Philip
the one from Bethsaida
Who was Philip?
- He was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. John 1:44
- Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” John 1:43
- He found Nathanael and told him, “Come and see.” John 1:45-47
- The name
- It is a Greek name, like Andrew’s. In Greek it means “lover of horses.” Benedict XVI, general audience of September 6, 2006; Liddell-Scott-Jones, Greek-English Lexicon, “φίλιππος”
- From
- Bethsaida, in Galilee, the town of Andrew and Peter John 1:44; John 12:21
- Feast day
- May 3: Saints Philip and James, Apostles
What the Bible says
John 1:44
Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
John 1:43
On the following day, he would go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip. And Jesus saith to him: Follow me.
John 1:45-47
45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith to him: We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth. 46And Nathanael said to him: Can any thing of good come from Nazareth? Philip saith to him: Come and see. 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him: and he saith of him: Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
The path of Philip
- Before Jesus. He was from Bethsaida, in Galilee, the town of Andrew and Peter. John 1:44
- With Jesus. Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and told him to follow him. John 1:43
- With Jesus. Philip found Nathanael and told him they had found Jesus, the one Moses and the prophets wrote about. John 1:45
- With Jesus. Before feeding a large crowd, Jesus asked him where they could buy bread for everyone. John 6:5
- With Jesus. Some Greeks asked him if they could see Jesus. Philip told Andrew, and the two of them told Jesus. John 12:20-22
- With Jesus. At the Last Supper, he asked Jesus to show them the Father. John 14:8
- Afterward. After the Ascension, he was in Jerusalem with the other apostles, praying with Mary. Acts 1:13-14
- Afterward. According to Tradition: According to later accounts, he preached in Greece and in Phrygia, and he died in Hierapolis. Benedict XVI, general audience of September 6, 2006
Words of Philip
“We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth.” John 1:45
When he found Nathanael.
“Come and see.” John 1:46
When Nathanael doubted that anything good could come from Nazareth.
“Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little.” John 6:7
When Jesus asked him where they could buy bread to feed all those people.
“Lord, shew us the Father, and it is enough for us.” John 14:8
At the Last Supper, when Jesus spoke to them about knowing the Father.
What they were like
- He did the math: when Jesus asked him where to buy bread, Philip answered that not even two hundred denarii would be enough. John 6:5-7
- He invited others: he did not argue with Nathanael, who doubted; he told him to come and see. John 1:46
- Some Greeks who wanted to see Jesus came to him. Philip went with Andrew to tell Jesus. John 12:20-22
The greatest thing they did
- Thanks to him, Nathanael went to meet Jesus. John 1:45-47
Not to be confused with
- There was another Philip, one of the seven chosen by the community in Jerusalem. He preached in Samaria and lived in Caesarea with his four daughters. Acts 6:5; Acts 8:5; Acts 21:8-9
In the Church today
Feast day: May 3, Saints Philip and James, Apostles (feast). General Roman Calendar
Patron of: Of the city of Montevideo, in Uruguay, together with the apostle James the Less ACI Prensa, “Arquidiócesis de Montevideo celebrará a sus santos patronos Felipe y Santiago,” April 11, 2018
In art, recognized by: A long staff with a cross at the top Catholic Encyclopedia (1907), “Apostle Spoons”
Philip in art
What people ask
Are Philip the apostle and Philip the deacon the same person?
No. The apostle was one of the Twelve; the deacon was chosen later, as one of the seven. Luke 6:13-14; Acts 6:5
Where was the apostle Philip from?
From Bethsaida, in Galilee, the same town as Andrew and Peter. John 1:44
What did Philip say to Nathanael?
That they had found Jesus, the one Moses wrote about. When Nathanael doubted, Philip told him to come and see. John 1:45-46
How did Saint Philip die?
The Bible does not say. According to later accounts, he died in Hierapolis in Phrygia (today in Turkey), crucified or stoned. Benedict XVI, general audience of September 6, 2006
When is the feast of Saint Philip?
May 3, together with the apostle James, whom the liturgy calls “the Less”; he is not the son of Zebedee. General Roman Calendar
His question At the Last Supper, he asked Jesus to show them the Father. John 14:8 Jesus answered that he had been with them for a long time, and that…
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