Philip (Evangelist)

Portrait of Philip (Evangelist)

Philip the Evangelist was one of the seven deacons appointed in Acts 6 to address practical needs in the Jerusalem church, including the care of Hellenistic widows. After the persecution sparked by Stephenโ€™s martyrdom, he traveled to Samaria, where his preaching, accompanied by signs and miracles, led many Samaritans to believe and be baptized, extending the gospel beyond its Jewish origins for the first time. Directed by an angel, Philip then met an Ethiopian eunuch on the Gaza road, interpreted Isaiah 53 in light of Jesus, and baptized him, illustrating the fulfillment of the commission to reach all nations. These events underscore the early churchโ€™s rapid outward movement through ordinary believers empowered by the Spirit.

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Biography

Occupation
Deacon, Evangelist
Children
Four daughters (prophetesses)
Era
New Testament
Nationality
Jewish (Hellenist)

Family

Philip (Evangelist)
โ†“
Children
Four daughters (prophetesses)
New Testament New Testament Era Other Acts

Did You Know?

1

Though often conflated with the apostle Philip, the evangelist was one of seven Hellenistic men chosen to resolve a dispute over food distribution to Greek-speaking widows in Acts 6, marking an early administrative solution to ethnic tensions in the Jerusalem church.

2

Philip's ministry in Samaria deliberately crossed deep Jewish-Samaritan hostilities by proclaiming Christ to a people considered ritually impure, resulting in mass baptisms and even the conversion of the famous sorcerer Simon Magus.

3

The Ethiopian eunuch Philip baptized was a high-ranking official managing the treasury of the Kandake (queen mother) of Meroรซ, making the event one of the first recorded conversions of a person from sub-Saharan Africa and an individual excluded from full Jewish temple participation under Deuteronomy 23.

4

Acts 21:8-9 notes that decades later Philip hosted the apostle Paul in Caesarea, where his four unmarried daughters exercised the recognized gift of prophecy, illustrating an unusual concentration of prophetic women in a single first-century household.

5

Immediately after the eunuch's baptism, the Spirit physically transported Philip to Azotus (ancient Ashdod), allowing him to resume an itinerant preaching circuit northward to Caesarea, a detail underscoring the unpredictable, Spirit-driven nature of early mission work.

Key Passages

Philip in Samaria

Acts 8:4-8

This passage shows how the gospel spreads beyond Jerusalem with power, bringing healing and great joy to unlikely places through faithful witnesses.

T4herefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

Read full chapter: Acts 8 โ†’

Philip and the Ethiopian

Acts 8:26-40

This passage shows how God guides willing believers to share Jesus with unexpected seekers, welcoming all into faith through Scripture.

A26nd the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Read full chapter: Acts 8 โ†’

Philip's Daughters

Acts 21:8-9

This passage shows that God pours out His Spirit on daughters as well as sons, empowering women to prophesy and serve His church.

A8nd the next day we that were of Paulโ€™s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

Read full chapter: Acts 21 โ†’

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