In brief
Philip the evangelist is one of the seven men chosen by the church in Jerusalem to serve tables, full of faith, the Holy Spirit and wisdom. After the persecution, he proclaims Christ in Samaria, where there is great joy. An angel then sends him to the road to Gaza, where he tells an Ethiopian eunuch about Jesus, and the man is baptized. Later, Luke finds him in Caesarea, in his own house, with his four daughters who prophesied. He must not be confused with Philip the apostle. His story shows a God who leads his servants to each person.
What does the name Philip the Evangelist mean?
The name Philip is a Greek name, generally linked to the idea of loving horses, but the biblical text gives no explanation of the name. The Bible does distinguish him from the apostle of the same name: in Acts 21:8, he is Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven.
The story of Philip the Evangelist
Chosen among the seven
Acts 6:1-6The widows of the Hellenists are being neglected in the daily distribution. The apostles ask the assembly to choose seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom. Philip is among them, with Stephen. After praying, the apostles lay their hands on them. Philip thus begins with a concrete and humble service.
Great joy in Samaria
Acts 8:5-8Philip goes down to the city of Samaria and proclaims Christ there. The crowds pay close attention to what he says when they hear and see the signs he does: unclean spirits come out of many people, and the paralyzed and the lame are healed. The text concludes that there was much joy in that city.
On the road to Gaza
Acts 8:26-35An angel of the Lord tells Philip to go to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. There he finds an Ethiopian eunuch, an official of Candace the queen, reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip asks him whether he understands what he is reading. The man answers that he needs someone to guide him, and Philip tells him the good news of Jesus.
The baptism of the eunuch
Acts 8:36-40When they come to some water, the eunuch asks what prevents him from being baptized. Philip tells him that if he believes with all his heart, he may. The man confesses his faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and is baptized. The Spirit of the Lord then carries Philip away, and he finds himself at Azotus, proclaiming the gospel in the towns all the way to Caesarea.
In Caesarea, an open house
Acts 21:8-9Years later, Paul and his companions arrive in Caesarea and stay at the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven. The text adds that he had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. Philip has remained faithful to his calling, and his house is a place of welcome for God's servants.
What Philip the Evangelist teaches us
- God often calls through a simple service before entrusting a more visible mission.
- The gospel can cross borders: Philip proclaims it to the Samaritans and then to an Ethiopian.
- Listening to the voice of the Spirit leads us to meet the right person at the right time.
- Starting from a text of the Bible, like Isaiah, makes it possible to proclaim Jesus clearly.
Key verses
The apostles ask the church to choose seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom. Philip is among them: service in the church calls for a recognized character and a life full of the Spirit.
Philip opens his mouth and, beginning with that Scripture, tells him the good news of Jesus. He starts from the text of Isaiah that the eunuch is reading in order to present Jesus to him.
Paul stays at the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven. This verse shows that Philip kept his service as an evangelist and that he welcomes God's servants.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Philip the Evangelist in the Bible?
Philip the evangelist is one of the seven men chosen in Acts 6 to serve tables. He proclaims Christ in Samaria, then to an Ethiopian eunuch on the road to Gaza (Acts 8). We find him in Caesarea in Acts 21:8, where he is called the evangelist.
Is Philip the Evangelist the same as Philip the apostle?
No. Philip the apostle is one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, and we see him notably in John 1. Philip the evangelist is one of the seven chosen in Acts 6. Acts 21:8 specifies that he is one of the seven, to tell them apart.
Where can I find the story of Philip the Evangelist in the Bible?
His story is in the book of Acts: his choice among the seven in Acts 6:1-6, his ministry in Samaria in Acts 8:5-8, his meeting with the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40, then his stay in Caesarea in Acts 21:8-9.