Acts: Philip (8:26-40)

Everyone knows how Philip saw the Ethiopian eunuch reading the Bible and was able to explain the Gospel to him. They also know the part where he baptized the guy and then was “taken away” by the Holy Spirit. That guy was cool! But wait. Take a closer look at this guy named Philip. Is he someone a good Southern Baptist would aspire to be like?

 

He starts off as a deacon. But he is preaching! Well that is all right he is a missionary now, not just a deacon. Oh no! Now we see that he is performing exorcisms and healings! But wait, it gets better. He takes orders from an angel! At least we know he must have tested the spirit, because it says that it was an angel of the Lord. After listening to the angel, he heads away from his successful church in Samaria, and heads out to the non-populated desert. Then who does he chose to talk to? A eunuch! That can’t be right. But it does say the Spirit led him to do so. And it does lead to a soul saved. But, wait, that isn’t the end! Philip shows up later in Acts and… get this. He has raised four daughters who are prophetesses! That’s right, they prophesy, which is what Paul calls what the pastor does on Sunday!

 

Okay, Philip still is one of the coolest guys in the New Testament. And Baptists, despite all their faults and, at times, narrow view of things, are still well intentioned people who want to let the Bible dictate their belief. It’s just that sometimes the Story of what God does through His church is a little bigger than what we have experienced.