Philip was one of the Seven, men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, chosen in Jerusalem to oversee the daily distribution of food so the apostles could keep to prayer and preaching. He is a different man from Philip the apostle.
When persecution scattered the church after Stephen's death, Philip went down to Samaria and proclaimed the Christ. Crowds listened, many were healed, and there was much joy in that city. Then an angel sent him to a desert road going down to Gaza. An Ethiopian official was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah. Philip ran up and asked, Do you understand what you are reading? Beginning with that scripture he told him the good news about Jesus, and baptized him at a stretch of water by the road. Years later Luke and Paul stayed in Philip's home in Caesarea, where he lived with his four daughters, who prophesied.
“
Do you understand what you are reading?
Name means
“Lover of horses” (Greek)
Home
Jerusalem, later Caesarea
Role
One of the Seven; evangelist
Read in
Philip the evangelist's story
The chariot by the water
Beginning
One of the Seven
Chosen to serve so widows are not overlooked.
Low point
Scattered
Stephen is killed; the church flees Jerusalem.
High point
Much joy in that city
He preaches the Christ in Samaria.
Turning point
Go south
An angel sends him to a desert road.
High point
See, here is water
The Ethiopian believes and is baptized.
Ending
A home in Caesarea
He hosts Paul, with his four prophesying daughters.
Starts as a man who served tables. Ends as the evangelist.
Where Philip the evangelist lived and went
Only places Scripture records. Softer, dotted pins are traditional or uncertain sites. Tap a pin for the passage.
HomeMinistryKey momentTraditional or uncertainPinch or use + to zoom. Tap a cluster to spread it out.
How Philip the evangelist is wired
The Enthusiast
Enneagram 7, Loyalist wing
To share what is good and not miss it.
Scripture doesn't give us much here, so treat this as a best guess.
At their best, toward 5 Under stress, toward 1
Why we think so
1
Joy follows him. His preaching brings much joy to Samaria. ()
2
Quick to move. He rises and goes, then runs to the chariot. ()
3
Always on to the next place. He preaches in every town to Caesarea. ()
He works within the church's order as one of the Seven and stays connected to it. ()
The Investigator. He stops for one man on an empty road. ()
The Reformer. Little recorded.
Why so tentative
We see Philip in action, not in his own reflection. His readiness and joy fit a 7, but a dutiful servant's heart could fit a 2 or a 6.
Other lenses
Big Five. Read from what he says and does in the Gospels and Acts.
ReservedOutgoing
SteadyReactive
ChallengingAccommodating
SpontaneousDisciplined
TraditionalCurious
DISC style: Ready, warm, quick to go.
Strengths & struggles
What's good in Philip the evangelist
Good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom (). Went where he was sent at once (). Started from where people were (). Hospitable ().
Philip started with Isaiah's lamb and ended with Jesus.
The Ethiopian was reading: like a sheep he was led to the slaughter (; ). Who was the prophet talking about? Philip began with that very scripture and told him the good news about Jesus (). The servant who was silent before his shearers had opened the way for a foreigner to be welcomed.
Questions to sit with
1
Philip ran toward a stranger. Who is someone you could simply ask, What are you reading, or thinking about?
2
He went from a crowd to one man on a desert road. Are you willing to be sent to the one?
Study Philip the evangelist with your group
Ready-to-lead group studies with discussion questions and a leader's note are on the way.
