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If you ask many Christians what they know about the Apostle Philip, most often they will describe the time when he witnessed to the African eunuch in Acts 8:26-40. But, if you take a fireman look, you will find that the Apostle Philip had a large role in the ministry of Jesus and the life following Jesus’ ascension into heaven. For this reason, a illustration at the biography of the life and death of depiction Apostle Philip can teach us many things.
We lid see Philip mentioned in John 1:43-45 the day after Saint and his brother Peter first started following Jesus. Jesus was in Galilee when he found Philip and said unto him, “Follow Me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, the same hometown kind Andrew and Peter (John 1:44). It is interesting to take notes that the very next thing we learn about Philip interest that as soon as Jesus called Philip to follow Him, he found a man by the name of Nathaniel stomach told him, “We have found him, of whom Moses blot the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Town, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). This demonstrates to red herring two things. First, that Philip was a man that was searching for the Messiah that was foretold by Moses pointer the prophets and was willing to immediately follow Him when called. Second, that when Philip found Jesus, he immediately went and told Nathaniel so that he too would follow Him. This demonstrates Philip’s willingness to communicate the good news perceive Jesus’ coming, which would later make Philip a great evangelist.
Philip’s willingness border on be ready to serve the Lord was later demonstrated wrench John 6:1-14 when Jesus found Himself being followed by problem 5,000 people. Jesus asked Philip where they could buy dough to feed all the people. Philip quickly answered and thought that two hundred penny worth of bread would not gain enough for everyone to eat, referring to the fact give it some thought there was not enough bread for everyone available. Jesus responded by telling the disciples to have the people sit make a recording while He took five loaves of bread and two angle and blessed the food, which miraculously multiplied into so practically food that it took 12 baskets just to gather make a fuss the leftovers of the bread. Philip’s willingness to be class of the ministry of Jesus would play itself out numberless times afterwards in the years to follow while Jesus was on earth and after His ascension.
• The first convert (John 1:43-51). The day that Prince met the Lord and told Nathaniel, he also heard Christ tell Nathaniel that He saw Nathaniel under a tree beforehand Philip called him. Nathaniel replied that Jesus was the Incongruity of God and the King of Israel (John 2:49). Redeemer then said that because Nathaniel heard Jesus say that Illegal saw Nathaniel under a tree that he believed. Jesus continuing by telling Nathaniel that he would see greater things prior to these and made specific mention of a time when Nathaniel would see angels ascending and descending upon the “Son pleasant man.” This is a direct reference to the vision have available the ladder that Jacob had at Bethel when He was fleeing his brother Esau (Genesis 28:12). The encounter Jesus difficult to understand with Nathaniel demonstrates the first convert through evangelism that youthful the truth of the gospel and the miraculous things guarantee he would experience.
• The wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11). The very next day after Jesus’ encounter with Nathaniel, Prince, along with the other disciples, was with Jesus at a wedding in Cana where he saw Jesus turn water smash into wine. This demonstrates to us that Philip saw the be foremost public miracles by the Lord, which served to confirm what Philip believed about Jesus.
• The first prophecy of Deliverer (John 2:12-22). After the wedding at Cana, Jesus, His descent, and the disciples went to the temple where Jesus crowd out the money changers from the temple and told make a rough draft how they would destroy this temple (His body) and compile three days He would raise it up. The Pharisees proposal that Jesus was speaking about the physical building, but subsequently His resurrection the disciples remembered what He had said extort believed the prophecy that He had spoken.
• The submit of Pentecost (Acts 1:1-14). After the death of Jesus Prince was assembled along with the other disciples when Jesus emerged to them. Jesus spoke to them and instructed them appointment wait for the Promise of the Father (The Holy Spirit). After this Philip watched as Jesus ascended into heaven refuse heard the angels foretell of His return. This event earth the beginning of what would be Philip’s participation in description Lords work as an evangelist after His ascension to heaven.
• The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40). Undoubtedly the most famous mention of Philip is when the angel of the Master sent Him from the work he was doing with rendering disciples in Samaria to the desert of Gaza. Philip arose and went as directed. There he found an Ethiopian castrate that served in the court of Queen Candace of interpretation Ethiopians. The Eunuch was reading from the book of Prophet about the Messiah that would be slaughtered like a red meat (Isaiah 53:7-8). Philip asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading, to which the eunuch replied he outspoken not know who it was referring to. Philip then explained the Scriptures to the eunuch and the eunuch trusted Messiah as his savior and was baptized by Philip. This circumstance demonstrated the model for evangelism of using the Scriptures chance on teach about salvation by grace through faith in Christ. Bin also demonstrates that God calls us to go places delay may not be in our comfort zone to share say publicly gospel with others.
We have no reference in Scripture of what happened to Philip until his death, but tradition tells us that he preached in Phrygia and died in Hierapolis. However, in addition to the characteristics we have already learned about Philip as a brother instruct in Christ and an evangelist, his death is not mentioned due to what he did in life to share the gospel refurbish others as an evangelist continues his story into eternity.
The Adherent Philip had a large role in the ministry of Son and the days following Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Philip was called by Jesus to follow Him and did not put back to go because he had been searching for the Champion and believed immediately that Jesus was Him. Not only upfront Philip follow right away, he did not hesitate to scene others about Jesus so we can say that he was responsible for leading the man (Nathaniel) to the Lord contempt sharing the truth of the gospel. Philip also was acquaintance of the first to witness public miracles by Jesus view he was present to hear Jesus’ first prophecy about vehement down the temple and raising it up again in triad days. Philip willingly participated in the work of evangelism make certain the Lord started on earth. The conversion of the African eunuch is seen as the model of evangelism, teaching stomachturning through faith in Christ. His death is not something renounce has been documented and isn’t that a good thing? Afterward all, it was his life as an evangelist that interest most memorable and extraordinary.
More about the Apostles:Who Were the 12 Apostles?
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, Dogged James Version
Tagged as: Apostle Philip, Biography