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Guidelines for one-to-one Evangelisation
Pat Collins C.M., a popular speaker and author, looks at the encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian in the Acts of the Apostles and reflects on what we can learn from this today
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Although the task of preaching the gospel is the responsibility of every baptized person, Scripture makes it clear that this task is entrusted in a special way to gifted individuals (Cf. Eph 4:11). In this article I want to look at the story of Philip and the Ethiopian in Acts 8:26-36 because we can all learn from it. Philip was a deacon, and his preaching in Samaria had been accompanied by “miraculous signs” Acts 8:6. I believe that Luke’s account of how he led the court official to faith provides us with a seven point template of how to engage in effective one-to-one evangelization. 1. Guidance - The first thing that Philip’s ministry teaches us is that evangelization has to be led by the Spirit rather than rational planning or a cheerless sense of duty. We are told that: “an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road, the desert road, that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza” Acts 8:26. In Greek the word for angel literally means messenger. It is possible that Philip received a prophetic word of guidance, either from another member of the community (Cf. Heb 13:2) or in personal prayer. One way or the other, he knew that “Unless the Lord builds the house, in vain do the labourers build” Ps 127:1. 2. Faith - To travel down the desert road didn’t make much sense, from a rational point of view, because it was the place where Philip was least likely to meet anyone. But when he listened to the voice of God he chose to walk by faith and not by sight. In doing so, he carried out the advice of Prov 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your understanding,” and Ps 37:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, commit your life to him, and he will act.” 3. Providence - As Philip walked down the road he saw a distinguished Ethiopian. Scripture scholars say he was from the upper Sudan or Egypt. Philip received guidance a second time when the Spirit said to him, “Go over to this chariot and join it” Acts 8:29. Clearly, this was a divinely ordained encounter, an example of how chronos, i.e. secular time, in which we experience our chronic problems, suddenly become kairos i.e. a sacred moment when the grace of the Lord is manifested in an efficacious way. 4. Attention - Just as Jesus paid undivided attention to the woman at the well of Samaria, Philip paid empathic attention to the stranger. Straight away he noticed that he had servants and fine clothes which indicated that he was a person of power, influence, and wealth. But it was also fairly obvious from his hairless face and high pitched voice that he had been cruelly castrated, probably in his youth. So despite all indications to the contrary, not only was he a lonely man who was unable to marry, he was also an outsider who was familiar with injustice and humiliation. He was reading Is 53:7-8 when Philip ran alongside and asked whether he understood the passage. He replied, “How can I unless someone guides me?” Acts 8:31. 5. Witnessing - Philip responded to the eunuch’s query by telling him that Isaiah had been talking about the suffering servant. Then beginning with Moses and going through all the prophets, he interpreted to him all the things in the scriptures about the Christ (Cf. Lk 24:27). No doubt he told him about the saving death and resurrection of Jesus and how he was willing to pour out his Spirit of love on all who believed in him. It is quite possible that Philip backed up what he said with his own testimony. As a result, the eunuch could see that Jesus had completely identified with his suffering and shame. Like him, Jesus had suffered injustice and had died in his prime without children. This was his moment of revelation. He began to experience the compassion of the humiliated Christ.
7. Aftermath - When this wonderful event came
to fruition, Philip disappeared in a way that is reminiscent of the
way Jesus disappeared following the breaking of bread on the road to
Emmaus (Cf. Lk 24:31). Like any good evangelist Philip continued to
spread the good news from Azotus to Cesarea. In Acts 21:8-9 we are told
that some time later he was living in Caesarea with his four unmarried
daughters who had the gift of prophecy. As for the court official, he
went on his way rejoicing. Even though he still had many miles to travel,
he had already reached his spiritual destination.
A few months ago a farmer told me a story that reminded me of Philip’s ministry in Acts. He was driving along a road when he felt that the Spirit was telling him to stop at a particular house and to knock at the door. The inspiration seemed unreasonable. He had no idea who lived in the house, and he didn’t know what he could say to the householder. The prompting was so insistent, however, that three miles down the road he did a U turn and drove back to the house. When he nervously knocked at the door, it was answered by a woman in black. Before he could speak, the woman exclaimed, “Thank God you are here!” She explained that she had buried her husband two weeks before. She had been sitting in her kitchen feeling desperately lonely. She had just cried out to God, “Please send me someone to talk to” when the farmer arrived. He listened to her story, shared his faith with her, and finally prayed that she would be comforted by the Holy Spirit. Then he continued his journey. By the way, his name was Philip.
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