160 Philip’s four prophesying daughters

Great Bible Truths Podcast Episode 160

Talk 16 – Philip’s four daughters (Acts 21:9)

At  the beginning of Acts 21 Paul is towards the conclusion of his third missionary journey on his way back to Jerusalem. Luke, who was one of Paul’s companions on this journey mentions various places where they stopped.

In v 9 he records that they arrived at Caesarea and stayed with Philip the evangelist for several days. The major event described there is the arrival of the prophet Agabus from Judea to prophesy over Paul. But he mentions in verse 9 that Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied (had the gift of prophecy).

In this talk we’ll consider:

• What the Bible teaches about prophecy in general
• What we can learn about prophecy from Acts 21
• Philip’s four unmarried daughters

What the Bible teaches about prophecy in general

To prophesy means to speak on behalf of God (Cf. Exodus 7).

The Bible reveals at least four different levels of prophecy:

1. All Christians should prophesy (speak for God) (Acts 2:17ff.)
2. The gift of prophecy, the purpose of which is to strengthen, encourage and build up the church (1 Cor.14:3). It’s not infallible (1 Cor.14:29), but it must not be despised (1 Thessalonians 5:20)
3. The ministry of a prophet (Ephesians 4:11)
4. The prophecy of Scripture which is infallible (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20)

In Acts 21 we have examples of both 2 and 3.

2. The gift of prophecy v.4

We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

3. The ministry of prophets vv.10-14

What can we learn about prophecy from Acts 21?

Please read Acts 21:10-14. From this we learn 4 things:

1. Prophecy can be predictive v.11

In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles

2. It can be misapplied vv. 12-13
3. When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

Cf. 21:4.

We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

But Cf. 20:22-23

And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

3. Only the individual can decide the Lord will for himself v13

Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’

4. Even with the gift of prophecy, we do not always know God’s will for sure and have to say ‘the Lord’s will be done’ v.14.

When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’

Philip’s four unmarried daughters

1. They did not have the same gift as their father who was an evangelist
2. As an evangelist their father was probably away from home quite a lot. But this had not affected their attitude to the Lord. They had an experience of the Spirit for themselves.
3. They were not discouraged by the fact that their sisters already had the gift.
4. They were not discouraged by the fact that they were probably quite young
5. They were not discouraged by the fact that they were female – compare Acts 2:17-18
6. They all prophesied – no restriction – 1 Cor. 14:39 Be eager to prophesy
7. They did so regularly – propheteuousai – the Greek present participle implies continuity. They kept on prophesying.

QUESTION

Is anything discouraging you from prophesying (speaking on behalf of God)?

You might not be a prophet like Agabus.

You might not have the gift of prophecy like Philip’s daughters.

What you say will never be infallible like the words of Scripture.

BUT you CAN ask the Holy Spirit to give you words that will encourage others.

and you CAN tell people who don’t yet know the Lord your experience of Jesus.