Philip, a man “of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3), was selected with Stephen, and soon became a faithful servant in Jerusalem’s early church. When persecution arose after Stephen’s martyrdom, Philip carried the Gospel into Samaria.
With the powerful presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, Philip “proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds were all paying attention to what Philip said, as they listened and saw the signs he was performing” (Acts 8:5-6). As evidence of the Gospel’s life-changing truth, evil spirits were cast out, and various diseases and disabilities were miraculously cured (Acts 8:6-7).
As a result, “there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:8). Of course there was! Uncle Don could walk again. Cousin Ted, bedridden for months, was suddenly healthy again. Sally, depressed, anxious, suicidal, was transformed. Most importantly, those who came humbly to Jesus found peace and eternal security. How? Why? The grace of the resurrected Jesus was at work among them! There was “good news for the poor… healing for the brokenhearted… liberty for captives … and freedom for prisoners!” (Isaiah 61:1).
So then, it must have come as a terrible shock to Philip as his work was progressing so favorably. Why would God ask him to leave Samaria? But, he was sure. The angel of God said, “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza” (Acts 8:26). Philip must have known about that region. It was desolate, dry, desert with a single road leading toward the wilderness of Sinai.
Philip obeyed.
In the wilderness, Philip didn’t find crowds waiting and wanting to hear about Jesus. He found only one man. A black man, a man from Ethiopia, a governmental official who was returning home after visiting Jerusalem. In his chariot, the man was reading from a scroll. “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth” (Acts 8:32, Isaiah 53:7).
Please tell me about the “Lamb” the Ethiopian inquired. “Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture” (Acts 8:35).
God cares about crowds of people. God also cares about the one… God commissioned Philip, a friend of God, so that one foreign-born pilgrim could come to saving faith in the Lamb of God.
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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