Who was Philip in the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The New Testament mentions four individuals named Philip, including King Herod the Great's sons, Philip the apostle, and Philip the evangelist, who are distinct figures. Philip the apostle, originally from Bethsaida, Galilee, was called by Jesus to follow Him and played a role in bringing others to Christ. Despite initial doubts, he witnessed Jesus' miracles, including the feeding of the multitude and the revelation of Jesus as the embodiment of the Father. Philip the evangelist, likely one of the larger group of Jesus' followers during His earthly ministry, played a significant role in the early church's growth, ministering in Samaria and baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch. Both Philips exemplify the importance of faith in Jesus' power to overcome challenges and the need for trust in God's provision and guidance.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Philip is not mentioned in the Old Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• There are four different Philips mentioned in the New Testament. King Herod the Great had two sons from two different wives and both sons were named Philip (Luke 3:1; Matthew 14:3). Philip the apostle was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, and Philip the evangelist was one of the original deacons of the church in Jerusalem. Throughout history the apostle and evangelist have been confused as the same person, but they are, in fact, two distinct men who both helped to spread the gospel in the early days of the church.
• Apart from being listed with the disciples, the majority of Philip the apostle's appearances in the Bible are recorded in the Gospel of John. Like fellow disciples Peter and Andrew, he was from the town of Bethsaida in Galilee. Jesus sought Philip out and said to him, "'Follow me'" (John 1:43). Philip went to find his friend Nathanael and said, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1:45). Both Philip and Nathanael became Jesus' disciples.
• While Jesus was preaching on the mountainside to a great crowd of over five thousand people Jesus asked Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" (John 6:5). Philip replied, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little" (John 6:7).
• Later, a group of Greeks wanted to meet with Jesus and presented their request to Philip, who told Andrew, and together they told Jesus. Jesus responded to them with a prediction of His death and teaching about serving and following Him (John 12:20–26).
• On the night of the Last Supper Jesus told His disciples that no one can know God the Father except through faith in Jesus Himself. Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus answered him, explaining, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" (John 14:9).
• Philip was present with the other disciples when Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:13).
• Philip the evangelist was likely one of the seventy-two followers Jesus sent out to share His message in Luke 10:1. He would have heard the teachings of Jesus and been empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel. However, he is not mentioned by name until Acts 6:5 so we cannot know for sure if he was part of the seventy-two.
• As the new church grew, a complaint arose about the distribution to widows in the community. The apostles knew that they had been called specifically to spread the gospel and that mission needed to be their focus. So they had the church appoint seven wise believers from among them to help oversee these responsibilities. Philip the evangelist was one of the seven chosen for this role (Acts 6:5).
• After Saul attacked the believers in Jerusalem, Philip the evangelist became a missionary in Samaria. He healed many people of evil spirits who then believed in God, and Philip then baptized them (Acts 8:4–13).
• An angel of the Lord told Philip to head south on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. On the road, he met a eunuch from Ethiopia who was a court official of the Ethiopian queen. The Spirit told Philip to approach the man's chariot. Philip did and heard the eunuch reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip asked if he understood what he was reading; the eunuch wondered how he could unless someone guided him and invited Philip to sit with him. Philip explained that Isaiah was predicting the coming Messiah and continued teaching how Jesus had fulfilled that role and died for our sins. The eunuch believed and was baptized by Philip right then (Acts 8:26–40). Then Philip was carried away by the Holy Spirit and found himself in Azotus. He continued to preach in all the towns he passed through until he settled in Caesarea.
• Philip had four daughters who became prophetesses (Acts 21:9).
• Philip is last mentioned in the Bible when Paul and Luke visited him many years later (Acts 21:8–9).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

One lesson we can draw from the life of Philip the apostle is the importance of faith and trust in Jesus, even in the face of seemingly impossible situations. When faced with the challenge of feeding a multitude with limited resources, Philip's initial response was one of doubt and practicality, focusing on the insufficiency of funds to provide for such a large crowd. However, despite his doubt, Jesus performed a miraculous feeding, demonstrating that with faith, even the most daunting challenges can be overcome.

This teaches us to trust in God's provision and power, even when circumstances seem bleak or resources appear scarce. Instead of relying solely on our own understanding or abilities, we should have faith in Jesus and His ability to work miracles in our lives. This lesson encourages us to approach challenges with faith and confidence in God's provision, knowing that He is able to exceed our expectations and meet our needs abundantly.

UNDERSTAND

• There are four Philips in the Bible: two are sons of King Herod the Great, one was an apostle, and another was an evangelist.
• Philip the apostle followed Jesus and brought Nathanael to Him.
• Philip the evangelist spread the gospel message and explained to a eunuch how the Scriptures pointed to the Messiah.

REFLECT

• How does the life of Philip the apostle challenge your own faith and trust in God's provision during challenging times?
• In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust in God's provision, and how can the example of Philip inspire you to deepen your faith?
• How does studying God’s Word prepare you to know God and make Him known to others?

ENGAGE

• According to tradition, Philip the apostle was martyred while serving as a missionary in what is now modern-day Turkey.
• What similarities and differences do you observe between the ministries of Philip the apostle and Philip the evangelist? How can their experiences inform our understanding of spreading the gospel today?
• How can you help cultivate a community of faith and trust in God's provision within your church or other groups of believers, drawing lessons from the lives of the Philips?