Do me a favor please. Jump in your bibles to the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 8.

"The Spirit said to Philip, "Go and join up with that chariot." 30 9 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 He replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. 32 This was the scripture passage he was reading: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 33 In (his) humiliation justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth." 34 Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, "I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him. 36 As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?" 37 10 38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea."

We should note two great details in this Chapter! 1) The Spirit was not with the eunuch, who had not been baptised into the Church. And as such - When Philip (a priest) asked if he understood - he said "how can I unless someone instructs me". Now if this eunuch couldn't understand a part of the "Bible" without a Catholic priests instructions, how does any non-Catholic claim to "understand" the Bible (like a private interpritation) without instruction?

Also note the last sentence: "Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea."

Here again we see that familiar "until"! This is the same "until" that was used in the Gospel account of the birth of Jesus! You know which one, right? Mary didn't have any children "until" her first born, Jesus... or something along that line. Well if we took it to mean what we think it means (in English), we would then agree that Mary HAD more children after Jesus. But then we MUST also take "until" in the Acts to mean that Philip STOPPED proclaiming the good news once he reached Caesarea. But he didn't stop. That isn't what the "until" meant. And likewise, Mary did NOT have any more children, because the "until" didn't mean the same thing!

Interesting, eh?

In Christ.

-- Jake Huether (jake.huether@lamrc.com), August 29, 2002

Answers

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-- Jake Huether (jake.huether@lamrc.com), August 29, 2002.

In Jake Huether's comments about the Ethiopian eunuch passage in Acts 8, I think he erred slightly in calling Philip a "priest". The Philip mentioned in that passage is what we traditionally call a deacon (although not explicitly so called in this biblical text). The potential confusion is intensified in that there are two men named Philip around in the texts.

One of the members of the Twelve Apostles was named Philip. In the Gospels According to Matthew, Mark and Luke and in Luke's Acts of the Apostles he appears only in the lists of the Twelve (or Eleven in Acts since the list is before Judas' successor is appointed). In the Gospel According to John, Philip plays a named part in chapters 1, 6, 12, and 14.

In the Acts of the Apostles there is another Philip, not one of the apostles. He is one of the Seven [deacons] chosen in Acts 6:5. He plays a part in the evangelization of Samaria and in the Baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. In Acts 8:40 this Philip ends up in Caesarea. [The actual Greek word for "deacon" does not occur in the Acts passage, although the corresponding verb and the noun for the diaconal ministry do.]

Nothing more is mentioned about Philip until later in Acts when there is a passing reference (in one of the famous "we" passages of Acts): "{Acts 21:8}On the next day we resumed the trip and came to Caesarea, where we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him. {9}He had four virgin daughters gifted with prophecy."

Nothing more is mentioned about Philip's prophetess daughters than this verse. The reference to "of the Seven" clearly points to the "deacon" Philip rather than the Apostle.

-- Edward Pothier (EdwardPothier@aol.com), August 29, 2002.

Thanks Edward for pointing that out! I was wondering whether or not he was the Apostle or one of the seven, but your response clarifies it.

Nonetheless, I think that this account points out to us that personal interpretation of the Bible is impossible if not dangerous. We NEED guidance from those who are taught in the line of Apostolic succession – only found in the Catholic Church, and taught through the Magisterium. Although Philip was a deacon, his education came from the Apostles, and his inspiration came by the Power of the Holy Spirit!

Thanks again.

In Christ.

-- Jake Huether (jake.huether@lamrc.com), August 29, 2002.

Hello, Jake H.

I think that you may enjoy reading this thread, which delves into the topic of "until" at some length.

God bless you.
John
PS: Don't forget that deacons, like St. Philip are ordained men who have been given special powers to preach, beyond those of us laity.

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 29, 2002.

Thanks, John!

I'm taking off from work right now, but I'll read it when I get home.

I don't want to sound like I'm an anti-Protestant. I truly love many of them, and find their zeal for the Word of God unmatched. Yet it bothers me that somethings like this (i.e. John 6, the "until" in the Acts, Philip teaching, ect. the list goes on) can be SO clear and Catholic, but are completely missed, as it appears, by our Protestant brothers and sisters. Every time I open the Bible I read something new that confirms our Catholic faith, and at the same time serves to discredit some Protestant misnomers. While many of the Protestants are shouting how anti-Christian we are, by simply reading the Bible and seeing how "Catholic" it is, I am coming to understand just how Satan has worked through the reformation.

Let us pray, John, and all my forum-friends, that the Truth may be spread! God, open our eyes to your Living Word. Let us understand, and not just understand, but understand enough to evangelize and instruct others in the Truth so that we may become as you wished, catholic, universal and united. Community of Saints, pray for us!

In Christ.

-- Jake Huether (jake.huether@lamrc.com), August 29, 2002.