Elect Lady's Corner

There are some people that do great works and achievements that you may not hear much about, but they are nevertheless as essential as the people whom we consider great or influential. One of those persons is Philip, the Evangelist in the book of Acts. He was not one of the 12 Apostles, and neither did he have a book in the Bible named after him. He was only mentioned briefly in the book of Acts.

But what a great impact he had in starting the world-wide evangelism in the New Testament church that reached the Gentile world. Philip was first recognized as one of the 7 chosen devout deacons in the early church, but advanced to the position of an Evangelist. Even though one of his fellow deacon brothers, Stephen had been martyred previously, that did not deter Philip from advancing in the kingdom of God. 

The persecution of the Christians was very severe at that time in Jerusalem, but the believers continued to take the gospel to the other parts of the world. They did not hide themselves for the fear of suffering, or boast in their suffering, but they scattered the knowledge of Christ, everywhere they went. Philip, having great boldness in the faith, led them out! He went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. So, when the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they listened intently to what he had to say. 

Acts 8:26-40 tells the story of an Ethiopian eunuch being converted to Christ by Philp. The angel of the Lord had spoken to Philip and told him to go to a certain desert road to meet this Ethiopian. So, Philip met with this Ethiopian, who had great authority and was in charge of all the treasury of the Ethiopian queen, Candace. This Eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home he sat in his chariot and read aloud from the book of Isaiah, the prophet. 

Meanwhile, the Spirit of the Lord told Philip to go and approach him near his chariot. But Philip ran to the chariot and asked the Eunuch: “Do you understand what you’re reading? And he said: How can I understand unless someone explains it to me.?” So, the Eunuch invited Philip to join him in the chariot. 

The Eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53:7-8 which said: “…He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so openeth He not His mouth: He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living...” And the Eunuch asked Philip who is the Prophet speaking of? 

Is he speaking of himself or someone else? Philip took this opportunity to open up to the Eunuch the great mystery of the Gospel concerning Jesus Christ, and Him being crucified. Beginning at the same verse where the Eunuch read from, Philip preached to him about Jesus, the Son of God; Who was the Savior of the world. As they traveled down the road, they came to some water, and the Eunuch said: “Here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?” 

Philip responded if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” And the Eunuch replied: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And the Eunuch commanded the chariot to stand still (I feel like preaching now!) and he and Philip went down into the water and Philip baptized the Eunuch. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly caught Philip away, and the Eunuch never saw Philip again. 

But the Eunuch continued on his journey rejoicing in the Lord. Philip, however, was found at Azotus, preaching there and every city he passed by on his way to Caesarea. So, I ask you: “What are you doing to shine in your little corner! “If God has changed your life, why not help change somebody elses life. Don’t despise the days of small beginnings!