INL May 12, 2006  

SOUNDING OUT:
Do the Work of an Evangelist (Part 3 of 3)

  As we saw last week, the simplicity of the work of an evangelist (euangelistês) is to open one’s mouth and preach (euangelizõ) the gospel (euangelion). Paul identified the gospel he preached as “the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began in Romans 16:25. We’ll see the involvement of the ministry of an evangelist in both opening new areas and winning people one by one.

  Philip first comes on the scene in Acts 6:5, where he was chosen to serve tables. He reappears in the third section of Acts in chapter 8 serving the bread of life. The structure of the third section of Acts is:

 
The Third Section of Acts, Acts 6:8-9:30
6:8-7:60
A
Stephen (first of seven in Acts 6:5)
8:1-4 B Saul
8:5-40
A
 Philip (second of seven in Acts 6:5)
9:1-30                    B          Saul
 

  The structure of Acts 8:5-40 is:

 
8:5-13
A
 Phillip
8:14-25        B    Peter and John 
8:26-40
A
 Phillip
 

  The structures of these sections are:

Acts 8:5-13: Philip the Evangelist: Destroying the Works of the Adversary,
the Genuine Prevailing Over the Counterfeit (Opening Samaria)
8:5a A Phillip
8:5b B His message
8:6a C Heed given
8:6b-7 D Reason they gave heed
8:8 E Result: Philip’s genuine sphere of influence increased.
8:9a A Simon
8:9b B His message
8:10-11a C Heed given
8:11b D Reason they gave heed
8:12,13 E Result: Simon’s counterfeit sphere of influence decreased.


 
Acts 8:14-25 Peter & John, Apostles, Supporting New Areas
8:14 A Apostles sent from Jerusalem
8:15-17 B Apostles ministering the spirit to the believers
8:18-19 C Simon’s offer
8:20-24 B Apostles ministering to an individual
8:25 A Apostles return to Jerusalem
 


 
Acts 8:26-40 Philip the Evangelist: Each One Reach One (Opening Ethiopia)
8:26-49 A Philip directed toward Gaza
8:27-30a B Philip finds eunuch
8:30b-34 C Dialogue regarding reading
8:35 D Philip evangelizes
8:36-38 C Dialogue regarding baptism
8:39 B Philip leaves eunuch
8:40 A Philip directed toward Caesarea
 

These three sections show three major aspects of the work of an evangelist.

  Acts 8:5-13 shows how Philip the evangelist opened the city of Samaria. It had been influenced and controlled by Simon the sorcerer. Philip went in, heralded Christ, spoke logically from the Word, did miracles, and taught the gospel well. By this he destroyed the works of the adversary and brought deliverance to people. He demonstrated the prevailing power of the true God over the adversary’s counterfeit.

  Acts 8:14-25 shows the importance of receiving the support and communication from the leadership who had sent them out (Acts 8:1). Philip lets them know what has happened and the apostles send Peter and John to handle this new opportunity where people were born again but did not speak in tongues. Peter and John brought new light in handling this problem. Philip sent for them after the people had received the Word of God. Before Peter and John return they testified and preached the Word of the Lord, teaching well in many villages. They were instrumental in bringing the believers into a fuller appreciation of the household. The believers were at the “Word of God” awareness when the apostles arrived and at the “Word of the Lord” awareness when they left. The ministries of Peter and John complimented Philip’s and brought the Samaritan believers into a better understanding of the body of Christ and the household of God.

  Acts 8:26-40 shows the personal obedience and commitment required to hold forth the Word one on one. Philip continued to walk by the spirit. He was led to the wilderness where he meets the eunuch at his point of need and teaches him the Word he needs. This is probably how Ethiopia was opened.

