Sabbath School lesson 10, 3rd quarter of 2015

1. Lesson 10 for September 5, 2015

2. There are four people in the New Testament
named Philip:
1. The son of Herod the Great. Tetrarch of Iturea
and Trachonitis from 4 BC until 34 AD (Luke 3:1).
2. Another son of Herod the Great. John the Baptist
accused his wife—Herodias—of abandoning Philip
and marrying Herod (Mark 6:17).
3. One of the apostles (Matthew 10:3).
4. Philip, “the evangelist” (Acts 21:8).
The “evangelist” had several positions within the Church:
Deacon
(Acts 6:5)
Preacher
(Acts 8:5)
Missionary
(Acts 8:26)
Evangelist
(Acts 8:40)
Host
(Acts 21:8)

3. DEACON
“And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they
chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit,
and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and
Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.” (Acts 6:5)
It is said that “there wasn’t anyone among them
[the Church in Jerusalem] who lacked.”
(Acts 4:34-37).
Nevertheless, a murmuring about unfair
distribution of food for the ones in need
emerged. The accusation was a serious one: the
Greek-speaking widows were being
discriminated.
The problem was solved by appointing seven
people to “deaconize” [Greek for “serve”]
tables (Acts 6:3).
“The more fully we are imbued with His Spirit,
the more earnestly we shall work for those
around us; and the more we do for others, the
greater will be our love for the work, and the
greater our delight in following the Master.”
E.G.W. (Colporteur Ministry, cp. 6, pg. 46)

4. “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria
and preached Christ to them.” (Acts 8:5)
Philip went down to Samaria because
of the persecution Saul began after
Stephen’s death.
He preached the Gospel with great
power in Samaria, despite the rift
between Jews and Samaritans.
That preaching resulted in many
Samaritans accepting Jesus as their
Savior and being baptized (Acts 8:12).
“Not upon the ordained minister only
rests the responsibility of going forth
to fulfill this commission. Everyone
who has received Christ is called to
work for the salvation of his fellow
men.” E.G.W. (The Acts of the Apostles, cp. 11, pg. 110)
PREACHER

5. “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise
and go toward the south along the road which goes down
from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is desert.” (Acts 8:26)
After being baptized, the treasurer went his way rejoicing. He was
willing to announce the Good News in Africa.
Philip fulfilled Jesus’
Great Commission in Acts
1:8. He was a witness in
Judea (as a deacon), in
Samaria (as a preacher)
and to the end of the
earth (as a missionary to
the Ethiopian).
He followed Jesus’
example on the road to
Emmaus (Luke 24:27).
Philip taught a complete
Bible study to the
Ethiopian eunuch.
MISSIONARY

6. E.G.W. (The Acts of the Apostles, cp. 11, pg. 109)

7. EVANGELIST
“But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing
through, he preached in all the cities till he
came to Caesarea.” (Acts 8:40)
The Holy Spirit carried Philip to Azotus
[Ashdod] to continue his mission
(Acts 8:39).
He then travelled 100 Km
(62 miles) in an evangelistic campaign all
over the Mediterranean coast of Israel.
“The Lord’s agencies must be wholly
consecrated to His service, that they may
be quick to understand their work. As
wise stewards they must take advantage
of every circumstance to teach the grace
of God and draw people to Christ.”
E.G.W. (Christ Triumphant, October 28)

8. “On the next day we who were Paul’s companions
departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of
Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and
stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters
who prophesied.” (Acts 21:8-9)
Philip’s Christian character is shown in
those verses. He was forgiving, hospitable,
evangelist and a good family man.
Paul (the old Saul) voted to kill Stephen who
was Philip’s mate. Nevertheless, Philip
hosted him 25 years later.
Philip was one of the first seven deacons.
Now he was known as “the evangelist”
because of his tireless work in spreading the
Gospel.
HOST

9. E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, cp. 2, pg. 20)