Philip, Ananias and Barnabas
Three Disciples and their Ministries
Three Bible Studies in Acts 8 and 9 at Waterloo Hall
General
Introduction
This is a highly significant passage in the history of the early Church - it sets out the part played by smaller characters at the time of Paul's conversion and the opening of the Gospel to the Gentiles. PHILIP is seen taking the word to Samaria and, specifically for our study, to the Ethiopian officer. ANANIAS is seen as the hands of Christ in the conversion of Paul, and BARNABAS as the ministry of encouragement in that same conversion.
We have the ministries of
AFFIRMATION
and
ENCOURAGEMENT
How much did the early apostles plan? Did they plan at all?
Imponderable issues underscore the text but the methods they adopted
and the strategies they used are clear.
David A. Green BD
PHILIP
the EVANGELIST
Acts Chapter 8
We are straight into demons being cast out. This narrative is marked, as so many passages in the early chapters of Acts are marked, by examples of spiritual conflict and triumph. The believing Samaritan community witnesses relief from spiritual bondage.
Simon, a prominent character from the old spiritual landscape, professes belief but clearly has not understood the real significance of the gospel and of the Holy Spirit's power.
As a result of such happenings the senior members of the evangelistic team come to review Philip's ministry. It is interesting to speculate how Philip would have felt at that inspection.
Without further ado the Spirit redirects Philip and the second narrative is a detailed account of personal evangelism.
What can we learn about Philip and his ministry from these verses?
v The nature of his message
v The strategy of his ministry
v The results of his work
THE SAMARITANS
We are not told why Philip chose Samaria as his "field" - perhaps he was sent there by the apostles. All we know is that it too was part of the general explosion of personnel and ministry as a result of the persecution.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
It is instructive that these movements in church development were led by other disciples than the apostles. It is inconceivable that they would not have had a part in the scattering, for they remained at Jerusalem in spite of it and exercised an oversight from the capital. But the ministry was Philip's. We shall see that again in the case of Ananias & Barnabas.
Simon is given as an example of a prominent conversion - and because he clearly was not yet "right before God". When Peter and John come from Jerusalem these matters are put right. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon the people. Some like Simon misunderstood the miraculous part of that work.
"the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of
Jesus Christ. . ." v12
It was about a new KINGDOM
It also resulted in Baptisms
Was accompanied by SIGNS
v HIS
STRATEGY "went
down and proclaimed...." v5
It was a SIMPLE method - he spoke about Christ and the kingdom and the good news, and his words were accompanied by miraculous signs as Jesus had promised
It was NOT THE WHOLE MINISTRY for the Samaritans - others would come after him and deal with the limitations of experience or understanding. That is reassuring. There is no hint that the apostles' coming was resented at all by Philip.
It was POWERFUL
v THE RESULTS "great joy in that city" v 8
Prominent people and ordinary people believing and baptised
Many healed.
THE ETHIOPIAN
This narrative (vv
26 - 40) is given in more detail and it
reveals much more of the content of Philip's ministry and his strategy with the
individual.
Notice that we know from this passage that God had been at work in
the life of the Ethiopian before his contact with Philip.
Evangelism is rarely if ever carried out without the Lord having
already been busy in the life of the new disciple.
Timing - essential to the narrative - is overseen by the Holy Spirit, and an angel of the Lord gives Philip his explicit instructions. It is a gem of a story that sets out many of the fundamental principles of personal evangelism.
Then
Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you
understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.
31
"How
can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip
to come up and sit with him.
It continues with explanation
Can you explain the Word - and how it relates to Jesus?
32
The
eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:
"He
was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and
as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
so
he did not open his mouth.
33
In
his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who
can speak of his descendants?
For
his life was taken from the earth."
34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
As an aside - the version used was the LXX.
It is characterised by
dialogue
This is not a one-sided speech.
Philip is able to answer questions, to explain the Prophet Isaiah, and bring the
Ethiopian to the cross.
Notice the questions : Do you understand? 30
Who is the prophet talking about? 34
Why shouldn't I be baptised? 36
with an explanatory note. This is a reflection of the textual evidence for the words
which we miss from the AV.]
v Strategy
39
When
they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the
eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
* To share God's word so that Jesus is known
* To continue with God into joy and new ministries
He had what he'd come for and went on down the road
as happy as he could be. J
And how many insights would he have who traditionally took the Gospel into a country where Christianity has its ancient story in the Coptic Church.
03/02/2001
ANANIAS
The
Hands of Jesus
We saw in our first study how that after Philip had preached to the Samaritans, and they had turned to Christ and been baptised, Peter and John came to see them, and, as a result hands were laid on them and they received the Holy Spirit. That marked the completion of the work of conversion in them.
The Hands of God to Saul are in fact the hands of an otherwise unknown disciple - Ananias. We see the Church of Christ enlarged in such ways. Repentance and faith of course are essential - but in these narratives the work of the Holy Spirit is subject to the laying on of hands.
