Philip the evangelist

“On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.” (1) The journey from Ptolemais to Caesarea was a sea voyage of approximately 31 miles (50 km) to the south. While it is possible they traveled by land, it was most likely by sea. (a) The port of Caesarea was vast and easily accessible, even for large ships. (b) Caesarea was a port city built by Herod the Great, and its ruins remain to this day. (c) Paul and his companions appear to have arrived in Caesarea more than a week earlier than planned. This meant that there was no immediate need to head to Jerusalem to celebrate the festival, allowing them to stay in Caesarea for a few days. (2) Here, Philip the evangelist reappears after a long absence. The last time he was mentioned was in Acts 8:40: “But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.” (a) He is not the apostle Philip but Philip the evangelist. The phrase “one of the seven” refers to him being one of the seven deacons appointed in Acts 6:1-5. (3) Let us reflect on Philip’s ministry: (a) He served as one of the seven deacons in the Jerusalem church, ministering at the tables. (b) He was the first to evangelize the Samaritans. (c) He led the Ethiopian eunuch to salvation. (d) He settled in Caesarea (around 20 years earlier) and built a family there. He likely led the church in Caesarea. (e) This encounter between Paul and Philip is the first recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.

The four daughters

(1) Philip had four unmarried daughters who were gifted with the gift of prophecy. (2) During the time before the completion of the New Testament, the gift of prophecy was significant. This gift involved the ability to hear God’s voice and convey it to believers. From this passage, it is clear that the gift of prophecy was not limited to men. (3) Why does Luke introduce Philip’s four daughters, even though no specific prophecy is mentioned here? It is likely that during his stay in Caesarea, Luke obtained information about the early history of the church from these four daughters. Naturally, he must have also received information from Philip himself. (4) According to early tradition, Philip and his four daughters later moved to Hierapolis (in Asia Minor). In that city, it is said that the four daughters taught Papias about the early history of the Jerusalem church. Let us focus on the network of God’s kingdom. When we share the common goal of God’s glory, the network of His kingdom begins to function effectively. Let us also participate in it by using the gifts we have been given.