Article August 21, 1909 Issue

PHILIP THE EVANGELIST

SUE H. MIMS.

The very remarkable but quiet fidelity and healing work of Philip the evangelist have been somewhat overshadowed by the more brilliant records of the earlier disciples, and one incident of his career was so in advance of the times that the materialism of the age has ignored or misunderstood it. We read in Acts, eighth chapter: "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed." We then read that Philip, met the sorcerer called Simon, who was converted, and after he was baptized "continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." Our Leader tells us that Jesus "refuted all opponents with his healing power" (Science and Health, p.18), and in following him we too must refute the seeming antagonism of today by the healing works.

Next follows perhaps the most beautiful incident in all the recorded acts of the apostles: "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. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority ... was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet." Being still led of the Spirit, Philip joined himself to the eunuch in his chariot, and said unto him, "Understandest thou what thou readest?" And the eunuch then desired of Philip that he tell him of whom this Scripture was written. "Then Philip opened his mouth, ... and preached unto him Jesus." So far in this beautiful incident we see "the preparations of the heart" that enabled Philip to hear the divine voice directing him, "Arise and go. ... And he arose and went" in immediate and unquestioning obedience.

On page 77 of "Miscellaneous Writings" we are told what Philip's preaching to the eunuch meant, and it has often seemed to me that if our dear Leader had never written anything else than this one marvelous explanation of what it means "to believe," the world would still owe her unspeakable gratitude. In this one luminous page, with

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