Furthermore, God wants all His children involved. Remember Stephen. He serves food to widows (Acts 6:3-5). Yet Stephen is also an evangelist—so effective that enemies kill him. Then they attack and scatter other Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). Since preaching started the trouble, do the fleeing Christians hide their faith? Rather, “those who were scattered went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).
The Lord’s church is already growing fast (Acts 5:14; 6:7), which means that these scattered Christians include new converts. Can spiritual newborns share the Gospel? Yes, because they can tell what they know, which is the Gospel they themselves had learned and obeyed. In the original text, Acts 8:4 uses the Greek word for evangelizing, literally, “they [brought] Good News the word.” To say they “preach” may suggest using a pulpit to address large crowds, but that is not the meaning. Yes, some, like Philip, speak publicly. But most are simply giving the Gospel—telling what they know as they go. Each one shares the faith at his or her level of knowledge, ability and opportunity.