New Testament Personal Evangelism

Who Nicodemus Samaritan
Woman		 Ethiopian
Eunuch		 Cornelius Lydia Philippian
Jailer		 Apollos
(Discipled)
Reference John 3:1-21 John 4:4-42 Acts 8:26-40 Acts 10:1-48 Acts 16:11-15 Acts 16:22-34 Acts 18:24-28
Evangelist(s) Jesus Jesus Philip Peter Paul, Silas
and Luke		 Paul, Silas Priscilla
and Aquila
Devotional
state of
Evangelist(s)		 It was
Jesus!
(he prayed
often)		 It was
Jesus!
(he prayed
often)		 Had been in
fruitful min-
istry in
Samaria.		 Peter was
praying (vs. 9)		 were heading
for a place of
prayer		 had been
praying and
singing		 they were at
the synagogue
How
Evangelist
arrived		 Nicodemus
came to
Jesus		 "had" (vs. 4)
to go through
Samaria, but
could have
by-passed it.		 Angel told him
to go to the
desert, Spirit
told him to go
to chariot.		 Cornelius had
a vision to
send for Peter,
Peter had a
vision that
he should go.		 went to a
place where
they thought
others would
be praying.		 were thrown
into jail		 they in-
vited him
home
How
conversation
started		 Asked Jesus
about His
miracles		 Jesus asked
for a drink.		 Philip asked
what he was
reading		 Peter asked
why he had
been sent for.		 ". . .we sat
down and
spoke to
the women."
(vs. 13)		 jailer asked
how to be
saved		 probably
talking about
what Apollos
had said
Result Spoke for
Jesus in
Sanhedrin
(John 7:45-52),
and helped
bury Him.
(John 19:38-40)		 "Many Samar-
itans. . . believed
in him because
of the woman's
testimony."
(vs. 39) More
believed later.		 He rejoiced.
Ethiopian church
claims it origin-
ated in this
event. (See here )		 The Holy
Spirit came on
friends, rela-
tives, and per-
haps servants
and soldiers.		 church
started in
Philippi		 church
started in
Philippi		 He helped in
Achaia, and
elsewhere.
(Titus 3:13)
qual of
Paul?
(1 Cor. 1:10-17)
Convert
Baptized?		 not
mentioned		 not mentioned yes, at his
request		 Cornelius
and others		 yes yes had already
received
baptism of
John
Follow-up Not men-
tioned. May
have heard
more of Jesus'
teaching		 Jesus stayed
overnight or more		 none
mentioned		 Peter stayed
a few days.		 stayed at
her house
several
days		 perhaps
met with
Lydia's
group		 may have
stayed with
P&A for a
while

I haven't posted this because I'm a great personal evangelist. I'm not. God help me.

Other people might have be added, such as the thief on the cross, or Saul on the road to Damascus, although both of these situations were so unique that we probably can't use them as examples to follow. I included Apollos, not because he was converted under Priscilla and Aquila's ministry. He may have already been a convert. I included him as an example of personal discipling/mentoring. Other examples of that could have been added.

Conclusions?
1) There was no set pattern of personal evangelism.
2) All of the evangelists were in good spiritual standing. They seem to have been prayed up, in good relationship with God, open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and ready to take advantage of an opportunity.
3) Although we have no record of follow-up with some of these, follow-up was probably important. So was baptism.
4) None of the conversations started by warning about being a sinner, nor by telling that God loved them. These approaches may have their place, but they weren't used in any of these situations.
5) All of these cases were conversations with strangers. It's probably a good idea to get to know someone, and for them to know and trust you, before leading them to belief, but it wasn't necessary in any of these encounters.
6) Presumably all of those converted were, in some sense, spiritually ready for this step. The record indicates, especially, that Cornelius was. It suggests that Nicodemus, Lydia and the Ethiopian eunuch were consciously looking for some spiritual guidance. The jailer, and the Samaritan woman, were likely searching for answers, too, although the record isn't so clear with them.

See here for my web page on what Christians in the New Testament prayed for.

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This page is the version of April 15, 2008, with point 6 added to the April 14th version.