The Holy Spirit In Philip

When they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Acts 8: 12

After the great persecution of the newly born Church, disciples were scattered all over the world. Philip, baptized with the Baptism of Jesus - the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire - has gone to Samaria. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. Acts 8: 4 – 5.

There, Philip, filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaims to all who will hear, the Good News of God’s Kingdom and the Powerful and Precious, Saving Name of Jesus. Philip is there alone, without any human companion, yet he joyfully, willingly and mightily witnesses to Messiah Jesus. How can that be? One disciple of Jesus, and not one of the famous, ‘Three’ either, stands by himself in a city of Samaria, a place where wonders, signs, and miracles are being performed, and he totally wins many for the Kingdom of God. What really is happening to Philip, as he is in this city of Samaria?

Before we speak more about Philip, here’s a bit of background about this Samaritan city. For quite some time, a sorcerer or magician, named Simon, held sway in that Samaritan city. He amazed the people with his magic and many believed in him and followed him. In fact, Simon boasted to the unsuspecting, gullible people that he was someone who was very great. We are told that all the people, both high and low, looked up to him, giving him high praise and honour as though he were a god. This is what they were saying, what Philip would have also heard, as he entered the city. This man is rightly called the Great Power of God. Acts 8: 10b.  They followed him as his disciples no doubt, for this sorcerer has amazed them for a long time with his magic. When Philip saw the magic of this servant of sorcery, and how the people were all blind to Living Truth about Jesus, the Holy Spirit used Philip mightily. He showed Himself in Philip as an accredited servant of His. Look at what the Spirit did in Philip and through Philip. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. Acts 8: 6 – 7. 

Note, the word I used, the word accreditation. When Philip went into Samaria, this was no planned mission. He was not sent there by the Church, on special mission, with the Church’s credentials or backing. He never heard about Simon the magic worker and decided to go there and confront him. No! Faith allows us to believe that as a man of the Spirit, Philip was led to Samaria with God’s accreditation, God’s confirming Power.

Doesn’t your mind take you back to Jesus and how Peter, in his own Spirit-filled preaching, speaks of God’s accreditation of Jesus? Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs. Acts 2: 22a. Don’t we see the same kind and manner of accreditation in Philip? Indeed, we can truthfully and boldly say that Philip was a man accredited by God to do miracles, wonders and signs in Samaria. With God’s own accreditation, Philip, on his own, I tell you, no human co-worker, not sent out with a group of believers, not even sent out in pairs, witnesses powerfully for Jesus.  

• In a city where, for quite some time, magic of the false is revered, there is blatant change, as Miracle of the Truth overpowers.

• In a place where people, witness first-hand, the supernatural workings of a man doing magic, there is unquestionable change. People are now witnessing, first-hand, the supernatural workings of a man performing miracles.

• In an area, where men and women of all standing and all walks of life, have been holding Simon as the Great Power of God, because he has bewitched them with his sorcery, Pure Light has overpowered the darkness of ignorance. People witness the Power of the One True Great God, as the Holy Spirit lavishly and freely, openly spreads out wide, His working Hand over that Samaritan city.

Philip, baptized with the Baptism of his Master and led by His Spirit to Samaria, is used mightily as a power-witness for the Risen Lord. Transformation, which takes place in the minds, hearts, thinking and ways of many is phenomenal, but what is even more amazing is how the one loquacious Simon, is now hushed. He is so captured by the Power of the Holy Spirit and all the wonders Philip is speaking and doing, he abandons all his magic and follows Philip everywhere. He still had much to learn. Albeit, many people truly believed and were baptized into the Name of Jesus.

This is what is recorded of the city. So there was great joy in that city. Acts 8: 8.

Only through the Holy Spirit!  Who can limit His work?