Later, when he tells of his experience, Paul reports in these words:
Acts 22 12
"A
man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected
by all the Jews living there. 13
He
stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I
was able to see him
The first thing I notice about Ananias is that he is an ordinary disciple. He is described in that way :
10
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias.
As Campbell Morgan puts it
"In simple
address, with nothing in it that was official with all brotherliness and in simple
obedience, he put his hands upon him and said to him "Saul, brother. . .""[iv]
Paul adds to it :
He
was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there
That which is immediately significant is that he was an
ordinary disciple - in the right place at God's time.
HOW
WOULD PAUL HAVE PERCEIVED HIM AT THE TIME?
Saul is blind. Staying
at the house of Judas in Straight Street Damascus - probably a residence arranged for the
High Priest's envoy. Records suggest that there was a row of
houses of just such significance in the city.
Only in a vision does he see him "a man named Ananias
come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
v 12
So he is waiting - in the dark - knowing that Jesus has
met him and that Jesus was sending someone to restore his sight.
Someone comes in and places his hands on Saul and says
"Brother Saul the Lord Jesus who appeared to you … ha sent me so that you may
see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Imagine what that touch and those words would have meant
to Saul.
Later Paul will say
"He stood beside me and said Brother Saul receive
your sight! and at that very moment I was able to see him" Ac. 22 13.
CHRIST met Saul personally on the Damascus Road
- but he intended to heal him and empower him and warn him - through a disciple named
Ananias.
WE too may share a similar ministry. Having a share in the
ministry of care and affirmation - to complete part of His wonderful work in another life.
How wonderful to be able to reach out to another whom
Christ has redeemed to Himself and in the darkness and uncertainty to touch and bring
sight! To be the hands of a disciple - the hands of Our Lord.
Luke tells us in a few verses how that came about : how an
ordinary but godly disciple became the hands
of Christ to Paul.
CONSIDER
THE WAY THAT ANANIAS CAME TO LAY HANDS ON SAUL
1. Part of God's plan
2. With a personal experience of his Lord
3. Proving to be the hands of God
v PART OF GOD'S PLAN
a. in Damascus
all the ordinariness of another disciple in these words - someone nearby - but someone near God
b. called by name
c. part of someone else's vision!
What a profound kind of Christian fellowship - to share Saul's vision - to be part of God's answer to another's prayers!
Ananias, as Paul tells us later, was a godly Hebrew believer whom God intended to use for the touch and healing of Paul
to be part
of His plan!
v WITH A PROFOUND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF GOD
a. ready to hear God's call - and how clear and detailed it was …
11
The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a
man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man
named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
b. willing to voice his misgivings
Verses 13 and 14 are most suggestive. They show us how this disciple reacted to the danger implicit in his instructions
"Lord I have heard many reports . . ." And all of them bad!
Ananias has such a natural relationship with his Lord.
God's work often seems fraught with danger : only if God is sending can Ananias be sure of safety - otherwise it would have been an act of singular folly.
Have you heard God's voice calling?
directing?
Have you also heard many reports and all of them bad?
GOD'S REPLY WAS MOST DIRECT
The NIV exclamation mark points it up!
v 15 "GO! . . . with the assurances added
MY chosen instrument
MY name
I will show quite reminiscent of Moses?
v PROVING TO BE THE HANDS OF GOD
"Then
… went to … entered it. Placing
his hands on Saul he said "Brother Saul … the Lord Jesus has sent me
…" vv 17-19
You could sum up Ananias' ministry in these phrases :
MY hands
MY brother
MY Lord
GO!
BARNABAS
Encouragement
Our third and final study in the three disciples whose influence is traced in these chapters of Acts is of Barnabas - known affectionately as the "Son of Consolation". His particular ministry is worked out against the background of a newly baptised and vigorous Paul whose position in the Church is being regarded with understandable scepticism and fear.
The Church continues to need the ministry of encouragement and I dare say that all of us can testify to its value.
What does it take to convince the church that a new convert is genuine?
Saul, whose energies had been tireless in the persecution of Christians, now becomes equally enthusiastic for the proclamation of the gospel. But he has an image problem. He is seen and known as the persecutor.
20
At
once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21
All
those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who caused havoc in
Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as
prisoners to the chief priests?" 22
Yet
Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that
Jesus is the Christ.
Two contradictory influences were at work in Saul - his new zeal, fired by the Holy Spirit, and his old reputation, stoked by public opinion.
These verses show us the intellect and enthusiasm of Saul being directed in the cause of Christ - "proving that Jesus is the Christ". That had been the heart of his conversion - calling upon Jesus as Lord. Let no one doubt the genuineness of his conversion - but doubt it they did!
23
After
many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24
but
Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order
to kill him. 25
But
his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the
wall.
Not only does he have problems
with his new brothers and sisters in Christ - but now he becomes the focus of hatred from
his previous life-long allies the Jews. This
took time. Luke does not say how long. We can well imagine that the Jews too needed some
convincing that Saul was a changed man! But
when they did their venom was certain.