  Acts 8:5-13 notes that Philip did five things, which must be involved in the work of an evangelist. In opening Samaria Philip took the following actions:

  1. He “went down to the city of Samaria.” (Verse 5) This was a result of the diaspeirõ of the previous verse. This was an assignment of Philip in the organized outreach effort of Acts 8:1-4. “Went down” is the Greek katerchomai. Although leaving Jerusalem was usually described as “going down” due to its elevation, here, the context also indicates the idea of “going into the valley of human need,” or “responding to a command.” It occurs 13 times James 3:15 is the only use outside of Luke and Acts.
  2. He “preached Christ.” (Verse 5) “Preached” is the Greek word kêrussô. This is the heralding of the Word. Letting people know what is available. What he preached was “Christ,” the Messiah, the exalted one. Kêrussô means to proclaim as a herald (no teaching implied). It is used 61 times in the New Testament. This is its first occurrence in Acts. It was the term used to announce the victor in a contest and the honors and wreaths conferred on him.
  3. Philip “spake.” (Verse 6) “Spake” is the Greek word legô. It means to speak and emphasizes the content of what is spoken as being thought through. It is of the essence of gathering or collecting (words, thoughts, ideas, concepts, truths, facts, etc.) and laying them before people in words. It is the root of logos. It is used 1343 times in the New Testament and 105 times in Acts. Its first use in Acts is “speaking” in Acts 1:3 and its last use is “saying” in Acts 28:26. It is used six times in Acts chapter eight.
  4. Philip “did” miracles. (Verse 6) He had an impact on the spirit realm. He spoke the Word, and God confirmed it with signs following. We know that if he did miracles, he operated all nine of the manifestations. The word “did” is the Greek poieô which emphasizes what was done. He was not spinning his wheels. His action was purposeful and directed from the Word that he knew and the revelation he received.
  5. Philip was “preaching.” (Verse 12) “Preaching” is the Greek word euangelizô. This is the word that means “teach well.” It is the verb form of evangelist. It is used 55 times and 16 times in Acts. Euangelizô (implies you don’t teach everything you know, but what you teach you teach well.

When witnessing to the Ethiopian eunuch, Philip took the following actions:

  1. Philip “arose and went.” (Verse 27) These two words [anistêmi and poreuomai] are use together eight times in the Word, all in Luke and Acts. When used together they emphasize the resolve to act or the purposeful deliberation behind the action. Here the angel tells Philip what to do, and Philip obeys.
  2. Philip “ran.” (Verse 30) This Greek word is prostrechô which means “to run to,” indicating that they reach the destination. It is only used three times. “Run” also carries the figurative symbolism of eagerness and enthusiasm in believing obedience of the Word.
  3. Philip “heard.” (Verse 30) It is the Greek word akouô. It is used 437 times in the NT and 94 times in Acts and three times in Acts 8, once in each of the three sections. Here, Philip hears and identifies the eunuch’s need before he speaks.
  4. Philip “said.” (Verse 30) It is the Greek word eipon. It means to utter definite words. It indicates the sincerity and earnestness of the speaker. It occurs 977 times in the NT, 137 times in Acts and eight times in this third section of
    Acts 8.
  5. Philip “opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” “To open the mouth” to speak is an orientalism that means that the speaker is speaking from the depth of his heart and saying everything necessary for the people to know at that time. “Began” is the Greek word archomai. It is the middle voice of the verb that means “to be first” or “to be chief or leader.” It indicates that the individual initiated the action. It indicates that the individual was a self-starter, he made himself be first. “Preached” is euangelizô, to teach well, implying that you don’t teach all you know, but that which you handle you teach well.
  6. Philip “baptized” the eunuch. The context seems to imply water, but it doesn’t exclude that he was born-again and spoke in tongues. This was at the request of the eunuch, and Philip knew it was the right thing to do.
  In these three sections we have seen that Philip was commissioned to go to Samaria where he re-opened the work of the ministry there. He communicated with the apostles at Jerusalem that had sent him and received their help to establish the believers in the household.

  Summary: The charge to do the work of an evangelist indicated that it was not Timothy’s ministry or long suit. Timothy was personally trained by Paul in the gospel, and they served together on many occasions. Doing the work of an evangelist is preaching the gospel. An evangelist destroys the works of the adversary and gets people born-again and walking on the Word. He does not work without the help of those who trained and commissioned him, but communicates and shares fully with his leadership who assigned, support, and set him up to succeed. An evangelist is committed to personal “evangelism. He speaks to people one on one and personally operates the ministry of reconciliation. He is also is able to teach others how to do so.