Acts 8:5
“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.”
Philip was one of the men selected to serve tables at the church in Jerusalem. Now we find him heading out to Samaria as a missionary and winning many souls to the Kingdom. His ministry became so effective, it drew the attention of the apostles, who came to aid him in discipling those who had been saved. As quickly as he arrived in Samaria, Philip leaves. God calls him away from the masses, to reach an individual with the message of salvation through faith in Christ. After a muddy baptism in the desert, he headed out once again, this time making his way to Caesarea, where he settled down and raised a family of followers of Jesus.
Philip’s story is a fascinating one, filled with application for our daily lives. One of the most important lessons he teaches us is, in God’s economy, all service is the same. When Philip was serving tables, raising children, or leading revivals, he was simply doing what God had called him to do. Sometimes, I think we lose sight of how God wants to use us today, by being overly consumed with what the future holds. Spending all my time thinking about how God wants to use me tomorrow, will cause me to miss the opportunities He has placed in front of me today.
Keep your eyes open! Perhaps, today, God may lead you right into an opportunity to share Christ with someone like the Ethiopian, a man who God had prepared in every way for Philip’s arrival.
Pastor Jim
Questions for Acts 8
- What was Saul doing to the early church?
- Because of the persecution, the church scattered. Yet they continued to do what?
- Hebrews 7:25 ‘Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Simon believed and he was baptized. What was his previous profession?
- We see in verses 14-16 that receiving the Holy Spirit and baptism are 2 separate experiences. How did Peter and John address this?
- Simon is rebuked by Peter for his lack of understanding of his faith in verse 20. What word continues to be a theme throughout the teaching in the early church (verse 22)?
- The angel of the Lord spoke to Phillip, what was his response?
- Because of Phillips obedience, what happened with the Ethiopian Eunuch?
Jim Gallagher 