Philip, Ananias and Barnabas

Three Disciples and their Ministries

Three Bible Studies in Acts 8 and 9

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

EVANGELISM,
AFFIRMATION
and
ENCOURAGEMENT

Such ministries are carried out against the background of great turmoil and suffering at a
time when the parameters of world evangelism and mission were being laid down.
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

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 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?

 The nature of his message

 The strategy of his ministry
 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.

1
And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the
2
apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and
3
mourned deeply for him. 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.

There are miracles and signs. The people listen to Philip and believe and are baptised.
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
2
right. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon the people. Some like Simon misunderstood
the miraculous part of that work.

So there are aspects of the work in Samaria that are done by Philip independently, and there
are other things that had to be done by the leadership. No doubt this reinforced the
growing ideas of leadership and rule in the church. The work of evangelism was
something that Philip had been specifically directed to. When we look to see what the
content of his ministry was we need to distinguish between his role and that of the apostles,
and we need to infer from the passage the kinds of thing he must have taught.

 HIS MESSAGE : "proclaimed the Christ" v5

"the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of
Jesus Christ. . ." v12

". . . accepted the word of God" v14

It was CHRIST CENTRED

It was GOOD NEWS

It was about a new KINGDOM

It also resulted in Baptisms

Was accompanied by SIGNS

 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

 THE RESULTS "great joy in that city" v 8

Prominent people and ordinary people believing and baptised

Many healed.

THE ETHIOPIAN

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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.

 The message

It begins with the Word of God

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.

I don't suppose we can imagine a more hopeful situation for personal gospel sharing!

It continues with explanation

Of course there are instances where the Word itself is the means of conversion - but in this
instance the only text was Old Testament - the New is being written as they speak!

The Word needs explanation - not because it is especially difficult - but because it must
lead to Jesus.

Can you explain the Word - and how it relates to Jesus?

It focussed on the Cross

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."

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 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

[Note on the recension in the passage the NIV omits v 37, placing it in the margin
with an explanatory note. This is a reflection of the textual evidence for the words
which we miss from the AV.]

Philip issues a challenge, explains Scripture, answers questions and responds to the request
for baptism.

 Strategy

Philip is promptly responsive to the directions of God.

He is in a place where he cane be MOVED by the Spirit.

So the strategy is God's - but it requires obedience from Philip. Timing was crucial.

Philip begins where the Ethiopian is, and moves on to where he should be.

Philip's ministry takes the Word of God and applies it through Jesus the Word to the
Ethiopian's need.

He is ready to leave the Ethiopian as soon as the Lord directs.

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 be where God can move him

* To share God's word so that Jesus is known
* To continue with God into joy and new ministriesi

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 Results

This is the same as for the Samaritans - *joy*

The Messageii renders it so : He didn't mind.

He had what he'd come for and went on down the road
as happy as he could be. 

It is surely unthinkable that the Ethiopian would not have re-read the book of Isaiah.
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.

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 ANANIAS
The Hands of Jesus
Acts 9

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.

In Chapter 9 Saul is converted. In the well-known and frequently alluded to narrative he

sees a bright light and hears Jesus speaking to him. But the work is not complete in him
either until hands have been laid on him.

Luke makes it clear to us that the work of God in these chapters is completed in such ways.
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.

We do not read into the texts a rule concerning laying on of hands - but an understanding
that the Church is made up of those who repent and believe, are baptised in His name, and
receive the Holy Spirit.iii

The ministry of Ananias then is in completing the Lord's converting work in Saul. His task,
which he is reluctant to carry out at first, is to lay hands on Saul that he may receive his
sight and his commission. It is also worth noting that in the case of Saul baptism comes
last in the sequence. (Ac 918) As we saw last time, the ministry of Philip the Evangelist
was partial - so was that of Ananias : a different part in the same process of finding the
Lord.

Later, when he tells of his experience, Paul reports in these words:

12
Acts 22 "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

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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.

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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

 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!

 WITH A PROFOUND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF GOD

a. ready to hear God's call - and how clear and detailed it was …

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 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?

 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!
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 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.

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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,

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In all of these narratives God was using Barnabas' particular personality. He moulded the
way Barnabas the    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

 He made himself available

 He exercised a special ministry

 He became involved in missionary enterprise

 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.

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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.

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(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

25Then 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.

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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.

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NOTES

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i
See Sermon on this passage 5 Sep 1999 Bristol Road Baptist.
ii
The Message by Eugene H Peterson - Navpress
iii
Here then is a basic principle of true conversion. You can come to saving faith in Christ, as Saul did, all by yourself
through personal acceptance of Jesus as Lord. But if that faith is genuine, it will lead to acceptance of the Lord’s people.
I can be interested in birds without going anywhere near the local bird-watchers’ society. Indeed, I can refuse to have
anything to do with its members, and still be a very good bird-watcher myself. But I cannot genuinely accept Christ and
refuse to have anything to do with his people. They are his disciples, his saints, they call on his name; and in giving the
Holy Spirit to each one of them he unites them all in one body (cf. 1 Cor. 1:2, 12:13). 1 cannot receive that Holy Spirit
and refuse to be a member of that body. I cannot claim to love the Lord Jesus and refuse to love his saints. I cannot
claim to be identified with him and refuse to be identified with his people. D. Gooding "True to the Faith" p157

iv
Campbell Morgan "Acts" p.183
v
Sermon of 21 Feb 1993.