Philip is the only person in the New Testament explicitly named the evangelist
Euangelistes (Εὐαγγελιστής , “one who announces good news”) appears three times in the New Testament: in Ephesians 4:11 as one of the five offices, in Acts 21:8 identifying Philip by that title, and in 2 Timothy 4:5 where Paul instructs Timothy to do the work of an evangelist. Philip is the model. His name in Greek means lover of horses (philos + hippos). His first assignment in Acts 8 sent him to Samaria, territory observant Jews avoided, to preach Christ.
The word
| Term | Greek | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| euangelistes | εὐαγγελιστής | one who announces good news |
| euangelion | εὐαγγέλιον | good news; the message announced |
| euangelizo | εὐαγγελίζω | to proclaim the good news |
Philip
Acts 8 gives the office its clearest demonstration. Philip went to Samaria, preached Christ, and signs followed. The city responded. Peter and John came from Jerusalem to pray for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The angel of the Lord redirected Philip south toward Gaza, where he found the Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah 53 in his chariot. Philip explained the text, the man believed, Philip baptized him in roadside water, and the Spirit carried him to Azotus. He preached through every city until reaching Caesarea.
By Acts 21:8 Philip was settled in Caesarea with four daughters who all prophesied. He is the only NT figure whose children are specifically identified as operating in a spiritual gift. The office defines the household.