St. Philip The Apostle

Philip was a fisherman and a native of Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee, like Peter and Andrew were. Jesus called him to be a disciple the day after He called Peter. Philip followed Jesus and soon brought Nathaniel to meet Him (John 1:43-45). Philip was chosen by Jesus to be one of the Twelve Apostles. In the Gospel of John, Philip is given special mention three times. Before multiplying the bread for the people, Jesus asks him where bread can be bought for the enormous crowd to eat and Philip replies, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” (John 6: 7) When some Greeks in Jerusalem ask to see Jesus, Philip tells Andrew and then they both tell Jesus. At the Last Supper, Philip says to Jesus, “Show us the Father and it will be enough for us.” (John 14: 8-9) Little is know for certain about Philip after Pentecost. An older tradition seems to get him and the deacon Philip mentioned in Acts confused. The deacon mentioned in Acts has several daughters who are prophetesses; the later tradition says that Philip had three daughters who dedicated themselves to Christ and that two of them are buried with Philip at Hieropolis. Tradition says that Philip was martyred under the Emperor Domitian. St. Philip’s feast is now May 3.