Acts 8:26-39 And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza… The first Christian labourer has fallen, but a great stride is now to be taken. Stephen is dead, but Philip takes his place. That is the military rule. There was no panic or running away in cowardly terror, but Philip, the next man, took up the vacant place, and "went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed unto them the Christ." "And there was much joy in that city." An electric shock went through it. And no wonder, for multitudes were blessed and led to faith in Christ. Our problem of to-day is the city — the city crowd, the city poor, the city criminals, the city multitude out of work — and that problem is to be solved on the lines of Philip. Let us see to it that we are content with nothing less. It was while Philip was in the midst of this great enterprise — changing the very face of the city, pulling down the strongholds of darkness — that the incident occurred which is narrated in this paragraph. I. A TYPICAL EVANGELIST. 1. Notice that the Lord directs His servants in the path of duty. "An angel of the Lord spake unto Philip." But why an angel? Why this extraordinary method of guidance in this particular case? Why this unusual honour placed upon Philip? Dr. Goulburn suggests that this external message of the angel directing Philip where to go was here vouchsafed as God's answer to the thoughts and doubts which were then springing up in His servant's mind. For though Philip was doing a great work, yet he had received an unpleasant check which must have caused him some .annoyance. Simon Magus' wickedness had come to light, and it had met with an apostle's censure. In the simplicity of his heart Philip had admitted this bad man into the fold of Christ, and it might easily have occurred to him that he ought to be more cautious, that his evangelistic zeal was too great. Then, had he been right in preaching to these Samaritans at all, and admitting to baptism a race hitherto held accursed? He had dared to brave the opinion of many good men, and one result had been that such a bad character as Simon Magus had crept into the Church. The Lord, who watches over His people and sees all their difficulties, comes therefore to his rescue, and, by one of His ministering spirits, conveys a message which assures His fainting servant of His approval and of His guidance. "An angel spake." How often this is so! God's servants are filled with a glorious discontent with the rate of progress they are making, and enter upon new and bold enterprises for Him; they try experiments in His service, they do and dare roach, and for a time perhaps see nothing but disaster and failure and opposition where it might be least expected. Then, when their hearts are cast down and perplexed, He sends His angel with a message of encouragement. Was it not so with Elijah? "As he lay and slept under the juniper tree, behold an angel touched him." "An angel." Was there a visible representation? We cannot tell. The text gives no hint as to the character of the messenger. Philip went on his journey under Divine direction — this is the great thing for us to remember — and that direction is within our reach; though the form may vary the fact remains. He is in full fellowship with the Spirit, quick to receive heavenly influences, and living in the atmosphere of Divine companionship. Such a man as this does not often miss his way. And when the way is made clear he proceeds with great confidence. 2. Notice His prompt obedience. "He arose and went." "He went," not knowing the purpose for which he was sent. He went forth with sealed orders. "He walked by faith, not by sight." "He was not disobedient to the heavenly vision." Yet what a work he was doing in this great town of Samaria! What a wide door for usefulness! It was a great trial to his faith. It required a mighty effort of will to fall in with this Divine plan. That he knew it to be Divine did not make it more easy to flesh and blood. Duty is Divine, and we all know it; but knowledge of its Divineness does not remove our difficulties in the performance of it. Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe tells us that the first and last word uttered in the meeting-houses where she worshipped as a child was "submission." And in this department of our Christian lives, that of service, this is the first and last word. Philip had learnt that all true spiritual power lies in submission to the Divine will. "If I do this, what will So-and-so say? And shall I not be putting myself in a disagreeable position?" When God meets with such an one who just says, "Lord, just glorify Thyself in me," He can use him, and does use him. 3. He is aggressive and eager for work. "Behold a man of Ethiopia." "And Philip ran to him." Ethiopia was an influential kingdom south of Egypt, corresponding to what we know as Nubia and Abyssinia. And this traveller was making his way home after worshipping at Jerusalem. There were two great roads open to him leading to Gaza, and he had chosen the desert one, passing through districts inhabited then, as now, by only wandering Arabs. "And Philip ran thither to him." There is no waiting, no hesitation, the work is there and it must be done. When God gives us a call, how many of us creep and limp instead of running to obey