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Posted by Eden (Member # 5728) on :

The Jewish evangelist Philip goes flying

Acts 8

26 And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south {to the Negeb}, onto the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert.

27 And he {Philip} arose and went, and look, a man from Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Queen Candace of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 And he {the eunuch} was returning and sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and join yourself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran there to him and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and {Philip} said, Do you understand what you are reading?

31 And he {the Ethiopian eunuch} said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired that Philip come up and sit with him.

32 And the place of the scripture which he read was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:”

33 “And in his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth[/b].

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, I pray you, tell me, of whom does the prophet speak this? Of himself, or of some other man?

35 Then Philip began at the same scripture, and preached Jesus unto him.

36 And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water; and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what hinders me to be baptized?

37 Then Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he {the eunuch} answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he {Philip} baptized him.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away and that eunuch saw him no more; but he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus {at the north end of the Gaza Strip}: and while passing through he preached in all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.

The Jewish evangelist Philip goes flying from the South to Azotus. Any of you been flying lately? I haven't. [Bible]

Be blessed, everyone.
Eden

Posted by EL3LN3TN (Member # 6021) on :

The term "flying" is not mentioned anywhere in the cited text.

"the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away and that eunuch saw him no more; but he went on his way rejoicing."

...merely means that Philip left that particular location, possibly just walked away ...and sometime later:

"40 But Philip was found at Azotus {at the north end of the Gaza Strip}"

...was in Azotus.

Instantaneous teleportation, "flying", or any other magikal means of re-location are fanciful mis-readings of the text which is really just an abstract summary of Philip's activities and travels at the time. [Wink]

Posted by EL3LN3TN (Member # 6021) on :

"Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away"
...likewise to someone having their interest and attention being "caught up" or "caught away" elsewhere, toward another activity, or necessity in another location altogether. [Wink]