The Apostolic Fathers · AD 70–130

Philip the Apostle

d. c. 80 (trad., Hierapolis) · Apostle of the Twelve · Bethsaida → Phrygia (trad.)

The Apostolic Fathers

Who Philip the Apostle was

Of Bethsaida, called the day after Andrew and Peter; it is Philip who tells Nathanael “Come and see,” Philip whom the Greeks approach at the feast (“Sir, we would see Jesus”), Philip who asks “Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” Polycrates of Ephesus, writing c. 190, counts him “of the twelve apostles, who sleeps at Hierapolis” with two aged virgin daughters — testimony entangled from the second century onward with Philip the Evangelist and his four prophesying daughters; the archive keeps the two Philips distinct and flags the knot. A first-century martyrium octagon crowns the Hierapolis hillside where his tomb was sought — and in 2011 excavators announced it.

Common questions

When did Philip die?

Philip the Apostle is dated d. c. 80 (trad., Hierapolis) in the archive, which places Philip in the Apostolic Fathers (AD 70–130). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.

Which early sources mention Philip?

Philip the Apostle is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Polycrates of Ephesus and Clement of Alexandria. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Philip from?

The archive associates Philip the Apostle with Bethsaida, Phrygia (trad.). The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.

Who were Philip’s contemporaries?

The archive links Philip the Apostle to 6 other figures, including Andrew the Apostle, Bartholomew the Apostle, Philip the Evangelist and Papias of Hierapolis. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

Scripture record

Primary-source mentions (2)

Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Polycrates, via Eusebius III.31

c. AD 195
Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who sleeps in Hierapolis, and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus.
Polycrates of Ephesus · III.31 · source text

Stromateis III.52 (his daughters given in marriage)

c. AD 200
Even Philip gave his daughters in marriage.
Clement of Alexandria · Stromateis III.52 · source text

Connected in the archive

People

Events in this lifetime

Place

Places served

The 11 places the sources put Philip, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route. 10 stops are marked with the company: the source places this figure’s company there rather than naming the figure at it.

  1. 1GalileeWith him through the towns of Galileewith the companyMark 1:39; Matthew 4:23
  2. 2NazarethCame into his own country, and his disciples followed himwith the companyMark 6:1
  3. 3CapernaumThe house at Capernaum, where he taught the Twelvewith the companyMark 9:33
  4. 4BethsaidaWithdrew there with the Twelve; the five thousand fedwith the companyLuke 9:10
  5. 5TyreWithdrew into its borders; the disciples came to himwith the companyMark 7:24; Matthew 15:23
  6. 6SidonReturned by Sidon to the sea of Galileewith the companyMark 7:31
  7. 7Caesarea PhilippiOn the road he asked the disciples who men said he waswith the companyMark 8:27
  8. 8JerichoWent out of Jericho with his discipleswith the companyMark 10:46
  9. 9BethanyLodged there with the Twelve through Passion weekwith the companyMark 11:11–12
  10. 10JerusalemEntered the temple with the Twelve; the upper roomwith the companyMark 11:11; 14:17
  11. 11PhrygiaWhere he died, by Polycrates’s accountTraditional; see the profile

See these places on the atlas →