Bible Characters · Early Church

Philip the evangelist

One of the Seven, who took the gospel down to Samaria, was sent by an angel to the desert road to explain Isaiah to the Ethiopian official, and years later hosted Paul in his house at Caesarea.

Early Church16 references in 1 bookIn theological review

The facts, as Scripture gives them

Lived
Dates not given in Scripture.
Region
Jerusalem; a city of Samaria; the road from Jerusalem to Gaza; Azotus; and at last Caesarea. (Acts 8:5; Acts 8:26; Acts 8:40; Acts 21:8)
Work
One of the Seven chosen with Stephen; named by Luke as the evangelist. (Acts 6:5; Acts 21:8)

Key verses

Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Acts 8:35 (BSB)

Leaving the next day, we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven.

Acts 21:8 (BSB)

What they did

  • Was chosen as one of the Seven to serve the widows' distribution. (Acts 6:5)
  • Went down to Samaria and proclaimed Christ there, with signs; Simon the magician himself believed and was baptised. (Acts 8:5-13)
  • Was sent by an angel to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, and ran up to the chariot of the Ethiopian official who was reading Isaiah. (Acts 8:26-30)
  • Beginning with that Scripture, told him the good news about Jesus, and baptised him in the water beside the road. (Acts 8:35-38)
  • Was carried away by the Spirit to Azotus, and preached in all the towns until he came to Caesarea. (Acts 8:39-40)
  • Years later, received Paul and his company into his house at Caesarea for some days. (Acts 21:8)

Family

Children
Four unmarried daughters, who prophesied (Acts 21:9)

Connected to

  • Stephen: His fellow member of the Seven, the first martyr (Acts 6:5)
  • Simon the magician: The Samaritan sorcerer who believed and then tried to buy the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:9-24)
  • The Ethiopian official: The treasurer of the Candace whom he met on the Gaza road and baptised (Acts 8:27-38)
  • Paul: The apostle he hosted at Caesarea on the last journey to Jerusalem (Acts 21:8)

Mentioned in

Acts.

Every reference (16)

Acts 6:5 · Acts 8:5 · Acts 8:6 · Acts 8:12 · Acts 8:13 · Acts 8:26 · Acts 8:29 · Acts 8:30 · Acts 8:31 · Acts 8:34 · Acts 8:35 · Acts 8:37 · Acts 8:38 · Acts 8:39 · Acts 8:40 · Acts 21:8

Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend profile passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This profile is in that queue. Sources: Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain), verified verse by verse. Name and reference data: STEP Bible (TIPNR), Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0.