Philip
“Lover of horses”
Summary
Philip is the name of several New Testament figures, most notably Philip the Apostle from Bethsaida who brought Nathanael to Jesus, and Philip the Evangelist, one of the Seven, who preached in Samaria and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch.
☩Philip the Apostle
Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter, and was among the first disciples called by Jesus with the simple command 'Follow me' (John 1:43). His Greek name, shared among the apostles only with Andrew, suggests possible Greek descent suited to Bethsaida's mixed population. Immediately after his call, Philip found Nathanael and announced, 'We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.' When Nathanael objected, Philip simply replied, 'Come and see.' This pattern of cautious but open inquiry characterized Philip throughout the Gospels.
☩Philip in the Gospel Narratives
At the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus tested Philip by asking where they could buy bread for the crowd; Philip calculated that two hundred denarii would not be sufficient—showing his careful, calculating mind but missing the opportunity for greater faith. When Greeks sought to see Jesus, they approached Philip, who consulted Andrew before bringing the request to Christ (John 12:20-22). In the upper room, Philip asked, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us,' revealing how his desire for certainty had blinded him to the revelation already present in Christ. Jesus gently rebuked him: 'Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not known me, Philip?'
☩Philip the Evangelist
Philip the Evangelist, distinct from the apostle, was one of the Seven chosen to care for the Hellenist widows (Acts 6:5). After Stephen's martyrdom scattered the Jerusalem church, Philip preached Christ in Samaria with remarkable success, performing miracles and baptizing many including Simon the magician (Acts 8:5-13). Directed by an angel to the desert road to Gaza, he encountered and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch, explaining Isaiah 53 as fulfilled in Jesus (Acts 8:26-38). The Spirit then transported Philip to Azotus, from where he preached through coastal cities until settling at Caesarea. Twenty years later, Paul stayed at his house, where his four virgin daughters prophesied (Acts 21:8-9).
☩The Herodian Philips
Two sons of Herod the Great bore the name Philip. Herod Philip I married Herodias, who later deserted him for his half-brother Herod Antipas—John the Baptist's rebuke of this unlawful union led to his imprisonment and execution (Matthew 14:3-4). Philip the Tetrarch ruled Iturea and Trachonitis (Luke 3:1), the northeastern territories of his father's kingdom, from 4 BC to AD 34. He was considered the best of Herod's sons, ruling justly and building Caesarea Philippi (named for himself and the emperor) where Peter made his great confession.
Related Verses40 mentions
References
- 1.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Philip," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Philip," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Philip the Evangelist," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 4.George Morrish, "Philip," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).