Philip is the name of two significant figures in the New Testament:
Philip the Apostle, one of the Twelve,
and Philip the Evangelist, one of the Seven chosen to serve in Jerusalem.
Both men appear as faithful witnesses who bring others to Jesus and proclaim the gospel.
Philip the Apostle is listed among the first disciples called by Jesus;
Philip the Evangelist is known for his ministry in Samaria and for explaining Isaiah 53 to the Ethiopian eunuch.
Together they illustrate the varied ways the early church carried the good news forward under the leading of the Spirit.
Philip the Apostle was from Bethsaida, the same city as Andrew and Peter. Jesus found him and said, “Follow me.” Philip immediately found Nathanael and brought him to Jesus, saying, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote.” He appears at key moments in John’s Gospel: when Jesus tests the disciples before feeding the five thousand, when Greeks seek an audience with Jesus, and when Philip asks, “Lord, show us the Father.” Tradition holds that he later preached the gospel and died as a witness to Christ.
Philip the Evangelist was one of the seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, chosen to oversee the daily distribution in the Jerusalem church. After the persecution that arose under Saul, he went down to Samaria and proclaimed the Christ. Many believed and were baptized as signs and great joy filled the city. An angel of the Lord then sent him to the desert road where he met the Ethiopian eunuch, explained the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, and baptized him. The Spirit carried Philip away, and he continued preaching in the towns until he reached Caesarea, where he later hosted Paul and had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
- Two distinct men named Philip served in the earliest church — one an apostle, the other an evangelist.
- Both are characterized by a readiness to bring people to Jesus and to explain the Scriptures.
- Philip the Apostle’s first impulse after being called was to find someone else and lead him to Christ.
- Philip the Evangelist demonstrates the Spirit’s leading in cross-cultural evangelism and personal witness.
- The encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch shows the gospel moving toward the ends of the earth in fulfillment of the Servant’s mission.
- Faithful service in practical care (the Seven) can open the door to powerful evangelistic ministry.
- Both men model obedience to the call of Christ and the prompting of the Spirit.
- Philip the Apostle – One of the Twelve; from Bethsaida; brought Nathanael to Jesus; asked practical and theological questions that Jesus used for revelation.
- Philip the Evangelist – One of the Seven; preached in Samaria with signs and great joy; led the Ethiopian eunuch to faith through Isaiah 53; settled in Caesarea.
- Witness – Both men actively connected people to Jesus and the good news.
- Scripture-Centered – The evangelist’s ministry to the eunuch centered on explaining the prophetic word about the Suffering Servant.
- Spirit-Led – Directed by an angel and the Spirit to specific people and places.
- Cross-Cultural Reach – The gospel advanced through Philip to Samaritans and to an African official.
- Ongoing Faithfulness – Years later Philip is still found serving and hosting the church in Caesarea.
- John 1:43-46 – “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’… Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’”
- John 6:5-7 – Jesus tests Philip concerning the feeding of the five thousand: “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”
- John 12:20-22 – Greeks come to Philip saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip tells Andrew, and together they tell Jesus.
- John 14:8-9 – “Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.’”
- Acts 6:5 – Philip is named among the seven men chosen to serve tables, “full of the Spirit and of wisdom.”
- Acts 8:5-8 – “Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ… So there was much joy in that city.”
- Acts 8:26-40 – The Spirit and an angel direct Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch; he explains Isaiah 53, proclaims Jesus, and baptizes him. “And the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away… But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.”
- Acts 21:8-9 – “On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.”
- Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13 – Philip is listed among the twelve apostles.
- Apostles
- The Seven / Deacons
- Evangelist
- Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53)
- Ethiopian Eunuch
- Samaria
- Witness / Evangelism
- Spirit-Led Ministry
- Nathanael
- Come and See
- Baptism
- Early Church
Two men named Philip stand as quiet yet powerful examples of faithful witness. One, an apostle, hears the call “Follow me” and at once finds another to bring to Jesus. The other, a servant of the church, is driven by persecution into unexpected places and becomes the instrument by which Samaritans and an African official hear the good news. Both men take people to the Scriptures and to the Savior. Both follow the leading of the Spirit. Their stories remind us that the gospel advances through ordinary disciples who are ready to speak, ready to go, and ready to explain the Word concerning Jesus. Whether across a short distance to a friend or down a desert road to a searching stranger, the pattern remains the same: find the one who is ready, open the Scriptures, and point to Christ. Come and see.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.