In brief
Philip is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, from Bethsaida like Andrew and Peter. According to John's Gospel, he is the first person Jesus calls with the words Follow me. He immediately brings Nathanael to Jesus with a simple invitation: Come and see. We meet him again before the hungry crowd, with Greeks who want to see Jesus, and at the Last Supper, where he asks to see the Father. He is remembered as a disciple who invites rather than argues.
What does the name Philip the Apostle mean?
Philip is a Greek name, generally linked to the idea of lover of horses. The Bible gives no explanation of it. A Greek name borne by a Jewish disciple from Galilee simply reminds us that the region of Bethsaida was open to the Greek world. Not to be confused with Philip the evangelist, one of the seven in Acts 6.
The story of Philip the Apostle
A Call at Bethsaida
John 1:43-44The day after Jesus meets his first disciples, he decides to go to Galilee and finds Philip. He simply tells him: Follow me. John notes that Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. The call of Jesus spreads within a circle of acquaintances.
Come and See
John 1:45-46Philip does not keep his discovery to himself. He finds Nathanael and tells him he has found the one of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael doubts that anything good can come out of Nazareth. Philip does not argue. He answers: Come and see.
A Question That Tests
John 6:5-7Jesus sees the great crowd that has followed him and asks Philip where to buy bread for everyone. John explains that Jesus said this to test him, for he already knew what he would do. Philip calculates that even two hundred denarii of bread would not be enough. He sees the shortage, while Jesus prepares the miracle.
Greeks Want to See Jesus
John 12:20-22During the feast of Passover, some Greeks come to Jerusalem to worship. They approach Philip, from Bethsaida in Galilee, and ask to see Jesus. Philip tells Andrew, and together they go and tell Jesus. Once again, Philip serves as a bridge between someone who is searching and the Lord.
Show Us the Father
John 14:8-11At the last meal, Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father, saying that this will be enough for them. Jesus answers gently that he has been with them for a long time, and that whoever has seen him has seen the Father. He invites Philip to believe because of his words, or at least because of his works.
What Philip the Apostle teaches us
- Simply invite those who doubt to come and see for themselves, rather than trying to win a debate.
- Do not settle for calculating what you lack: Jesus already knows what he will do with what you bring him.
- Be a bridge between those who are looking for Jesus and Jesus himself.
- Ask your questions to Jesus openly, even when you have not understood everything yet: he answers with patience.
Key verses
Philip tells Nathanael he has found the one of whom the law and the prophets speak. Faced with doubt, he answers with an invitation: Come and see. A simple model of witness.
Some Greeks ask Philip to see Jesus. Philip tells Andrew, and then they go and tell Jesus. He leads those who are searching all the way to Jesus.
Philip asks to see the Father. Jesus answers that whoever has seen him has seen the Father. Jesus is the complete revelation of God, and he is the one to look at.
Sermons about Philip the Apostle
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find the story of Philip the Apostle in the Bible?
Philip appears mostly in the Gospel of John: his call and his meeting with Nathanael (John 1), the feeding of the crowd (John 6), the Greeks who want to see Jesus (John 12) and his question at the last meal (John 14). He also appears in the lists of the twelve apostles.
What does the name Philip mean?
Philip is a name of Greek origin, generally linked to the idea of lover of horses. The Bible gives no explanation of this name. What matters in the texts is his response to the call of Jesus and the way he brings others to him.
Is Philip the apostle the same as Philip the evangelist?
No. Philip the apostle is one of the twelve chosen by Jesus. Philip the evangelist is one of the seven men chosen for service in the church of Jerusalem (Acts 6), who then proclaims the Gospel in Samaria and to the Ethiopian (Acts 8). They are two distinct people.