Philip the Evangelists reveal his evangelism techniques
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| "Philip the Evangelist preaching the Gospel in Samaria" Deutsch: (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
In both instances the same pioneer spirit was shown by Philip, who won the first Samaritans and the first African to Christ. To both audiences the same message was proclaimed, namely the good news of Jesus Christ, for there is only one gospel. In both situations the same response was given, for the hearers believed and were baptized. And in both cases, the same result is recorded, namely joy.
The differences are striking too. I am not now thinking of how the Spirit was received, or of the apostolic delegation to Samaria which had no parallel in the conversion of the Ethiopian. I am thinking rather of the people evangelized and of the methods employed.
Take the people evangelized. The people with whom Philip shared the good news were different in race, rank and religion. The Samaritans were of mixed race, half-Jewish and half-Gentile, and Asiatic, while the Ethiopian was a black African, though probably a Jew by birth or a proselyte. As for rank, the Samaritans were presumably ordinary citizens, whereas the Ethiopian was a distinguished public servant in the employment of the Crown. That brings us to religion.
The differences are striking too. I am not now thinking of how the Spirit was received, or of the apostolic delegation to Samaria which had no parallel in the conversion of the Ethiopian. I am thinking rather of the people evangelized and of the methods employed.
Take the people evangelized. The people with whom Philip shared the good news were different in race, rank and religion. The Samaritans were of mixed race, half-Jewish and half-Gentile, and Asiatic, while the Ethiopian was a black African, though probably a Jew by birth or a proselyte. As for rank, the Samaritans were presumably ordinary citizens, whereas the Ethiopian was a distinguished public servant in the employment of the Crown. That brings us to religion.
The Samaritans revered Moses but rejected the prophets. Recently they had come under the spell of Simon the sorcerer and his occult powers. They had ‘paid attention’ to him before they ‘paid attention’ to Philip. The Ethiopian, on the other hand, had a strong attachment to Judaism, perhaps as a convert, and this led him both to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and to read one of the very prophets the Samaritans rejected. So the Samaritans were unstable and credulous, while the Ethiopian was a thoughtful seeker after the truth. Yet despite their differences in racial origin, social class and predisposing religious condition, Philip presented them both with the same good news of Jesus.
Consider next the methods Philip employed. His mission to the Samaritans was an early example of ‘mass evangelism’, for ‘the crowds’ heard his message, saw his signs, paid attention to him, believed and were baptized.
Consider next the methods Philip employed. His mission to the Samaritans was an early example of ‘mass evangelism’, for ‘the crowds’ heard his message, saw his signs, paid attention to him, believed and were baptized.
Philip’s conversation with the Ethiopian, however, was a conspicuous example of ‘personal evangelism’, for here was one man sitting alongside another man, and talking to him out of the Scriptures, privately and patiently, about Jesus. It is also noteworthy that the same evangelist was adaptable enough to use both methods, namely public proclamation and private testimony. But, although he could alter his method, he did not alter his basic message.
It is this combination of change (in relation to contexts and methods) and changelessness (in relation to the gospel itself), together with the ability to discern between them, which is one of Philip’s abiding legacies to the church.
Stott, J. R. W. (1994). The message of Acts: the Spirit, the church & the world (pp. 163–164). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
It is this combination of change (in relation to contexts and methods) and changelessness (in relation to the gospel itself), together with the ability to discern between them, which is one of Philip’s abiding legacies to the church.
Stott, J. R. W. (1994). The message of Acts: the Spirit, the church & the world (pp. 163–164). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
