Apostle 1st century

Apostle Philip of the Seventy

1st century

Also known as Philip the Deacon · Philip the Evangelist

One of the Seven Deacons and a member of the Seventy, who preached in Samaria and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch.

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October 11

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Life

Philip the Evangelist was a 1st-century apostle of Palestine, numbered in Eastern Orthodox tradition among the Seventy. He bore a Greek name and was one of the Seven Deacons chosen by the Jerusalem church to assist in distributing aid to widows and the poor (Acts 6:5), a step taken after Hellenist members complained about the daily distribution. He is distinct from Philip the Apostle of the Twelve.

He was married and had children, including four daughters who were prophetesses (Acts 21:9). After the martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution that followed, Philip preached in Samaria, where his evangelism met with success and where he converted the magician Simon Magus. Directed by an angel to the Jerusalem-Gaza road, he encountered an Ethiopian eunuch — a court official — reading Isaiah, explained the scripture to him, and baptized him.

Following this, the Spirit carried Philip away; he was found at Azotus (Ashdod) and preached through the cities until he reached Caesarea Maritima, where he settled. There the Apostle Paul and his companions visited him during their journey to Jerusalem. A later tradition holds that Philip was ordained bishop and sent to Tralles in Asia Minor, where he baptized many converts and died at an advanced age.

Timeline 5 moments Read Hide

1st century Chosen among the Seven Deacons Philip is selected by the Jerusalem church as one of the Seven Deacons to assist in distributing aid to widows and the poor (Acts 6:5).
1st century Preaching in Samaria After the persecution following Stephen's martyrdom, Philip evangelizes in Samaria with great success and converts Simon Magus.
1st century Baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch Directed by an angel to the Jerusalem-Gaza road, Philip explains Isaiah to an Ethiopian court official and baptizes him; the Spirit then carries him to Azotus.
1st century Settling at Caesarea Philip preaches through the cities to Caesarea Maritima and settles there with his four prophesying daughters; Paul and his companions later visit him (Acts 21:8-9).
1st century Bishop of Tralles (later tradition) By a later tradition Philip is ordained bishop and sent to Tralles in Asia Minor, where he baptizes many and dies at an advanced age.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributions Read Hide

Ministry as Deacon and Evangelist

The Twelve Apostles designated Philip one of the Seven Deacons in Jerusalem, charging him with managing the church's offerings and aiding widows, orphans, and the needy (Acts 6:5). This office arose to address complaints from the Hellenist members of the community regarding the daily distribution.

When persecution scattered the Jerusalem church after Stephen's martyrdom, Philip went down to Samaria and preached there with great success. Among those he reached was the noted magician Simon Magus, who, after being baptized, continued with Philip.

The Ethiopian Eunuch

An angel directed Philip to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, where he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an official of the queen's court, who was reading the prophet Isaiah in his chariot. Philip expounded the scripture to him, instructed him, and baptized him.

The Spirit then caught Philip away, and he was found at Azotus (Ashdod). From there he preached through all the cities until he came to Caesarea, where he settled with his four prophesying daughters.

Later Tradition and Identity

A later tradition records that Philip was ordained bishop by the Apostles and sent to Tralles in Asia Minor, where he baptized numerous converts and died at an advanced age.

From early times there has been confusion between Philip the Evangelist and Philip the Apostle of the Twelve. Eusebius clarified that the four prophesying daughters mentioned in Acts belonged to the deacon Philip. Hierapolis is named in some sources as a burial site, and many modern historians hold that it was the deacon, rather than the Apostle, who was buried there, though the matter remains debated; early second-century sources naming 'Philip' are ambiguous and may refer to either figure.

Commemorated with Read Hide

The Seventy Apostles

Commemorated together · Jan 4

Notes

Apostle of the Seventy; not Philip of the Twelve.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints