Philip, Acts 8:4-12, 26-40, written by Chris Schaefer

The premise of Philip’s story in Acts sounds like the set-up for a ridiculous joke; “So an Apostle‘s assistant, a magician, and a eunuch walk into Samaria…”. The cast of characters is fantastic, and already in the second paragraph, one is almost lead to anticipate a miracle rich stand-off between God’s messenger and Harry Potter. The great thing about Philip’s story, though, is not the inevitable 3D movie interpretation, but rather the genuine faith issues that emerge, and the rather incredible ways showcased that God works through those who believe.

Philip had just recently been chosen as one of seven men to assist the original 12 disciples in their growing list of responsibilities. These men were scattered about to help spread the story of Jesus, and in his first stop, Philip heads to Samaria to preach the good word, cast out demons, and heal the paralyzed and lame (not too shabby for a first timer). Philip’s arrival and eventual success and acceptance in Samaria comes on the heels of a popular magician, named Simon, who previously had captured the attention of the people who lived there with his show. Both Philip and Simon performed awe-inspiring tasks, seemingly impossible for an everyday Samarian, and in both cases the residents believed they performed under the authority of God. The difference between Philip and Simon the magician, though, appears to be substance. After the smoke of Simon had cleared, Philip had the power and the authority of the word that really spoke to the people, and in this instance, it lead to the conversion and baptism of many who heard him speak. And this was just his first stop…

Philip is then called by an angel to head out on a wilderness road en route to Gaza. On his way he encounters the treasurer court official to the Queen of Ethiopia, who is returning from worshipping in Jerusalem, and is attempting to figure out what Isaiah was all about (good luck with that one!). The court official also happens to be a eunuch; a fact that could carry a variety of meanings in a Biblical context, and one that initially sort of distracted me from the multitude of impressive other titles this man carried, but I believe the ultimate inference is that in serving a female queen, his status of being a eunuch would indicate loyalty, trustworthiness, and service. The angel gives Philip a little nudge to go talk to the official and offer to help explain Isaiah’s scripture. The quoted Isaiah passage includes some remarkable imagery of a man who is like a lamb willingly offering up himself to the slaughter, and thereby dying through injustice, but more importantly, humility. Philip then discusses with the official how this verse applies to the good news about Jesus. The official is so moved, he requests to be baptized on the spot. Philip obliges, and in an awesome display of the power of God (and not a magic trick) Philip is whisked away to his next mission in the service of the Lord.

I think its important to remember that most people in their journey of faith most likely will not encounter such flash and perfect timing as Philip. He was given a special calling not just by God, but by people on earth. Although he was able to perform tasks with a seemingly magical quality, he had the grounding truth of Jesus and the authority of God which trumped any sort of trick he may have had up his sleeve. The people Philip served in this story ultimately responded to the genuine reality and substance of what Jesus has to offer. Although the idea of having special powers ordained by God might seem a highly desirable holy gift, we’ve already been given the ultimate power in his word and truth, and in any effort to discern what types of gifts we already do possess, that should rank up at the top.

Acts 8:4-12, 26-40

Philip Preaches in Samaria

4 Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. ⁵Philip went down to the city^* of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah^* to them. ⁶The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, ⁷for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralysed or lame were cured. ⁸So there was great joy in that city.

9 Now a certain man named Simon had previously practised magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. ¹⁰All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, ‘This man is the power of God that is called Great.’ ¹¹And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. ¹²But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south^* to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.) ²⁷So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship ²⁸and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’ ³⁰So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ ³¹He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. ³²Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: ‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth. ³³ In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.’ ³⁴The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ ³⁵Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. ³⁶As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’^{* 38}He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip^* baptized him. ³⁹When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.