Philip the Apostle

There is little the Bible tells us about Philip the Apostle. What little we know we have to piece together to craft a story.

We know that where he lived growing up and most likely what he did for a living. We know that he was with Jesus as one of the earliest Apostles. We know that Philip was listed among the 12 original Apostles of Jesus. Other than that, Philip is a bit of a mystery.

Early Years

Childhood

Philip grew up in Bethsaida where many of the other Apostles of Jesus were raised. Bethsaida was a fishing village on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was primarily a town of poor fisherman and lower class Jews. We must assume that Phillip flunked out of Hebrew school at an early age, because he must have been serving in his family business. John 21:2-8 suggests that Phillip may have been a fisherman alongside Peter, Andrew, James, and John, but we don't know for sure.

Disciple of John the Baptist

It is most likely that Philip was with Andrew on the day that Jesus arrived into town. His name is not specifically mentioned, but the circumstances suggest that he was a follower of John.

Philips Life with Jesus

The Calling of Philip

Philip was the third disciple Jesus called to follow Him. Philip's calling was unique as was Andrew's in that Jesus directly called them to follow him (see John 1:43-45.) This occurred the day immediately following the John's proclamation to two of his disciples that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus simply said "follow me" and Philip left his rabbi to pursue a new life with Jesus. The first act of Philip was to find Bartholomew (Nathaniel) and proclaim the Good News by saying, "We have found Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the prophets also wrote: Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!" Nathaniel also immediately committed to a life of a disciple of Jesus.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

One of the only places in scripture that Philip was prominent following his call to discipleship was in the feeding of the 5,000 on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus asked the disciples where they could buy enough food for the crowds, Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Philip was a level-headed practical soul and was taken aback by this plan Jesus had to feed so many. John 6:6 says that Jesus asked Philip that question to "test him." (see John 6:1-14)

The Death of Philip

After Jesus death, resurrection and ascension, Philip took the Gospel to other parts of the world. Although there was a Philip the Evangelist later on in the book of Acts, this Philip shouldn't be confused with the Apostle. We have several accounts of how Philip died, and we can't be sure what actually happened. Some accounts say he died of natural causes while others say he was martyred by beheading, stoning or crucifixion. We do know, however, that he died somewhere around 80 AD and most likely in the Greek city of Hierapolis.

The Acts of Phillip, an extra-biblical book probably written in the 4th century, provides an account that Philip angered the proconsul by converting his wife to "The Way." But that account cannot be proven. In that account Phillip died by crucifixion upside down.

It is certain that he was often found with Bartholomew.