Philip the evangelist was bound to Paul by ties of the deepest sympathy. A man of clear discernment and sterling integrity, Philip had been the first to break away from the bondage of Jewish prejudice, and thus had helped prepare the way for the apostle’s work. It was Philip who preached the gospel to the Samaritans; it was Philip who had the courage to baptize the Ethiopian eunuch. For a time the history of these two workers had been closely intertwined. It was the violent persecution of Saul the Pharisee that had scattered the church at Jerusalem, and destroyed the effectiveness of the organization of the seven deacons. The flight from Jerusalem had led Philip to change his manner of labor, and resulted in his pursuing the same calling to which Paul gave his life. Precious hours were these that Paul and Philip spent in each other’s society; thrilling were the memories that they recalled of the days when the light which had shone upon the face of Stephen upturned to Heaven as he suffered martyrdom, flashed in its glory upon Saul the persecutor, bringing him, a helpless suppliant, to the feet of Jesus.{LP 204.1}

Evangelisten Filip blev knyttet til Paulus med den dybeste sympati. En mand med klar dømmekraft og ægte renhed, havde Filip været den første til at bryde med jødiske fordommes trældom, og derved hjalp dem til at berede vej for apostlens arbejde. Det var Filip som forkyndte evangeliet for samaritanerne; det var Filip som opmuntrede den ætiopiske hofmand til dåb. I en tid var disse to medarbejderes historie tæt sammenflettet. Det var farisæeren Saulus voldsomme forfølgelse som spredte menigheden i Jerusalem, og ødelagde de syv fattigforstanderes virksomme organisation. Flugten fra Jerusalem ledte Filip til at ændre sin arbejdsmetode, og resulterede i det samme kald, som Paulus gav sit liv for. Dyrebare var disse timer som Paulus og Filip brugte på hinandens selskab; gyselige var de minder de fremkaldte fra de dage, hvor lyset havde skinnet på Stefanus ansigt mod himlen, idet han led et martyrium, oplyst i sin herlighed på forfølgeren Saulus, der gjorde ham hjælpeløs og ydmygt bedende, for Jesu fødder.