Philip

PHIL'IP (lover of horses). The apostle, a native of Bethsaida, and known to the Lord before called to follow him. He is always mentioned as the fifth among the twelve, Matt 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; John 1:43-46; Acts 1:13, but the Gospels contain only a few notices of him. According to tradition, he preached in Phrygia and died at Hierapolis. The evangelist, one of the seven persons appointed to the office of deacon in the primitive church in Jerusalem, Acts 6:3-5, and who preached the gospel with great success in Samaria. Acts 8:6-8. While there he received a divine intimation to go southward from Samaria to the road leading from Jerusalem to Gaza. In the course of his journey he found a distinguished Ethiopian traveller on his way home from Jerusalem - probably either a Jew or a proselyte to the Jewish religion - who had been to the city to celebrate some feast. He was an officer of high rank in the court of Candace, queen of Ethiopia, and as he was sitting in his chariot in the leisurely pursuit of his journey he read aloud a portion of the Jewish Scriptures. At this time Philip saw him, and was divinely admonished to approach him. Without hesitation he obeyed the suggestion, and ran to overtake the chariot. He overheard the traveller reading Isa 53:7-8, and immediately inquired of him if he understood the force and scope of the passage. The traveller meekly acknowledged his need of instruction, and invited Philip to take a seat with him in the chariot. The latter then explained the great subject of redemption, to which the passage so naturally led; and the result was that the traveller became a convert to the faith of the gospel and was baptized. Philip was next found at Azotus, about 40 miles from Gaza, and afterward settled, it is supposed, in Caesarea. Acts 21:8. He had four daughters, who were endued with gifts of prophecy. Acts 21:9. The tetrarch. Luke 3:1. See Herod. The husband of Herodias. Matt 14:3. See Herod. The foster-brother of Antiochus Epiphanes, who appointed him regent of Syria and guardian of his son, Antiochus V. 1 Mace. 6:14, 15, 55. He is probably identical with that Philip who was made governor of Jerusalem in b.c. 170. 2 Mace. 5:22; 6:11. King of Macedonia, b.c. 359-336, father of Alexander the Great. 1 Mace. 1:1,- 6:1. Another king of Macedonia, b.c. 220-179, defeated by the Romans. 1 Mace. 8:5.