Philip (Lover of Horses)
One of the original twelve appointed by Jesus
Parents: Unknown
Home: Bethsaida (Matthew 1:44-51)
Business/Occupation: Unknown
Writings: None
Characteristics:
Philip was a Jew with a Greek name. It would seem as if the apostle had Greek connections, which may explain why he acted for the Greeks at the Passover, and why Greeks who sought Jesus first approached Philip (John 12:20-22). Please note that Philip the Apostle, must not be confused with Philip the deacon-evangelist in Acts 6:5 and Acts 8:5-40. It is interesting that we never read of the deacon Philip before the day of Pentecost, and that we never read of the Apostle Philip after Pentecost.
1. The Apostle Philip was called by Jesus (John 1:43).
2. Included with the original twelve (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16).
3. He was a personal worker (John 1:45; 12:20-22).
4. Tested by Jesus (John 6:1-7).
5. Slow to apprehend the Truth (John 14:5-11).
Although the gospels do not tell us very much about Philip, enough is recorded to give us a consistent portrait of him. It appears that he was a plain man, show in arriving at a decision, reluctant to act on his own initiative. He was slow to understand and slow to believe what he could not see. He is revealed as a slow-witted plodder. At the outset, we see him as a man of an inquiring mind. Unlike some of the others, Philip accepted Christ and followed Him because he found that Christ satisfied all the prophecies and descriptions given of Him in the Old Testament. Tradition is that he preached in Phrygia, and died a martyr at Hierapolis.
