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Question from a friend of WordTruth Press:
>> Why were Jesus, Stephen, and Phillip considered famous Evangelists?
WordTruth Press Response:
I don't believe I have ever heard anyone single out these three as famous
evangelists. Certainly the list excludes other New Testament figures
such as Paul, Barnabas, Timothy who were famous evangelists in their own
right. Looking at the three you mentioned:
Jesus -- from a human perspective only, Jesus was a remarkable
evangelist who not only taught as no one else taught (having authority
of His own) with confirming miracles of healing, deliverance, power over
creation, and even resurrection of the dead. The land of Israel and
its surrounding nations heard of Jesus and His miracles.
Stephen -- Stephen was a tremendous witness within his community but
not really "famous" as I would think of the word. He was well-known
in Jerusalem but not beyond that. He was known as a man of God, filled
with the Holy Spirit. He was the first martyr for Jesus Christ recorded
in the book of Acts.
Phillip -- Definitely an evangelist who went out from Jerusalem with
the persecution of the church to evangelize the Judaean countryside.
Philip also was led to witness to the Ethiopian eunuch. Later, God
put him back in his evangelistic ministry. His daughters were prophetesses.
Since all three are found in the Bible, that may satisfy the term "famous".
But this is a rather curious list since only two of the three were evangelists
who went throughout the country proclaiming the gospel. Also, the
list leaves out many others who were perhaps more well-known than Phillip
and Stephen.
May the LORD Jesus Christ bless you with His wisdom and the courage
to follow Him!
Randy Lariscy :-)
President - WordTruth Press℠
Copyright 5/17/2000, Randy Lariscy.
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