No doubt to his relief - but also
some possible humiliation - Saul is lowered through an opening in the Damascus city wall. I suspect many people breathed a sigh of relief
when he was gone!
26
When
he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not
believing that he really was a disciple.
At Jerusalem Saul had the same
problem all over again!
The Christian Church is supposed
to be an affirming, welcoming group - especially sensitive to the needs of new believers. It is a place where you would expect to be
accepted as you are. Yet for Paul in these
early days it was a place of fear and disbelief. If you have read the ending of Mark you
will know that fear is a very common word amongst the post resurrection believers.
What Paul needed - and what we
often need - is someone who will speak on their behalf.
That is the ministry of BARNABAS.
In Acts 4 36 this man is introduced as a wealthy Levite who shared his property in Cyprus
with the believers. His proper name was Joseph - but the disciples called him Son of
Encouragement.
36 Joseph,
a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of
Encouragement), 37 sold
a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
In the chapter before us he
introduces Saul to the apostles at Jerusalem.
In Acts 11 25 Barnabas goes off
to Tarsus to bring back Paul to Antioch. They become companions in the work of mission.
25
Then
Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
26 and
when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met
with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians
first at Antioch.
When they are back in Antioch
after the first missionary journey, they have a sharp disagreement about John Mark, and
they separate.
Acts
15:37
37 Barnabas
wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,
38 but
Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had
not continued with them in the work.
39 They
had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for
Cyprus,
In all of these narratives God was using Barnabas'
particular personality. He moulded the way Barnabas the uios
paraklhsews (son of paraklesis) was into a
special ministry of encouragement - a ministry close to the heart of God - a ministry of
paraklesis - just like that of the Holy Spirit.
In surveying the work of Barnabas, in the chapter before
us and elsewhere I suggest the following points :-[v]
v He made himself available
v He exercised a special ministry
v He became involved in missionary enterprise
v He spoke up for the criticised
HE MADE HIMSELF
AVAILABLE
36 Joseph,
a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of
Encouragement), 37 sold
a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
(a)
He made HIMSELF available
Consider you own personality - in what ways can you
help others? Can you encourage?
Can you see the positive side of others and bring them
into the work and fellowship of the Church?
Don't despise the way you are - let God use you.
(b)
He made his possessions available
He sold a field and put the money at the disposal of
the Christian community. In his case it
involved stewardship.
( c)
He got a reputation for good work
They gave him a deserved and precious nickname.
HE EXERCISED A
SPECIAL MINISTRY
Saul of Tarsus was not proving acceptable. His past reputation was getting in the way - even though there was clear evidence of a changed life. Someone was needed to bring together
to encourage
to overcome prejudice and fear
26
When
he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not
believing that he really was a disciple. 27
But
Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey
had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached
fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28
So
Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of
the Lord.
(a) He
recognised God at work in Saul
(c) He
recognised the misunderstanding of others
(d) He
reinforced Saul's own testimony
If you ever want a good reference get one like Barnabas - he knows the need, he recognises God at work in others and he can speak up on their behalf.
HE GOT INVOLVED IN
MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE
Acts
11:25
25
Then
Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, (NIV)
26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
In Acts 11 when there was work to do at Antioch - Barnabas was sent.
22 News of this reached the ears of the
church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence
of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with
all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy
Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
(a) Here you see his ministry in
a local church
23 When he arrived and saw the evidence
of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with
all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy
Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
Don't we need such?
He saw the evidence of grace
was
glad
encouraged
them all
(b) But he also recognised the need
for help - and remembered Saul
25
Then
Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, (NIV)
26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Searched him out
brought him to
Antioch
worked with him
and the church
(c) He got involved in missionary enterprise
Acts 13
2 While they were worshipping the
Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the
work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and
prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
HE OVERCAME
DISAGREEMENT
It is a classic passage - revealing as it does the tensions of life in the Early Church
Acts 15
36 Some time later Paul said to
Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached
the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also
called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to
take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the
work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement
that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left,
commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
Just because he is noted for his work of encouragement does not mean that he always deferred to others. Opinions are divided as to who was "right" in this instance.
Whereas before he had spoken up for Saul - now he speaks up for Mark.
Paul had pointed out Mark's failure at Pamphylia
Barnabas saw a young man with promise despite that.
SOMETIMES our ministry will separate us from others - but that isn't a general rule.
It would be a strange faith that did not address the differences as well as the agreements!
To the last Barnabas' ministry was one of encouragement
We need such ministry in the church.
- make yourself available
- exercise a ministry of encouragement
- get involved in mission
- overcome disagreement . . .
Be a Barnabas!
So in conclusion we have witnessed the different ministries of
Philip
Ananias
and
Barnabas
There is room for a wide range of ministries in the Lord's work.
Make sure you have yours.
David
A Green BD October 1999
NOTES