In the New Testament the “evangelists” appear on the one hand after the “apostles” and “prophets;” on the other before the “pastors” and “teachers.” They probably stood between the two. ( Acts 21:8 ; Ephesians 4:11 ) The work of the evangelist is the proclamation of the glad tidings to those who have not known them, rather than the instruction and pastoral care of those who have believed and been baptized.

Evangelism

A “publisher of glad tidings;” a missionary preacher of the gospel ( Ephesians 4:11 ). This title is applied to Philip ( Acts 21:8 ), who appears to have gone from city to city preaching the word ( Acts 8:4 Acts 8:40 ). Judging from the case of Philip, evangelists had neither the authority of an apostle, nor the gift of prophecy, nor the responsibility of pastoral supervision over a portion of the flock. They were itinerant preachers, having it as their special function to carry the gospel to places where it was previously unknown. The writers of the four Gospels are known as the Evangelists.

Jesus Christ was an evangelist, for He also “preached the gospel” (Luke 20:1); Paul was an evangelist as well as an apostle (Romans 1:15); Philip the deacon was an evangelist (Acts 21:8); and Timothy, the pastor (2 Timothy 4:5); and indeed all the early disciples who, on being driven out of Jerusalem, “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4 the King James Version).