CHAPTER XX. 



UNTO GAZA, WHICH IS DESERT. 

 " Unto Gaza, which is desert." ACTS viii. 26. 



WHEN Philip is introduced to us in the sacred 

 narrative, we find him engaged in very inter- 

 esting and promising work, in common with the apostles 

 of Christ. His labours in Samaria and in other places 

 in the neighbourhood had yielded the most wonderful 

 results. The white fields ready unto harvest, of which 

 our Lord spoke in striking prophetic terms after His 

 interview with the Samaritan woman at the well of 

 Jacob, had been reaped by St. Peter and himself, and 

 many golden sheaves had been added to the barn of the 

 Lord. There was much still to do in this place in the 

 way of confirming the converts, and building them up 

 on the foundation of their most precious faith, and in 

 extending the knowledge of Gospel truth throughout 

 the outlying districts which were Divinely prepared to 

 receive it. Philip might justly have supposed that he 

 would be allowed to remain in such a rich and suitable 

 field until he had exhausted all its possibilities. And 

 343 



