Philip and the Ethiopian go their separate ways. As suddenly as Philip appears, he disappears again under the direction of the same Spirit. The Lord arranged this special meeting and after the baptism it suddenly stops. The goal has been reached! His task is done. God needs Philip again for another task. The Ethiopian continues his way and so does Philip. Philip was found in Azotus (which is Ashdod). He showed up there (after a few days?). We do not know how the Spirit brought him there. Did Philip walk all the way back or could he hitch a ride
with another chariot perhaps? Philip will probably have told Luke about it, but Luke does not relate it to us. It becomes obvious—for us curious readers—that it is not necessary for us to know exactly how Philip arrived in Ashdod! Philip travels through the countryside and evangelizes the good news of Jesus in many villages in this area.
Azotus lies in the coastal area with cities such as Lydda and Joppa. There appears to be a congregation there when Peter comes to lodge at the seashore with Simon, the tanner (Acts 9:36–43, and Acts 10:6). Philip continues where he left off after the intermezzo with the Ethiopian. After this personal encounter in a lonely region, the gospel spreads further in the community, up till the city of Caesarea. Apparently, he has a house there, as a place to lodge for Paul and Luke (Acts 21:8).
40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.