hands, the apostles empowered these seven men with miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 6:8). Before this, such gifts had only belonged to the apostles. Only the apostles had the authority to bestow these gifts in this way (Acts 8:17-18; 19:6).

c. These gifts would be crucial to Philip's later work as an evangelist as we will see.

III. PHILIP THE EVANGELIST

A. When persecution arose against the church at Jerusalem, Philip went to the city of Samaria to proclaim Christ (Acts 8:5-25).

1. Until this point, the gospel had not spread to the Samaritans. Only the Jews had received it.

2. Philip used the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit to gain the Samaritans' attention.

a. The purpose of miracles in the early church was to confirm the word of God (Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4).

b. In Samaria, "the multitudes with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing" (v. 6).

3. This not only resulted in many persons being healed, but most importantly "when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike" (v. 12).

4. Notice that Philip did not have the ability to impart miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. For this to occur, apostles had to come to Samaria and lay their hands on the believers (vv. 14-19).

5. Consider Philip's growth into this work of evangelism.

a. He began as a Christian who was "of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom" (Acts 6:3).Do you have such a firm foundation for to grow in the Lord?

b. He was selected to serve food to the Hellenistic Jewish widows. This may seem like a small task, but it led to Philip being endowed with power from the Holy Spirit. It also proved that Philip could work with people who were different from himself. Are you prepared to take on greater responsibilities and abilities?

c. With this power, Philip was ready to go into an area that was untouched by the gospel when the opportunity came. This was a difficult task, for Jews typically did not converse with Samaritans (John 4:9). Through his efforts, many souls heard the word of Christ. Are you ready to do the hard work of evangelism?

B. Following these things, Philip was sent by an angel to teach the gospel to an Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40).

1. The trip from Samaria to the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza was long (about forty miles) and difficult.

2. The Ethiopian man was the treasurer for his queen and was riding in a chariot along this road. He was returning from worship and reading from Isaiah.

3. At the Spirit's command, Philip ran up to the chariot and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" The Ethiopian then invited Philip into the chariot.

4. Beginning with the same passage of Scripture (Isa. 53:7-8), Philip "preached Jesus to him" (v. 35).

5. When the Ethiopian understood the gospel message preached to him, he requested to be baptized. Philip ascertained that the Ethiopian believed in Christ and immediately baptized him.

6. Notice a few points about Philip in this event.

a. Philip made the difficult journey to the desert road without an explanation of his mission. Would you be willing to trust God and embark on an unknown mission?

b. He eagerly ran up to the chariot in obedience to the Spirit's command. Do you have such zeal to preach the gospel to lost souls?

c. He was not intimidated by the obvious wealth and prominent standing of the Ethiopian. Do you fear men of wealth and power? Would you preach the gospel to them?

d. The difference in the Ethiopian's ethnicity did not give Philip any pause at all. Do differences in ethnicity matter to you?

C. Nearly twenty years later, Philip was still working as an evangelist in Caesarea (Acts 21:8-10).

1. As Paul made his way back to Jerusalem following his third missionary journey, he and his companions stayed in Caesarea at the house of Philip the evangelist. Evidently, Philip had been in this city since the events of Acts 8:40.

2. Philip practiced hospitality toward these men for several days.Are you ready to open your home to the saints of God (Rom. 12:13; 3John 5-8)?

3. Philip's faith had been passed on to his four daughters, who were prophetesses. Are you passing your faith on to your family?

IV. CONCLUSION

A. There is much to be learned from the Bible's record of Philip, who was a good, wise, zealous, hospitable and faithful servant of the church, evangelist to the lost, and leader of his family.

B. Like Philip, let us all present such examples of faithfulness and service that others might become imitators of us and thereby inherit the promises of God through faith and patience.