Daughters Will Prophesy

Acts 21:8-9 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
 
WE have met Philip earlier, one of seven chosen to serve widows: Acts 6:5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
   The Spirit then used Philip to powerfully evangelize the gospel in Samaria: Acts 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.
   The Spirit then sent Philip to the Desert Road to Gaza to meet an Ethiopian eunuch. Philip revealed the gospel and sent the baptized man home to Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-39). The church began in Africa.
   And here is why Philip is now Caesarea: Acts 8:40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.  
   Philip had apparently remained in Caesarea for many years. It would be fascinating to learn of his work for God during that time.
   One way God used Philip in that time was to give him four daughters, anointed to be prophets. The daughters lived in the legacy of other women who prophesied. They include Moses’ sister Miriam (Exodus 15:20), the Judge Deborah (Judges 4:4), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Isaiah’s wife (Isaiah 8:3). In addition there is faithful Anna. When Joseph and Mary took the baby Jesus into the temple for his circumcision, Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2: 38).  
   Prophesying women in the church should be no surprise. God had said he would continue to anoint women to the prophetic role in the New Covenant. Peter preached this at Pentecost, quoting the prophet Joel: Acts 2:17 “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.  
   Yes, literally Philip’s daughters had been created for a remarkable role in God’s kingdom. We have no record of their prophecies, but this is enough to tell us Philip and his daughters faithfully served God. He had gifted them to speak God’s glorious salvation to the Jews. That is precisely what they did.
 
Isaiah 40:5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.