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:
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The
Third Section of Acts, Acts 6:8-9:30 |
| 6:8-7:60 |
A |
Stephen
(first of seven in Acts 6:5) |
|
|
| 8:5-40 |
A |
Philip
(second of seven in Acts 6:5) |
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
| 8:6b-7 |
D |
Reason
they gave heed |
|
| 8:8 |
E |
Result:
Philip’s genuine sphere of influence
increased. |
|
|
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
| 8:20-24
|
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 |
|
|
|
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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:
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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:
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
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