Philip- almost "forgotten"-on purpose?
This past Sunday, my Bible class studied Acts 8. This account explores the evangelistic activity of Philip , one of 7 deacons who were appointed by the Apostles in Acts chapter 2. He is also known as the evangelist, first in Samaria, home of the "half breed" culture derived from the Assyrian invasion over 600 years before. It is possible that he was the Apostle Philip- perhaps the Hellenistic supervisor of the deacons who were to minister to the Greek widows...in any event, he was quite a minister in his own right. The class discussion centered around how the Gospel was breaking down barriers, of race, as it had to do with Samaritans, and of material gain and personal profit, in the story of "Simon Magus" the locally famous magician who had a "going concern magic business" among the Samaritans. Then the chapter includes Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch who was riding in his chariot, heading back home after having gone to Jerusalem on a