Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
From Caesarea, a place where the echoes of the Gospel's reach blend with the roar of the Mediterranean, I send you greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose story of salvation continues to be written in our lives each day. As Philip, once a servant in Jerusalem, now a herald in Caesarea, my journey with Christ has been marked by both tumult and triumph, each moment a testament to His unfailing grace and power.
Our Lord’s ways are indeed marvelous and His pathways beyond tracing out. Reflecting on the unfolding of the Gospel in Samaria, and my subsequent encounters, including the profound moment with the Ethiopian eunuch, I am continually reminded of the scripture, “The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).
After the heartbreaking martyrdom of Stephen, under whose service I was first appointed, many of us were scattered like seeds by a fierce wind of persecution. It was during this time, driven from Jerusalem and finding myself in Samaria, that I witnessed the Spirit of God moving with astonishing power. In that city, once divided by ancient hostilities, the message of Jesus Christ blossomed into a vibrant community of faith. Here was clear proof that the Gospel transcends all barriers, reaching hearts prepared by God.
Peter and John soon joined me, and together we saw the Holy Spirit fall on new believers, just as He had upon us at Pentecost. What joy it was to witness the barriers of old prejudices and historical animosities collapse under the weight of God’s transforming love!
The Spirit then guided me to a desert road south of Jerusalem, where I met a seeker from Ethiopia. This man, a treasurer under Queen Candace, was returning from worshiping in Jerusalem. Engrossed in the prophecy of Isaiah, he was led by the Spirit to invite me into his chariot. There, unfolding the scriptures, I spoke to him of Jesus, in whom all prophecies find their fulfillment. His heart opened, he believed, and at his request, I baptized him right there in the wilderness. What happened next was nothing short of miraculous—I was suddenly carried by the Spirit to Azotus, and from there, I preached my way to my current home in Caesarea.
Here in Caesarea, I have settled with my daughters, who prophesy, and together we serve a growing community of believers. This city, a crossroads of nations and a hub of Roman administration, has become a fertile ground for the Gospel. It is from here that I write to you, urging you to stand firm in the faith and to spread the good news with boldness and humility.
I encourage each of you to trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit, for He will guide you into all truth and empower you for every good work. Let your lives be a testament to the grace of God, as you love one another, serve the needy, and proclaim the risen Christ. Be assured that in every challenge, God’s grace is sufficient for you, and His power is made perfect in weakness.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. May your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with your spirit. Amen.
With all affection in Christ,
Philip, a servant of the Gospel in Caesarea
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