PHILIP (phll'ip), (Gr. cl,Duriros, fitift-pos, lov -r of horses).
1. The Apostle.
One of the twelve apostles. He was of Beth saida, 'the city of Andrew and Peter' (John i: 44). He became one of the disciples of John the Baptist, and was in the neighborhood where John was baptizing, at the time of our Lord's baptism. (A. D. 25-28.) Andrew and John, who were also disciples of the Baptist, heard the testimony con cerning Jesus which the latter gave, and thence forth attached themselves to him as the promised Nlessiah.
(1) The Call. Through Andrew his brother, Simon (Peter) was brought to Christ ; and as on the next day Philip unhesitatingly accompanied Jesus when called to follow him, it is probable that his townsmen had previously spoken to him of Jesus as the long-expected Savior (John i: 35-44). Philip was thus the fourth of the apos tles who attached themselves to the person of Jesus—of those 'who left all and followed him.' (2) Invites Nathanael. The first act of Philip was to bring to the Lord Nathanael, who is sup nosed to have also become an apostle under the name of Bartholomew (John i :45-51). (See NA THANAEL.) (3) The Loaves and Fishes. Little more is re corded of Philip in the Scriptures; but it is re markable that when Christ beheld the five thou sand people whom Ile afterwards fed with five loaves and two fishes, Ile singled out Philip for the question, 'Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?' It is added, 'This he said to prove him, for he himself knew what he yould do.' Bengel and others suppose that this was because the charge of providing food had been committed to Philip. while Chrysostom and Theo dore of Nlopsucstia rather suppose it was because this apostle was weak in faith. The answer of Philip agrees well enough with either supposition, 'Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not suffi cient for them, that every one of them may take a little' (John vi :1-7). But it is well to compare this with John xiv:8, where the inappropriate re mark of Philip, 'Lord. show us thc Father. and
it sufficeth us, evinces that he experienced in a degree beyond his brother apostles. the difficulty which they generally felt in raising themselves above the things of sense.
(4) Application of Greeks. Intermediately, we find recorded the application to Philip of cer tain 'Greeks' (proselytes of the gate) at Jeru salem, who wished to be introduced to Jesus, of whom thcy had heard so much. Knowing that his master was not forward to gratify mere curi osity, Philip was uncertain whether to comply with their wish or not, but first consulted Andrew, who went with him to mention the circumstance to Jesus .( John xii:21, 22). This incident, al though slight, is indicative of character, as we feel.sure that some of thc other apostles, Peter for mstance, would at once have complied with or declined this application on their own responsi bility,. The sacred history only adds to these facts, that Philip was present with the other apostles at the religious assembly following the Lord's resurrection (Acts i:13).
(5) Later Tradition. The later traditions con cerning this apostle are vague and uncertain; but there is nothing improbahle in the state ment that lie preached the Gospel in Phry,gia .(Theodoret, in Ps. cxvi; Niceph. Hist. Eccles. !i, 30.. and that he met his death at I lierapolis in Syria (Euseb. Hist. Eccles. iii, 31; v:24). The further statement, that Philip was married and had daughters (Euseb. as above. Clem. Alex. Strom. 192; Niceph. 44), very probably arose from confounding him with Philip the Evangelist (Acts xxi :8).
2. The Evangelist. (1) As Deacon. One of the first seven deacons (Acts vi:5) ; also called an 'Evangelist' (xxi:8), which denotes one of those ministers of the primitive church, who, without being attached to any particular congregation. preached the Gospel from place to place (Eph.
; 2 Tim. iv:5). (A. I). 29.) Being com pelled to leave Jerusalem hy the persecution which ensued on Stephen's death, Philip was induced to take refuge in Samaria.