Philip

Lore & Background

Philip the apostle is first introduced when Jesus finds him and says, 'Follow me' (John 1:43). He was from Bethsaida, the same city as Andrew and Peter (John 1:44). Philip then finds Nathanael and tells him they have found Jesus of Nazareth, the one written about by Moses and the prophets (John 1:45). When Nathanael expresses skepticism, Philip simply invites him, 'Come and see' (John 1:46). Jesus later reveals to Nathanael that he saw him under the fig tree before Philip called him (John 1:48). During Jesus' ministry, Philip is approached by Jesus to test him about buying bread for a large crowd, to which Philip replies that two hundred pennyworth of bread would not be enough (John 6:5-7). Later, some Greeks come to Philip, asking to see Jesus, and Philip tells Andrew, and together they tell Jesus (John 12:21-22). At the Last Supper, Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father, and Jesus gently rebukes him, saying that seeing Jesus is seeing the Father (John 14:8-9). A different Philip is chosen as one of seven deacons in the early church (Acts 6:5). He goes to Samaria and preaches Christ, performing miracles that cause the people to believe and be baptized (Acts 8:5-13). An angel then directs him to a desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza, where he meets an Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah, and the Spirit tells Philip to join the chariot (Acts 8:26-31).

Reader's Guide

The passages portray Philip in two distinct roles. As an apostle, he is a disciple called directly by Jesus (John 1:43), from Bethsaida (John 1:44), and is listed among the twelve in all four Gospel lists (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13). His interactions show him as a connector: he brings Nathanael to Jesus (John 1:45-48), mediates the request of the Greeks (John 12:21-22), and asks practical questions about feeding the multitude (John 6:7) and seeing the Father (John 14:8). Jesus' response to Philip's request to see the Father highlights a teaching moment about Jesus' identity (John 14:9). The second Philip is a deacon and evangelist in Acts. He is chosen among the seven to serve (Acts 6:5), preaches in Samaria with signs and miracles (Acts 8:5-13), and is guided by the Spirit to evangelize the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-31). The passages do not connect this Philip to the apostle, and the name is common. The tetrarch Philip, brother of Herod Antipas, is mentioned only in relation to Herodias (Matthew 14:3; Mark 6:17; Luke 3:19) and as a ruler of Ituraea and Trachonitis (Luke 3:1).

Did You Know?

• Philip the apostle was from Bethsaida, the same city as Andrew and Peter (John 1:44).
• Philip brought Nathanael to Jesus after being called himself (John 1:45-48).
• A different Philip was chosen as one of seven deacons and later preached in Samaria (Acts 6:5; Acts 8:5).
• Herodias was married to Herod's brother Philip before marrying Herod Antipas (Matthew 14:3; Mark 6:17).