Yesterday, we saw how the persecution erupting in Acts 8 scattered the believers, and the first one mentioned is another deacon: Philip.

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city. (Acts 8.5 – 8, ESV)

Philip…proclaiming Christ…with power. It’s a theme we can’t get away from! And again, Philip is not one of the original 11 apostles. But when the apostles heard God was at work in Samaria, they came:

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8.14 – 17, ESV)

I don’t want to get into a technical discussion of why the apostles had to enable the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit – what’s important is that they did. Again, the power of the Holy Spirit residing in ordinary laypeople – and Samaritans at that! Remember, Jews hated Samaritans.

Back to our friend Philip who is in the middle of what we would call a major revival meeting in a large city, and he receives an unusual directive:

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he arose and went. (Acts 8.26, 27, ESV)

Wow. “He arose and went.” Not, “But Lord, I’m in the middle of a big meeting here…” It’s amazing what God can get done if he has people who are sensitive to his direction.

And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. (Acts 8.27 – 31, ESV)

Now here’s the good part. Remember all that training? The apostles preaching and teaching publicly and from house to house? The Spirit has directed Philip to this desert road and told him to talk with the Ethiopian. But the Spirit doesn’t have to tell Philip what to say. The Ethiopian is reading from Isaiah 53. And what does Philip do?

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8.35, ESV)

You probably know the story. The Ethiopian believed, is baptized, and “went on his way rejoicing.” (Read the whole story in Acts 8.26 – 40.) But Philip’s teaching was made possible because he had been paying attention to the apostles’ teaching! And now, God has created an inroad to Ethiopia.

Reaching the world is God’s work, done with God’s power under his direction, and he graciously allows us to participate.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1.8, ESV)