it. 4. Philip falls in with the Divine order in this respect, that much of our work lies in the personal dealing with individuals. "Behold, a man of Ethiopia." In our aggressive zeal we are all liable to overlook the individual. Hitherto Philip's labours had been among masses of people, but now, by Divine command, he is withdrawn from this large sphere of usefulness, and sent to deal with a single man, attended, probably, only by two or three retainers. It has been observed that this is the first instance on record of a private ministration of the gospel. The lesson is to be continually kept in mind. Even the apostles, who had a commission to "go and teach all nations," and in virtue of that commission might have challenged the whole universe of immortal souls as their audience, did not think themselves exempt from the labours of private administration. Are we not all, as Christian workers, no matter what position we take in the campaign, too desirous of crowds and too little occupied with the units of which they are composed? Dr. Stalker, in his latest work to preachers, says: "Gentlemen, I believe that almost any preacher on reviewing a ministry of any considerable duration would confess that his great mistake had been the neglect of individuals. If I may be permitted a personal reference. When not long ago I had the opportunity, as I was passing from one charge to another, of reviewing a ministry of twelve years, the chief impression made on me, as I looked back, was that this was the point at which I had failed; and I said to myself that henceforth I would write "Individuals" on my heart as the watchword of my ministry." Philip was now wisely engaged in individual work. 5. Philip, under Divine direction, went outside and beyond the ordinary methods. "And the Spirit said, 'Go near and join thyself to this chariot.'" "And Philip ran to him." What spiritual freedom characterises the whole incident — its scene not the temple, not a Christian congregation, but the wilderness; its time not a Sabbath but a workday, when men may harness horses to chariots and go a journey; the minister not an apostle, but one who had been designated to a more or less secular ministration. I heard a preacher say the other day: "We shut up our religion in churches; we limit it to days; we restrict it to services. And by shutting it in, we shut it out, and we shut others out too." How true this is! II. A STRIKING CONVERSION. Let us briefly turn our attention specially to the Ethiopian and his striking conversion. 1. He is "a man of great authority" seeking after truth. He was Chamberlain of the Queen, and held the post of First Lord of her Treasury. The Samaritans among whom Philip had just been labouring, and where he had great success, were a simple people, and the converts, as far as we can judge, were chiefly of the lower class, not persons of station and influence. But here is a man seeking light of large wealth and high position and of some education — the first minister at a Queen's Court. "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God," hardly because their possession entices the heart to trust in them for a contentment and a satisfaction which they never can bestow. But the man be[ore us is also a courtier and a politician. To judge from what we often hear of the political world, we might, for some countries at any rate, invent a new text, "How hardly shall they that are politicians enter into the kingdom of God." 2. He is an earnest seeker after truth. Philip "heard him reading." He was reading aloud after the manner of Eastern nations. It is more easy for some minds to learn by the ear than by the eye. Its attention may have been called to this portion of Holy Scripture during his visit to the temple, or he may have met the apostles. At any rate, he was making a diligent use of the means of grace. He used the light he had, and eagerly sought for more. What a contrast this man in high position presents to many in the upper ranks of society of to-day! "Agnostics" many label themselves, and when they have spoken this word they appear to think that they have done everything that can be rightly expected of a human being. 3. He is a perplexed seeker after the truth. "Understandest thou... ?" "How can I except some man should guide me?" The passage in Isaiah was a difficult one, as taught by Jewish instructors, to understand. It seemed almost impossible to put together the idea of Christ as a sufferer, as despised and slain, and the promise that He should be a glorious King, triumphing over the world. Only the facts could solve the problem. I would say to you, Do not be distressed if you meet with obscurities and are bewildered by religious mystery. Again and again every thoughtful man meets with "things hard to be understood." Difficulties we shall always have which our finite minds cannot solve. 4. He is a teachable seeker of the truth. "And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him." He made no idol of his perplexities. He welcomed help directly it was within his reach. 5. The truth being announced to him, he accepts it, confesses it, and rejoices over it. "And he baptized him." "He went on his way rejoicing." (A. Wood, B.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. |
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