Articles
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
Philip the evangelist, like Jesus, was not a respecter of persons. He showed no partiality or disdain for any man.
This, in spite of the fact that he encountered all kinds of men, some whom many would love and some that most would despise. He helped the poor Grecian widows (Acts 6). He preached to a mongrel race of people that was a mix of the Ten Tribes and heathen immigrants — the Samaritans (Acts 8). They were held to mockery by many. We are expressly told that Jews had no dealings with Samaritans (John 4:9). Calling someone a “Samaritan” was to belittle and ridicule him as the scum of the earth. That’s why the Jews called Jesus a “Samaritan” and said he possessed a demon (John 8:48). But Philip worked among them and converted many to Christ. He even converted a popular charlatan of his time, Simon the sorcerer. Later, he converted a government dignitary, the Ethiopian nobleman (Acts 8). He was a good man who raised his family well (Acts 21:9).
A Loss of Close Friends
One of Philip’s co-laborers was Stephen, also a truly good man and the first martyr for the faith that we have on record (Acts 6:5). Not everyone has experienced the same joy over Christianity as those who first embraced it (Acts 2:41). What a great cause for dismay to know that some hated Christ and his followers to the point that they would murder his disciples. It surely struck home as one of the saddest moments in Philip’s life when Stephen, his co-worker, was put to death for being a Christian. The grief in a community at the untimely death of a good man is always great. But it is most intense when injustice and violence bring about that death. Undoubtedly, Philip was among those “devout men who made great lamentation over him” (Acts 8:2).
Things Got Worse
Saul of Tarsus was a villain among villains. Not only was he personally involved in Stephen’s death, he had unleashed a city-wide persecution against the church. He was not your average, nominal Jew, but had an unsurpassed zeal for exterminating Christians, whether men or women (Acts 9:1, 2). He dragged some from their homes, injuring them, and imprisoned many saints who were put to death. Saul’s vote helped bring that about (Acts 8:3; 26:10). He openly and publicly punished them in all thesynagogues and persecuted them even to foreign cities. He “strove to make them blaspheme,” which means he tortured them (Acts 26:11). If he would do this to Stephen and many others, would he not have done the same to Philip and his family?
A Time to Flee
It was because of this fierce persecution that Christians in Jerusalem had to flee for their lives and were scattered abroad. Imagine the difficulty of uprooting your family and leaving your home and most of your belongings behind. What a terrible thing to happen in your homeland and community! What would be your feeling toward the person that had caused all these problems? What if you could just get hold of this person?
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?!
Meanwhile, perhaps twenty years later, Philip has still not returned to his home in Jerusalem. It probably was not even there or was possessed by someone else. Justice was scarce for Christians. He now lives in the seacoast town of Caesarea (Acts 21:8). It is there that he has an unexpected visitor. None other than Saul of Tarsus! He has eight men with him, including the writer of the narrative (Acts 20:4). It is doubtful that they called ahead! They didn’t just pop in for quick snack, for they stayed several days (21:10, 15). What great hosts were Philip and his family! We could use such lessons on hospitality. Try to imagine what it would be like to feed at your table the man who had been the church’s worst enemy — the one who had caused years of turmoil and tremendous heartaches for you, your family, and close friends! What thoughts would have filled your mind? Imagine him staying in your home for days! How could you sleep? What might you be tempted to do while he slept?
A Heart of Gold
None of these things bothered Philip, though it would be hard not to cross his mind. He had captured the real meaning of being a Christian. Saul had been converted. Philip was in the group who heard from the prophet Agabas what was about to happen to Paul. One would not be surprised if Philip simply didn’t care what happened to Paul. But he was a Christian in all that term means or implies. And he was caught up in the problem that Paul was facing. He was among those whom Paul asked, “What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart?” (21:10-13). It is probable that he was among those who accompanied Paul to Jerusalem (21:15, 16).
Following the example and teaching of Jesus was what made Philip the great man that he was. It will do the same for you. And who would you be willing to have over for dinner?
~Dick Blackford <http://www.truthmagazine.com/archives/volume46/08_Apr%2018.pdf>
