Philip is listed as one of Jesus' apostles in all four apostolic lists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts. He plays the largest role in John and appears little in the other gospels. The name Philip means "lover of horses." Writings attributed to Philip the Apostle played an important role in the development of early Christian Gnosticism. Gnostic Christians cited Philip's authority as justification for their own beliefs via the apocryphal Gospel of Philip and the Acts of Philip.
Philip is described in the Gospel According to John as being skeptical at first about following Jesus, only agreeing to do so after Nathanael tells him the Jesus is the Messiah. Philip is depicted as pragmatic other times as well and he is the one approached by Greeks seeking to speak with Jesus. It is possible that Philip was originally a follower or disciple of John the Baptist because John depicts Jesus calling Philip out of a crowd attending John's baptisms.
One Christian legend says that Philip and Bartholomew were crucified by the pagan governor of a city in Phrygia after he killed a serpent, but an earthquake caused the people to demand the release of the two apostles. Bartholomew survived, but Philip didn't make it. Another story says that Philip married, had children, and was buried in Hieropolis with this daughters -- both still virgins. If virginity was such a prize that they thought it important, why did Philip take the virginity of the woman he married?
Read More: Saint Philip the Apostle
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