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Philip

also known as: Phillip

Greek: Φίλιππος —transliteration: Philippos —meaning: lover of horses / horse-loving

This was the name of four biblical men and a king.

  1. Philip, one of the twelve Apostles

    He was a native of Bethsaida, “the city of Andrew and Peter” (John 1:44).

    He readily responded to the call of Jesus when first addressed to him (John 1:43), and forthwith brought Nathanael also to Jesus (45-46).

    He seems to have held a prominent place among the Apostles (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; John 6:5-7; 12:21-22; 14:8-9; Acts 1:13).

    Of his later life nothing is certainly known. He is said to have preached in Phrygia, and to have met his death at Hierapolis.

  2. Philip the evangelist

    He is one of the seven “men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom” appointed by the twelve disciples” (Acts 6:5), called also “the evangelist” (21:8-9)

    Philip was also one of the seven deacons of the church at Jerusalem.

    He was one of those who were “scattered abroad” by the persecution that arose on the death of Stephen. He went first to Samaria, where he labored as an evangelist with much success (8:5-13).

    While he was there he received a divine command to proceed toward the south, along the road leading from Jerusalem to Gaza.

    These towns were connected by two roads. The one Philip was directed to take was that which led through Hebron, and then through a district little inhabited, and hence called “desert.” As he travelled along this road he was overtaken by a chariot in which sat a man of Ethiopia, the eunuch or chief officer of Queen Candace, who was at that moment reading, probably from the Septuagint version, a portion of the prophecies of Isaiah (Isa. 53:6-7).

    Philip entered into conversation with him, and expounded these verses, preaching to him the glad tidings of the Savior.

    The eunuch received the message and believed, and was forthwith baptized, and then “went on his way rejoicing.”

    Philip was then instantly caught away by the Spirit after the baptism, and the eunuch saw him no more.

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    Philip was next found at Azotus, whence he went forth in his evangelistic work till he came to Caesarea.

    He is not mentioned again for about 20 years, when he is still found at Caesarea (Acts 21:8) when Paul and his companions were on the way to Jerusalem. He then finally disappears from the page of history.

  3. Herod Philip the First

    also known as: Herod Philip I

    Hie is mentioned only in connection with the imprisonment of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:3; Mark 6:17; Luke 3:19).

    He was the son of Herod the Great, and the first husband of Herodias, and the father of Salome.

    See HEROD PHILIP I)

  4. King Herod Philip II the “tetrarch of Ituraea”

    Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea —Luke 3:1 NASB excerpt

    He is a son of Herod the Great, and brother of Herod Antipas.

    See HEROD PHILIP II

    The city of Caesarea Philippi was partly named after him (Matthew 16:13; Mark 8:27).

  5. King Philip of Macedonia

    He was succeeded by his son Alexander the Great.

    This Philip (Phillip) is not mentioned in the Bible.

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Article Version: April 11, 2024