Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Paul is on his way to Jerusalem and he stopped at the house of Philip. While Paul was there, […]

Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
The Ethiopia eunuch was traveling when he came across Philip. The eunuch had Philip explain the scriptures to him. When the eunuch saw water, it was […]

Acts 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Philip was preaching in Samaria and God was blessing him. People were being saved and baptized by the work of his hands. The apostles heard […]

Acts 8:18-19 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Simon was a sorcerer from Samaria. Through the preaching of Philip, Simon was both saved […]

Acts 21:8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
In the early days of the growth of the New Testament church, there arose a problem that the widows […]

Acts 13:15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
Paul and Barnabas went to Antioch and they went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day. The leaders of […]

Acts 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
The Ethiopian eunuch could read, but that does not mean that he understood what he was reading. He was reading out of the book of Isaiah and he did […]

Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Philip had initially been told to go into the desert but was not told what to do. Upon reaching the desert, he saw the Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah. It was at this time that the Lord finally showed Philip why […]

Acts 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
In this passage we see Philip receiving direction from God. Philip was not told why he was going; all he knew was that he must […]

Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Simon had great understanding, but this understanding did not draw the attention of the people to God, instead, it drew the attention of the […]

Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Paul was in Caesarea at the house of Philip when a prophet named Agabus came and prophesied that Paul would be bound in Jerusalem. Upon hearing the word�s of Agabus, the disciples who were at Philip�s house begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Paul understood God�s direction for his life and he had already purposed to follow God�s direction regardless of the consequences that followed.

Paul loved being used of God and seeing the disciples desire him to stay when it was clear what God�s direction was for his life created a controversy in his mind. Paul requested that disciples not make it harder on him to do the will of God. Yes, the disciples had good intentions. They understood what would happen if Paul went to Jerusalem. They also understood all the good that Paul had done around the world. The disciples saw no reason why Paul should go to Jerusalem and thus voiced that opinion.

Acts 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he
preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Philip had just baptized the Ethiopian eunuch. Immediately after Philip
baptized him, the Spirit of the Lord took him away. Philip continued to
do what he had been doing prior to God leading him out to the desert by
preaching the good news everywhere he went.

Philip had just seen God use him in a mighty way. However, rather then
sit back and brag to others about how God used him, Philip was diligent
in continuing to serve God. Philip understood that he could not afford

Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture,
and preached unto him Jesus.

Philip was commanded by God to go into the desert. While he was in the
desert, he saw an Ethiopian eunuch passing by reading the prophet
Isaiah. God told Philip to join himself to the chariot and Philip
obeyed. Philip was invited to join the Ethiopian and he asked Philip
whether the prophet spoke of himself or of another. Philip took the
scriptures and shared the gospel. The Ethiopian eunuch was baptized that
very day.

The Ethiopian eunuch was spiritually ready to hear the truth. He had

Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles� hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Philip went to the city of Samaria. At Samaria there was a sorcerer named Simon. The people had been deceived by Simon and thought that he had power from God. When Philip preached the gospel of Jesus, the people including Simon believed. The apostles in Jerusalem heard that of the believers in Samaria and they sent Peter and John to give the people the Holy Ghost.

Simon may have been a newborn Christian but that does not mean that he had developed the mind of Christ and added virtue to his life. Simon was use to being a powerful figure in the town. Simon saw that there was power that Peter and John possessed that he desired. Rather than seek the Lord to change his heart and mind so that he too could be used of God, Simon reverted back to his old ways where he attempted to receive what he wanted by whatever means possible.

II Corinthians 10:15-16 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men�s labors; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man�s line of things made ready to our hand.

In these verses Paul teaches you a lesson in how to remain focused. Paul did not go around boasting of what other apostles were doing, but instead he stayed focused upon the people whom God had called him to. If Paul had chosen to boast about the success of Peter, James or Philip, all he really would have been doing was putting down the people who he was called to reach and implying to them that they just are not increasing their faith fast enough to suit him. He also might have been discouraged because he was not seeing as much progress as other apostles were obtain.

Instead, Paul remained focused upon one group so as to assist them in increasing their faith. Once Paul felt he was successful and that the church no longer needed his daily attention, then Paul would move out to a new area where the gospel had not been preached. Paul did not go and preach where other apostles had already gone but instead looked for new places so that the gospel would spread quickly.

Paul understood that in order to do as much work for the Lord as possible, he needed to go and find new people who had not heard. Upon finding this new group, he would stay with them and work with them until the job was complete, that is, until they had sufficient faith to understand the way that they should go.

By concentrating on one thing at a time, Paul was able to do great things for God. Paul had a vision of moving on, but he never moved on until he had finished what God had for him to do. Paul did not measure his success based upon others, nor did Paul try to steel other�s limelight by trying to share in the work that others had started. Paul desired to serve the Lord and instead was very careful to ensure that God�s will was done in his life.

What is the group that God has called you to minister unto? Understand that before you can expect God to increase your ministry, you must be faithful to HIM and finish the job that God has before you now. You need to be like Paul who worked tirelessly to ensure that the faith was increased of the group that he was working on before he moved on to another group. By staying focused you will be able to devote all of your energies to the task at hand. By staying focused your work can be completed.

By faith you understand God�s purpose for your life. By faith you will not focus upon what others are doing but instead will focus upon the results that you are obtaining for God. By faith you will not move onto a new ministry until the task before you has been completed. Once your job is complete, you are now ready for God to use you elsewhere.

What on earth are you doing for heaven�s sake? God desires that you understand your purpose and that you begin to fulfill that ministry so that HE might be magnified through your life. Remember to keep God�s purpose for your life as the main thing. Do not let the things of this world distract you from God�s purpose. There are many distractions that you can face, but your faith will be fulfilled as you remain focused on God�s plan.

Acts 21:10-11 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul�s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

Paul was at Philip the evangelist�s house. Philip was chosen along with Stephen as one who was to take care of widows. While there, Agabus came and foretold of what was going to happen to Paul in Jerusalem. The initial response was to persuade Paul to not go to Jerusalem. However, Paul rebuked them and told everyone that he was ready to die for Christ if that was God�s will. The disciples seeing that Paul had determined to go to Jerusalem began to say to Paul �The will of the Lord be done.�

Acts 8:26, 29 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. � Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

Philip heard God tell him that he was to go to Gaza. Philip did not know why, all he knew was that he was to go. Later when Philip saw the Ethiopian Eunuch reading the book of Isaiah, God spoke to him again that he was supposed to speak with the Ethiopian.

God did not give Philip perfect directions the first time. Rather then explain why HE wanted Philip to go into the desert, HE simply said, �go�. Philip not only heard the voice of God but he obeyed. Because he obeyed, God then was able to speak to him again and give him more specific direction as to why God had called him into the desert. Because Philip simply obeyed and did not ask questions, the gospel was spread down into Africa. Had Philip not obeyed God until HE explained Himself, God would not have used Philip to facilitate the spreading of the gospel to Africa.

Acts 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and may taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

Philip went down to Samaria and he preached to the people and he performed many miracles. Because of Philip�s demonstration of faith that he had power over unclean spirits and power over those who were sick, Philip�s words were heard and many believed and were baptized.

Philip�s words in conjunction with his faith brought many to God. Christ had given Philip power over the unclean spirits and over healing people. Philip did not waste this power; he obeyed God and used his authority to draw his listeners� attention to God.